Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

Page 1

Trim - 8x10 Front Cover Live Area - 7x9

in this issue

The Myttys and their Black Angus

Bulls

Hoop houses

for the green thumb Can you afford not to fertilize? The risky venture of 4-H livestock

Building soil the easy way

Cow nutrition

during calving season Words to ride by

march 2010

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Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 3

Camera-shy Norman Bolin with a ranch draft horse in front of the Bolin barn in 1938. This barn, was constructed prior to 1907, but probably no earlier than 1887. Learn more about the BitterRoot Barns Project in this issue of Agriculture Quarterly.

A note of introduction from the Editor Welcome to the Ravalli Republic’s new Agriculture Quarterly Magazine. Here in the Bitterroot Valley, agriculture has always played an important role to everyone who calls this place home. perry backus For some, it pays the bills. This time of year we see them out in their fields tending to newborn calves and starting preparations for this summer’s crop. Others go home every day and tinker in their own little back forty. Those small five and 10 ranchettes grow crops, raise horses and create a lifestyle that folks from all over the country have moved here to enjoy. City folk have their own stake in the valley agriculture. In the summer, farmers markets in nearly every Bitterroot community are brimming with people searching out fresh food from our local farmers and ranchers. Once out of the confines of the city limits, the open fields where agriculture is still practiced help remind us

all of the scenic beauty of this wonderful place. Our goal in this new publication is to bring you a collection of locally produced stories that will be of interest to everyone. In this first edition, you can spend a day at a bull sale at the Mytty Ranch or learn the benefits of an easily constructed hoop house for growing vegetables in your own backyard. People with small acreages can get some insight from the county’s extension agent Bobbie Roos or learn how to figure just what kind of fertilizer the pasture needs from a local expert. The popular pair of Dirty Fingernail columnists offers some insight on preparing this year’s garden spot. Stacie Duce gives us some insight into the challenges of being a new 4H family. And you’ll find stories on horse training, proper calf nutrition, and a chance to look back on some of the colorful history of our valley. We purposely attempted to paint with a wide brush in this first attempt at our new magazine. If you have some ideas for the next one coming this summer, let us know. We hope you enjoy it.

Page 4 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

Agriculture Quarterly is published by the Ravalli Republic Newspaper a division of Lee Enterprises Kristen Bounds, Publisher Perry Backus, Editor Clint Burson, Dara Saltzman & Jodi Wright, Production & Design Valerie DeMuro, Gina Joseph & Cheryl Tenold, Project Sales including photography by Will Moss, Sepp Janotta and Perry Backus Agriculture Quarterly is copyright 2010, Ravalli Republic.

ravalli republic

232 west Main Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 • ravallirepublic.com

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Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 5

in this issue Open Lands Bond Program . ........... 6 Cow Nutrition .................................. 8 Building Soil ................................... 12 Fertilizing . ...................................... 15 Bull Sale .......................................... 18 4-H Animals .................................... 22 Hoop Houses ................................. 24 Horsemanship ................................ 26 Small Acreages .............................. 29 Small Ruminant Care ..................... 31 Agriculture Heritage . .................... 33

How did you like our first issue of Agriculture Quarterly? Do you have any ideas you’d like to share with us for our next issue? Let us know. Sent comments to: 232 West Main, Hamilton, MT 59840 or editor@ravallirepublic.com photos this page: top to bottom, Will Moss, Will Moss,

Page 6 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

The

O

pen Lands Bond Program

ALAN MAKI (CHAIR) AND KENT MYERS Ravalli County Open Lands Board

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

Ravalli County’s Open Lands Bond Program is alive and well. The program, which was approved by the voters of Ravalli County in 2006, has so far helped willing landowners to place over 1,600 acres of land in conservation easements. The land that has been protected includes prime agricultural acreage, important wildlife habitat and some of the most beautiful vistas in the valley. And we are just getting started.

Most people have heard of conservation easements, but how many really know just what they are and how they work? Simply put, a conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement by which a landowner chooses to limit certain uses of his/her land. These agreements are usually accomplished through collaboration between the landowner and a private nonprofit group such as a land trust. The Open Lands Bond Program represents an

important tool in this process as it can provide funds to landowners to help offset the costs associated with placing their land in a conservation easement. The reasons for enacting an easement can be as varied as the easements themselves and depend on many factors related to the personal situation of the landowner. These often include, but are certainly not limited to, estate tax issues, income tax deductions/credits, property tax incentives, long term estate planning, local dynamics and the desire of a family legacy. Conservation easements are definitely not a “one size fits all” solution, and each one must be tailored to best fit the needs and desires of the landowner. However, they are one of the most effective and popular ways for landowners to guarantee the future protection of their open land, and every state in the nation now has provisions for conservation easements. Since the late 1970s Ravalli County has recorded over 30,000 acres in conservation easements, but it wasn’t until passage of the Open Lands Bond that the county could actively provide financial assistance for the creation of conservation easements. The Open Lands Bond set aside $10 million to be used for the protection of open lands in Ravalli County, and we are starting to see the positive impact of this

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 7

program. An additional benefit of the Open Lands Bond program is that it will also be possible to leverage this local funding to bring in matching contributions from state, federal, non-profit and private sources, providing even greater opportunities for protection of open lands in Ravalli County. The bond program is overseen by the Open Lands Board, which is composed of a group of dedicated volunteers representing a broad cross section of agricultural and resource interests. The Open Lands Board is working diligently for the voters and landowners of Ravalli County, to ensure that their bond program dollars are spent wisely and provide the greatest benefit for our community. The board works with willing landowners, both logistically and financially, to help them to create voluntary conservation easements that guarantee the future protection of their open lands.

PREVIOUS PAGE - Bitter Root Land Trust Executive Director Gavin Ricklefs and cattle rancher Reed Trexler look over the Wood family ranch north of Corvallis. The ranch is the first property to be protected by a conservation easement under the county’s Open Lands bond program. THIS PAGE - Carrie and Joe Grover agreed to preserve their 840-acre Sawtooth Ranch under a conservation easement funded by Ravalli County’s Open Lands Bond WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

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Page 8- Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

ow nutrition during calving season

SCOTT KURFMAN Pfau Feeds

With calving season underway, Montana cattle producers should revisit their best management practices of ensuring good cow/calf health. A key component of cow/calf health is to have a well-designed nutrition management program. Good nutrition management practices now will ensure a healthier cow and calf today but equally important, stronger calves at weaning and better cows later in the year as they enter the rebreeding cycle. Now is the time to assess your current cow herd nutrition program and if necessary, implement improved nutrition management practices according to your cow needs. There are four key components to good cow/calf nutrition management. The first is to ensure that the cow is receiving a balanced ration that provides WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 9

the daily nutritional requirements needed for maintaining body functions and production demands. If beef cows are underfed during gestation and lactation they will be less productive than cows fed adequate diets. A visual method for determining weight loss or weight gain is the body condition scoring (BCS). A cow that carries more condition will rate a higher body condition score than a thin cow, on a scale from 1 to 9. According to studies conducted by North Dakota State University, a BCS of 4 is borderline for maintaining adequate reproductive performance as compared to a cow with a BCS of 5 or greater. After calving, thin cows will require more days to first estrus and more days to pregnancy. Increasing the energy level of a thin cow after calving will ensure better breeding and will increase the number of pregnant cows at 60 days postpartum. But, cows with a BCS of 4 or less can achieve comparable pregnancy rates to cows with a score of 5 or greater if they are fed a diet that allows for maintaining or gaining weight after calving through the breeding season. On average lactating cows are eating 30 to 35

pounds of hay daily. Depending on the protein level in the hay, the cow may not be receiving the total pounds of protein needed from just the hay to maintain health of the cow and consequently the calf. It is critical, at this stage, to provide a quality ration balanced for energy, crude protein, minerals and vitamins. Nutrient deficiency can lead to reduced digestion and metabolism. Nutrients are needed by the cow in constant proportions every day. Underfeeding will also reduce birth weights and may increase the number of difficult births or dystocia. Undernourished cows will have reduced quantity and quality of colostrum. A balanced ration of high energy, crude protein, minerals and vitamins will lead to healthier cows. Reducing nutrients below the animal’s requirements might lower feed costs but can also limit production via decreased feed digestibility, reduced feed intake, weight loss, depressed immunity, increased calving difficulties, reduced colostrum quality and reduced milk production. A second component to good cow/calf nutrition

PREVIOUS PAGE - Nutrition is important for cows throughout the year, but especially during calving season.

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Page 10 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

management is making sure the cow gets the right supply of minerals. A good mineral program should consist of a diet that is balanced in both macro-minerals and micro or trace minerals. Minerals play a vital role in forage digestion, reproductive performance, the immune system and the development of bones, muscles and teeth. An improper balance of minerals and vitamins could result in reduced forage intake, lower reproductive efficiency, poor disease immunity, slower daily weight gains, and poorer feed conversion. But not all symptoms of mineral deficiency are easily noticed. According to university studies, sub-clinical mineral deficiencies occur more frequently than recognized by many livestock producers because the rancher does not see the specific symptoms that are characteristic of a mineral deficiency. Beef cows need the right mix of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, salt, potassium, sulfur, plus trace minerals of copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine, iron and selenium. Including these minerals in a beef cow diet, particularly during gestation and lactation, has been shown to help show better results in breeding, immune status and feed intake. So, how does a producer determine if his nutrition management is mineral poor? The first step is to determine if there are other factors as the cause of decreased animal performance. For example, if BCS scores are below a 5, the chances are greater that decreases in

performance are the result of energy/protein deficiencies. Also be sure that cattle are being offered the proper free-choice mineral feeding. The second step is to know the trace mineral contribution of the available feed. Start by collecting forage samples, and perform a standard evaluation of those samples to determine if the cows are getting the right minerals. Third, do not forget to analyze the drinking water. Sulfate can play an antagonistic role in both copper and selenium availability and excessive levels of iron may also depress the utilization of copper. Your local feed representative or extension agent can help you with analyzing samples and designing a feed supplement diet. An additional component of good nutrition management during calving season is making sure the cow gets the right mix of vitamins A, D and E in her diet. Generally at calving time the cow can be deficient in these vitamins, particularly vitamin A, due to lack of fresh green WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic leafy forage throughout the winter months and a depletion of the vitamin stored within the cow. Signs of vitamin A deficiency in breeding herds may include night blindness, lowered fertility and reduced calving percentage. Cows can also abort, drop dead or weak calves and are difficult to settle. These vitamins can easily be supplemented in a balanced feed ration or mineral program. Equal to the quality of the feed, but often overlooked

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 11

management practice, is understanding the role of water quality and its impact in overall feed intake. Feed intake parallels intake of quality water – bad water contributes to poor feed intake. According to studies by Montana State University in areas of Montana, water supplies should provide the right mix of nitrate (0 – 44 ppm is desired), calcium (100 ppm desired), magnesium (50 ppm desired), and sulfate (500 ppm desired). Understanding what is in your water, then addressing it with properly balanced nutrition management will go far to ensure healthy, more productive cows. A good place to start with putting together a cow/ calf nutrition management plan is with your local extension office and/ or your local reputable feed supplier. What you do today will not only ensure healthier calves during this hectic time of the year, but will have a significant impact down the road on the production potential of both your cows and calves.

PREVIOUS PAGE - A good place to start with putting together a cow/calf nutrition management plan is with your local extension office and/or your local reputable feed supplier. THIS PAGE - On average lactating cows are eating 30 to 35 pounds of hay daily. Depending on the protein level in the hay, the cow may not be receiving the total pounds of protein needed from just the hay to maintain health of the cow and consequently the calf.

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

Page 12 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

S

oil important for growing success

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

MOLLY HACKET and GEORGIANNA TAYLOR

By this time of year gardeners can’t wait to get started on their seasonal play in this year’s gardens. The pruning is finished for this winter but it will be a long time before they can set out tomatoes. The soil has barely thawed. One place to spend some of that pent-up gardening energy now is on the soil. If the soil isn’t frozen and is dry enough that a handful doesn’t stick together in a mud ball, it is safe to begin cultivating. The standard way of cultivating with tiller or shovel turns over and mixes up the soil in the top eight or nine inches. This is the layer where feeder roots grow. Gardeners like that soil to be in a condition to welcome new roots. What about double digging? This is the process of cultivating to the depth of two shovels and sometimes seems like the mantra of organic gardeners. Although it is the most dramatic, most difficult, deepest method of soil preparation, it is seldom required in this area. What it achieves is loosened soil, deeper than the roots of annual plants will grow. Double digging should be done only if the ground is seriously compacted or if roots can-

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not penetrate. It is usually practiced in clay soils and once an area is double-dug, that’s it. There is no advantage to digging a second year unless the gardener is in need of exercise. The opposite end of the cultivating system is no-till gardening which Molly has practiced for more than 20 years. This kind of soil preparation is done little by little, month after month. The idea is to leave the soil undisturbed as it would be in a wild landscape and let the live creatures in the soil keep it healthy. There are plenty of those creatures. The people who quantify populations estimate that one teaspoon of healthy soil contains about 5 billion organisms. Yes, that is a teaspoon and yes, that number is billions. Who was it, we wonder, that did the counting? Whatever the exact numbers, their presence is a reminder that soil is not simply ground-up rock. It is the world in which plant roots live and is also home to bacteria, fungi, nematodes, millipedes, centipedes, mites, arthropods and worms. Soil cultivation of any kind throws all these creatures out of their homes, leaving them to start rebuilding. No-till gardening lets them live undisturbed. One caution: Before starting a no-till garden, it is necessary to strip off sod or cover it for a year to kill the grass plants. Building good garden soil can’t be done over night. The second year’s garden, in a new place, will always

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 13

be better than and first one and the third will be better than the second. By then, the soil structure should be good. Differences between one year’s garden and another will have causes other than the quality of the soil. However, garden soil does need continual care. All the growing plants remove nutrients from the soil. Gardeners have to find ways to cycle nutrients back in to feed the next crop. Probably the easiest way to accomplish this is to add mulch year round. As the soil organisms break down the mulch, it becomes part of the organic component of the soil. Liberal feedings of compost, manure and kitchen garbage all become garden soil in short order. Commercial fertilizers also supply plant nutrients, but they must be applied sparingly. Their nutrients are so concentrated that an overdose easily damages plant roots. Soils are classified by the size of their particles as sand, silt or clay. Soil with a lot of silt-sized particles is usually called loam. Good Bitterroot WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic soils are ideal for gardening. They are classified as sandy loam and gardeners in many other parts of the country long for them. Of course, there are places where the ground doesn’t classify as soil at all. It is just rock, more or less broken up by the glaciers of the last ice age. Gardens on that kind of ground are best created in containers or raised beds. The gravel and rock offers nothing to plants

Page 14 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

except excellent drainage. Soil pH, the acidity or alkalinity of the soil, is roughly important, but most Bitterroot soils are in the ideal pH range for gardening. That is good news for gardeners because it is very difficult to change pH. Local soils tend to be between 6 and 7.5, excellent for growing almost anything except acid-loving plants. Gardeners who grow acid-loving blueberries, for example, have to engage in a yearly program and keep it up as long as they want their blueberries to thrive. It can be done on a small scale but it is hard work. It is easy to learn the approximate pH of garden soil. Take samples from different place in a garden -- some of wet soil, some dry. To a tablespoon of dry soil, add a few drops of vinegar. If the soil fizzes, the pH is above 7.5. That soil won’t grow plants easily unless it is acidified. To a tablespoon of wet soil, add a pinch of baking soda. If that soil fizzes, its pH is below 5 and is too acid to grow most plants. With luck, no samples will fizz. That soil pH is between 5 and 7.5. The gardener can forget about it and find more useful things to think about, like the size of the local deer population. In this northern climate, soils are usually cool and can be slow to warm in the spring. It’s fine to start weeding as soon as the ground thaws, but there is no point in planting seed until the soil is warm enough for seed to germinate. Cold seed is subject to fungus disease and to rodents on the prowl. Usually the soil temperature, not the air temperature, needs to reach 45 degrees before it is worthwhile planting seeds. There are a couple of tricks which allow gardeners to jump-start spring. One is to cover a small area with plastic – either clear or black plastic works well. The sun will, fairly quickly, heat plastic-covered soil enough to start seeds. After a week of covering, plant seeds of especially hardy vegetables like spinach, oriental greens and lettuces. Put the cover back in place and check daily to see whether the seed has germinated. As PREVIOUS PAGE - All the growing plants remove nutrients from the soil. Gardeners have to find ways to cycle nutrients back in to feed the next crop.

soon as any green is visible, remove the soil cover and replace it with a cover that provides air space for the seedlings – a cold frame, a tunnel of row cover fabric or a plastic cover. That protected growing space will comfort the plants at night, but they will need some ventilation during sunny afternoons. By the time that the weather permits removing their cover completely, seedlings should be a few inches tall, the soil will be warm, green will be appearing everywhere and gardeners will be in high gear.

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Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 15

an you afford not to fertilize your plants?

TIM TACKES

Certified Crop Advisor, Mountain West Co-op

Applying fertilizer can be an expensive proposition. However, there are also indirect costs associated with not applying fertilizer. Plants need food just like humans do. Every essential nutrient is found in every cell of every plant. Plants need proper nutrition to remain healthy. Healthy plants produce more yield, are less susceptible to disease and insects, out compete invasive weeds, and require less renovation over time. Quite often the cost associated with spraying weeds or reseeding stands can far outweigh the investment of proper plant nutrition. There are 14 nutrients found to be essential for growth in most plants. Nitrogen (N) phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) are needed in larger amounts than the other nutrients; therefore these nutrients are most commonly applied in commercial fertilizers. Nitrogen is directly related to yield. Without any other limiting factors, as you increase the nitrogen rate applied you increase yields of non-legume crops. Phosphorous is required by plants for cell division and growth, and also for root development. Potassium is important for plant health because it regulates the plant’s water use and plays a role in pest and disease resistance. As you can see, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are vitally

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

THIS PAGE - Plants need proper nutrition to remain healthy. Healthy plants produce more yield, are less susceptible to disease and insects, out compete invasive weeds, and require less renovation over time

Page 16 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

important, but their role is primarily maintenance. A good analogy would be your truck. Let’s say that nitrogen is gasoline, phosphorus is the battery and potassium is oil. Every time you pull into the station to fill your tank up with gas you don’t change the battery and the oil. The battery and oil are important in the operation of the truck, but it is the gasoline that makes it run. In the plant, the nitrogen makes it grow. More nitrogen is needed to produce a ton of forage than phosphorus and potassium. Since applying fertilizer can be expensive, and plants don’t need equal amounts of each nutrient, it is important to apply only what nutrients your plants do need. Every situation is different due to soil types, plant species and management. The only way to know what fertilizer is right for your situation is to pull a soil sample and analyze what nutrients you already have in your soil and subtract those from the total amount needed by the plants to reach your production goals. The remaining amounts are the nutrients needed to be applied in your fertilizer. Production goals differ for each individual. They can range from maintaining a healthy plant community

that would not be harvested to very intense harvesting. Once you have analyzed the soil, how do you know how much of each nutrient to apply? The only true scientific way is to refer to recommendations that are developed for our area and the plants we grow here in the Bitterroot. The best source of information is “Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops,” a publication by Montana State University Extension Service. For example, this publication tells us it takes 25 pounds of nitrogen to produce a ton of forage. It contains guidelines for many different crops and for all nutrients needed. The blanket approach of applying all nutrients in a blend or using the fertilizer blend that is the cheapest price per ton can actually cost more in the long term. If the above statement comparing fertilization to operating a truck is true, then why are generic fertilizer blends, such as 16-16-16 or 20-10-10 so popular? There are no crops in the valley that use nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in equal proportions or even in a 2 to 1 ratio. Have you ever taken the time to calculate the cost

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per pound of nutrient in a ton of fertilizer? If soil test results indicate that you do not need phosphorus or potassium, why spend money on them with a straight blend when you could reallocate those dollars toward nitrogen and produce a greater return for your fertilizer dollar? When you purchase fertilizer, it is important for you to understand what you are buying. Plants require pounds of nutrients (N, P, K). The fertilizer you purchase is listed by analysis. A 20-10-10 fertilizer is the percentage of each nutrient contained in the product (20 percent N, 10 percent P, 10 percent K). To fill the plant food requirements needed, divide the units you need by the analysis of the fertilizer. If you required 60 units of nitrogen you would need to apply 300 pounds of a 20-10-10 fertilizer blend (60/.20 =300). Let’s look at an example and compare the two different ways of purchasing fertilizer. Lets say we have taken a soil test and we need to apply 60 pounds N-30 pounds P-0 pounds K. The following chart compares purchasing a cheaper common fertilizer blend to a custom formulated blend for your situation. Both options fill the plant food requirements. The first option is cheaper by the ton than the second, but it takes more pounds to apply the same nutrient. When you compare, it is easy to see that the customized approach can save money on your fertilizer investment. It is important to note that the normal application rate of 20-10-10 is 200 pounds per acre. This is supplying 40 units of nitrogen. We know from MSU guidelines that that is only enough nitrogen to produce 1.6 tons of forage. This can explain why some growers are disappointed with forage yields even after fertilizing. This comparison clearly illustrates the importance of soil testing and applying only the nutrients that are needed. Being smart with your fertilizer dollar can reduce your cost and keep your plants healthy.

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 17

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Page 18 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

ytty in Focus bull sale draws crowd

STACIE DUCE

For the Ravalli Republic

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

FLORENCE – A first sign of spring may be the dust kicked up on Sweeney Creek Loop as cattle buyers gather at the Mytty Angus Ranch on the first Monday of every March. The only annual Black Angus sale in Ravalli County brings breeders and admirers from across the western states to see the offspring of a national phenomenon – a Bitterroot-born bull known as Mytty in Focus. For the second year in a row, Mytty in Focus took the No. 1 spot in the nation for the number of registra-

tions in the American Angus Association. He has been bred to more than 300,000 commercial heifers across the country that consistently produce a desirable lowweight calf that gains weight fast. While many commercial buyers don’t register their calves, breeders do and it’s those registrations that keep Mytty’s fame spreading. Mytty in Focus was born on the ranch of Kevin and Traci Mytty in Florence. They eventually sold the bull at the Midland Bull Fest, but retained one-third of his

semen interest. Today the bull is valuable enough to have four sets of owners, including ABS Global, a bovine genetics company in Wisconsin who houses Mytty in Focus and collects semen every third day. “He’s become really popular,” said Traci, “because his calves have some of the lowest birth-rates in the nation. He’s also a big semen producer and has done really well as a breeder.” Kevin and Traci were both born and raised in Missoula and took a role in family businesses that include construction, excavation and real estate. “But it was always Kevin’s dream to get back into cows,” said Traci. “He had a lot of success showing cattle in 4-H and FFA all over the country, so it really was something he wanted to do again.” When their daughter, Abby, was in kindergarten, they settled on ranch land in Florence and two years later, in 1999, they bought their first calf crop. For six years, they have hosted bull sales and garnered quite a reputation, not only as fine bull breeders, but outstanding hosts as well. “It’s a lot of work and a long process,” said Kevin. “We start designing the bulls two years in advance of the sale. Then we breed them, calf them nine months later and then take them through a whole year of weaning, feed lot testing and then preparing them for the sale.” To diversify, Traci sells wrapped Angus beef to families all over the region. “She’s really got a good following and sells quite a bit,” said Kevin. “It helps that we sell both the bulls and the finished product.” So on the first Monday in March with the sun shining through the pine trees at the base of the Bitterroot mountains, more than 200 angus fans gathered on bleachers set up in Mytty’s sale barn. Auctioneer, Roger Jacobs, perched in a well-designed balcony desk kept the sale

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 19

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

TOP - The Myttys have now hosted bull sales for six years. They have gained a reputation for producing quality bulls. MIDDLE - Folks come from far away to be a party of bull sales at the Mytty ranch. PREVIOUS PAGE - A crowd gather at the Mytty Angus Ranch for the only Black Angus sale in Ravalli County.

Page 20 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

lively as 110 yearling bulls were efficiently paraded past potential buyers. Another raised office space held proxy bidders with hopeful buyers on the phone who flashed cards with the buyer’s number for a bid. With cattle prices higher than last year, many at the sale said anticipation for profitable transactions was high. One of the most intense buyers of the day emerged from the barn with a cell phone to his ear. “We got her done,” was all Cory Crouthamel said after claiming the winning bid. From Walla Walla, Wash., Crouthamel made the trip to Mytty Angus Ranch representing nine other investors who together bought half the semen interest for Bull No. 53, Mytty Thunderstruck. For a purchase price of $42,000, Crouthamel and his partners do not take possession of Thunderstruck, but instead will earn profit on all the semen-sale revenue as well as have the opportunity to use Thunderstruck to artificially inseminate their own herds. With perspiration beading at the brim of his black felt hat, Crouthamel was still a little “thunderstruck” after his purchase and was continually on the phone confirming his positive purchase with “my guys from Washington, Oregon, Wyoming and Idaho.” With his own registered Angus herd in Washington, Crouthamel knows bull production is a risky business but said this investment should help his business grow – an understatement eliciting grins and slaps on the back from nearby associates. According to the buyer’s guide, Mytty Thunderstruck is “one of the most powerful young sires in the breed

with a wide muscle pattern and huge body capacity combined with both phenotypic and genotypic balance from top to bottom. “ Thunderstruck was born Jan. 22, 2009 at just 90 pounds. The Myttys said the bull shattered the average daily gain record of any bull they’ve ever tested at 4.55 pounds per day. The bull also had the highest-ever adjusted yearling weight at 1,507 pounds prior to the sale. Not every buyer in the barn was as serious as Crouthamel. Cindy Telford and her parents, Wallace and Marlene Reid, drove up from Shelley, Idaho for the bull sale. Telford is a schoolteacher and admits she was “sluffing school for the road trip” with her parents. “We just love the In Focus bulls,” Telford said. “We bought four last year and three this year, not the expensive ones, but still very beautiful bulls and worth every penny.” WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic The selling price of the bulls had a wide range from less than $2,000 to almost $7,000. Telford said she thought the prices were higher this year “which is good sign for the industry.” But not everyone came to the sale to buy. J.R. Troyer, a log home builder, from St. Ignatius attended the sale with some friends with no intention of bidding this year. “I came to check out the markets and hope to someday be able to get into it,” he said. “I’ve still got small children so not a lot of money, but someday, I hope to buy. It just takes a lot of money to do it.” His friend, Jake Yoder, has a small herd of 20 cows with hopes to expand. “I dream of doing what these guys are doing someday,” he said. “But it’s tough.” The crowd was definitely a varied mix of angus

admirers – from rough and tumble cowboys with mud on their boots and work jeans, to young men wearing baseball caps and enjoying seconds on a grilled hamburger lunch, to well-dressed buyers sporting custommade cowboy hats and high-end western wear. As the sale proceeded, husbands conferred with wives, fathers taught sons the finer points of quality bull traits and many observers kept track of the purchase price of each bull in their program. Credit for the smooth running sale was also owed to the skillful crew behind the barn. Almost a dozen volunteers of all ages herded cattle through a steel maze with all the precision of a practiced athlete as they swung multiple gates, leapt to side rails or pulled sliders opened and closed at just the right moments. While most worked in silence, they occasionally clicked their tongue or beckoned the bull along with personalized soothing sound. All kept intense concentration, but Caleb Strain couldn’t help but laugh when feisty bull No. 71 fought his way through the gates. “He gave us trouble when we were bringing him up from the feed lot,” Strain said after hopping on the rails to avoid contact as the 1,200-pound bull bucked his way through the last loop. Strain and several others held plastic paddles to swat the bull’s backside if needed, but most of the time, the bulls forged ahead without incident keeping time with the rhythm of the swinging gates. When Mytty Hobson, the bull tagged No. 121, finally entered the barn, the auctioneer called out loud and clear, “Buy this one or run your cattle dry.” The last bid took less than 30 seconds to settle and many were amazed how fast the entire sale proceeded. “That was amazing,” said one observer looking at her watch. Most attendees lingered in and around the barn, socializing and analyzing the success of the sale long after it was over. With cow and calf pairs pasturing in the field just north of the green barn, the Myttys have insured the sale will be around another year. “It’s hard work, but it’s a great life,” said Traci. PREVIOUS PAGE - The selling price of the Mytty bulls had a wide range from less than $2,000 to almost $7,000.

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 21

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Page 22 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

he risky venture of 4H livestock

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

Stacie Duce

Our family is fairly new to the 4H scene. With a corral and barn at Grandpa’s place, and the guidance from good friends, our kids began raising hogs to show at the county fair. We started with two interested daughters and two chubby piglets. By last summer, we had four animals feeding like maniacs and four kids with varying interest levels. Our boy was too young for 4-H but still took seriously his responsibility to walk his hog in the corral. By the end of the summer, that pink pig almost came to his shoulders but was a gentle giant. One daughter, adamantly opposed to pig farming in the beginning, watched her sisters’ college savings accounts grow exponentially and decided to jump into the venture last summer. By the end of the season, she had the greatest command with a cane and was rewarded with a Grand Champion ribbon in showmanship for her age group. I’ve been a proud parent on many occasions while watching my kids succeed, but that feeling was indescribable as I sat on the wooden benches last summer and saw my twin daughters keep their composure while holding a lavender and purple ribbon behind their backs. The excitement soon faded at Saturday morning’s auction. With higher feed prices, fewer bidders and a bit of bad luck, most kids left the ring with earnings far below their tallied expenses. I’ll never forget one character-filled kid who still smiled after receiving only a

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 23

PREVIOUS PAGE - Jessica Huggans entered her pig Schwein into both the 4-H showmanship competition and market auction last year. THIS PAGE - 4-H student Lucas Szymoniak hangs out with his goat Hanni. A first time participant in 4-H last year, Lucas was excited for judging at the county fair.

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

dollar per pound for his pig. It was shocking for kids and parents alike but was a good opportunity to put a sense of humor to the test. Most would say, it was a good life’s lesson for the kids – a reality check into the fluctuating economy of raising livestock. But with spring around the corner and fresh batches of potentially champion-worthy piglets being born, our kids are thinking twice about the risks of raising animals for profit. They’re asking themselves the same question every ag producer must ponder at some point in his career, “Am I willing to risk profit for the experience?� Some are dedicated the venture without question. Some let the ledger be their guide. Most call it a serious tragedy when farming and ranching families must end a legacy to sell off remaining assets. While emotion and muddy boots have been the main investments by our 4-H kids, it will be interesting to see if their legacy of successful pig farming is initiated for another season. They heard the voice of fate ring as loud and as clear as the auctioneer’s call, and we’ll see if they’re willing to put it to the test again.

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Page 24 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

et an early start gardening with a hoophouse

It is a clear, bright day in February. The temperature is around 40 degrees, and feeling like spring. You are itching to get started on your garden, but the ground is still frozen. What can you do? If you have a hoophouse, you can start planting. A hoophouse, or high tunnel as they are also known, looks like an unadorned greenhouse. A basic framework of PVC or steel pipe hoops supports UV stabilized plastic sheeting to create a sheltered environment inside. The sidewalls may be rolled up to vent the interior, and if the structure is large enough, doors in the end walls allow a tractor to be driven in for tillage. There is no heat other than what the sun provides, and plants are rooted directly in the soil rather than in pots on benches. This is a loose description because hoophouses can come in many different configurations. A very small WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

MARTY KNOX

Western Agriculture Research Center, Corvallis

one could cover a few tomato plants in a garden, or several large ones could be joined together, covering acres. Some are designed to stay in one place, others are meant to move from field to field, following crop rotations. The definitive constant is that the structure is large enough to get inside to perform maintenance, and is used to protect or enhance the growth of a crop. As simple as they are, hoophouses can make wonderful things happen. A somewhat sunny 40 degree day outside in February can turn into a comfortable 70 degrees inside. The soil inside can reach that all important 50 degree mark, the day length has increased to 10 hours a day, and growth can begin. For hardy annuals such as lettuce and spinach, the season is stretched up to a month and a half on either end of the regular growing season. With a little protection from floating row covers, that

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 25

window can be increased to two months. Warm season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers can enjoy an extra month at either end. Row covers or other types of protection can make a difference here too. The warming effects of a hoophouse may show up in different ways. Extending the total growing season is one effect, so you have more time to get multiple cuttings. Another is that the overall yield and quality of crops will be increased, as compared to the same crops grown outside. At Western Agricultural Research Center, sweet and hot peppers grown inside had a 45-percent higher yield. The inside plants produced both more and heavier individual peppers. The inside peppers also had a much higher percentage of ripeness; being fully colored added much to their appeal. Hoophouses are used for other reasons than warming the growing environment. Besides the warmth, berry growers use them to protect the crop from rain. You can’t pick wet berries and expect them to last for very long, but if the berry crop becomes ripe during a rainy spell, what can you do? With a roof over them and controlled irrigation, the berries stay dry and beautiful. A roof and walls can also protect against hail, wind, deer, birds, and other assorted critters. There are some problems with hoophouses that must be planned for if success is to be had. A hoophouse must be properly vented so that it does not overheat. Many plants will lose their flowers if they get too hot. Tomatoes and peppers are a chief example; over 95 degrees can cause loss to yield. Overheating may not kill the plant, but will set it back. Even on a cool morning, it is amazing how quickly the heat will build up once the sun hits the building. Some people make sure they are there everyday to open and • Organic Cheddars • Organic Jacks • Fresh Cheese Curds • Organic Brie & Feta • Organic Sausages • Organic Meats • Organic Butter • Fresh Lifeline Creamery Farm Store 2424 Meridian Rd., Victor, MT 59875 “Cream on the Top” Store Hours: M-F 11-6pm, Sat 11-4pm Organic Milk Between Victor Steakhouse & Victor Merc off Hwy 93

close the vents, others have automatic systems to do the job. Conversely, this structure that heats up quickly with the sun also cools quickly once the sun goes down. At WARC, we found it a bit ironic that the morning temperatures were always a degree or two cooler than what the outside air temperatures were. The soil temperatures would still be warm, but the air inside would be as cold or colder than the outside. This is where the season extension devices mentioned earlier are useful. The devices (floating row cover, walls o’water, kozy koats, or other ways of storing some solar heat) are even more protective inside a hoophouse than outside. Protected from the stripping effect of air currents (wind), the devices will add many degrees of protection past what they would normally do outside. With warm season vegetables, this effect is most noticeable in the varieties requiring a longer season. This is just a quick introduction to a diverse subject. A hoophouse can be as simple or complex as you want to make it. There is lots of information available on the internet or at a library. Three good sites to start at on the internet are www.HighTunnels.org , National Sustainable Agricultural Information Service (www.attra. org), and the Penn State Center of Plasticulture (http:// plasticulture.cas.psu.edu/). To see a live one in use, come visit at the Western Agricultural Research Center, 580 Quast Lane, Corvallis, or call 961-3025. PREVIOUS PAGE - Marty Knox looks over the nice crop of Zowie Zinnias and Bachelor Buttons growing in the hoop house at the Western Ag Research Station just outside of Corvallis.

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Page 26 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

orsemanship Commandment #2

THERESA MANZELLA Willing Servants Founder

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

You must learn to speak the horse’s language. Do not expect the horse to speak the human language. To understand the horse’s language, you must look at how they communicate with each other in their own society called “the herd.” Within the herd there is a herd leader called the Alpha Horse. The alpha horse is the bravest and the toughest horse in the herd. And he or she is willing to fight with all takers to prove it. The alpha horse eats first, drinks first and keeps the others in line. In the wild, the alpha horse keeps a sharp eye out for danger and alerts the rest of the herd when it is necessary to “run for your lives!” The remaining horses in the herd fall into a “pecking order” below the Alpha Horse. The second toughest horse fills the no. 2 spot, the third toughest fills the no. 3 spot and so on down the line to the last horse. When we begin a relationship with a horse, we must establish ourselves as the leader; the boss or “the Alpha Horse”; worthy of respect as well as trust. To do this successfully, we must learn to “speak” to the horse in the same way the horses “speak” to one another. They use “body language” to speak with primarily. Their body language includes facial expressions, body postures, touching one another, both tenderly and forcefully. They also use the tone of their voice to communicate with. They may nicker in excitement or squeal in anger. Since they can’t talk to us in English, or use words that we understand, our challenge as Horsemen is

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 27

to learn to “read” their body language as accurately as they “read” each other. My hope is that by the end of this program you will have successfully learned to interpret and speak “Horse,” much like you would learn to speak any other language such as Spanish, German or French. But instead of training your tongue, you will need to train your eye, like you would if you were learning to use sign language. You must learn to be observant. You must learn to recognize large and more importantly, small changes in your horses body posture and what the changes mean. Lets examine some Horse Body Language within the herd: • Ears pinned back, wrinkles around nostrils and under eyes - “Don’t come any closer. You’re irritating me.” • Backing up while ears are pinned back - “I told you you’re irritating me. Now get out of my space.” • Kicking while backing up, with ears pinned back; possibly squealing - “I asked you nicely to get out of my space; now I’m telling you!!! BACK OFF or I’ll hurt you!!” • Head and neck high, eyes wide open, body rigid, maybe snorting - “ALERT! What’s that I see? Maybe I should run!” • Pawing - “I’m impatient!” • Head down, eyes half open, one hind leg cocked - “Life is good and I’m relaxed.”

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

• Pulling back against rope when tied - “I’m scared and I want to be free to run.” • Grinding teeth - “I’m nervous and a little afraid. I hope this upright speaks my language.” • Teeth clenched, tight jaw - “I don’t understand what you’re asking.” • Licking lips after communication has been received and understood - “Oh, I get it.” • Bucking while running in pasture - “What a beautiful day. It’s good to be alive! • Bucking while being ridden - This can be a tough one to interpret. Usually it means “Get off my back! I don’t understand you and you scare me!” But sometimes it means “Get off my back! I’m mad at you!” And there’s always the chance that it means- “Come on upright, let’s jump for joy and play horsey games.” Or it could mean “My saddle is too tight!”, or “There’s a burr under my blanket.” The best Horsemen avoid “wrecks” before they happen, because they can accurately interpret what the horse is “saying” long before the horse feels it has to react out of fear. One of the first things I teach my new born babies is to play the “fingertip game.” I teach my horses to move away from the pressure applied by my fingertips at specific points on their bodies. As an example, let’s say our horse is tied to a hitching post and he’s “sided” up to it so that his body is too close to the post for us to safely groom or saddle him.

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

Page 28 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

We need him to move his body away from the hitching post. So we carefully put our hands or fingers against the area in front of his flank (the back of his rib cage), cluck to him, which means “move” and ask him to move away from the pressure he’s feeling on his side. A horse’s instincts tell him to move into pressure, so we must be patient and teach him to move away from pressure as his response to our request. After he has honored our request, we praise him letting him know he made the right decision and that we appreciate his cooperation. After all, everyone likes to be told when they’ve done something right and horses are no exception. My horses have all been trained using the same system and the same set of cues. My cues are very specific and I am very consistent in using them. For example, when I am teaching a baby to walk with me on a lead rope, I say “Walk; cluck, cluck.” I also lean forward a little bit with my body before taking the first step so to alert the baby that he/she should prepare to do the same. They learn to read my body language very quickly and understand the communication if it is presented the same way every time. Then when it’s time to train the baby under saddle, they already understand the cue to walk. The only difference is that I’m on their back rather than beside them. They are familiar with the cue to walk and therefore it is a far less scary experience for them. Then when we climb aboard our horses we use our hands on the reins and our legs and feet in the stirrups to tell them where we want to go and how fast. We also use our voices in conjunction with our hands and legs. And thats what we’ll be learning about today. Let’s check our cinches and mount up.

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L Stewardship for Small Acreages

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 29

iving on the Land

BOBBIE ROOS

MSU Ravalli County Extension

WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

The 1980s and 1990s were decades characterized by growth and sprawl across the United States. Most metropolitan areas added urbanized land at a much faster rate than they added population. Western states grew the fastest. Much of the growth occurred as large agricultural tracts were subdivided into small-acreage parcels. This growing number of small-acreage properties presents a number of challenges. For many owners, their new residence will be their first experience living in a rural setting. There are expectations of clean living, good schools, less traffic, friendly neighbors, a high level of services, and little interference with lifestyle decisions. The reality can often be quite different and results in a variety of social, economic and environmental issues. Americans have always dreamed of going back to the land and many times it is on a few acres. Who are those

Americans who live on a few acres, a very diverse group from retired computer analysts to young families seeking a different life style in raising their children? Most people who purchase a small-acreage property have an idea of the eventual look and uses they envision for their property. Unfortunately, this vision is sometimes nebulous, incomplete, or unrealistic. Small acreage landowners must also understand that what they do on their land involves a system. This system includes the physical layout of their properties, social aspects of interactions with neighbors and communities, and the land owners’ economic situation. Stepping back and taking an approach that focuses on short-term and long-term goals for their properties can seem like an unnecessary activity, but can save time, money and even emotional frustration. It will also make the property more sustainable.

Page 30 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

The first step in any land use endeavor is to identify the existing asset(s) of a property. This process enables the landowner to realize the extent and potential of their physical holdings as well as the limitations and responsibilities. It will help them be better prepared to set and implement reasonable goals for their properties and become better stewards of the land. Good stewardship mirrors a focus on sustainability since it considers the long-term picture, the needs of future generations, and the whole system, or the combined physical, economic and social aspects of your property. Systems thinking is an essential aspect of sustainability and land stewardship. It involves looking at a property as a system of interconnected parts. All the parts are interrelated and reliant on the function of other parts, from the soil ecosystem, to the soil, water, plant, animal or natural system, and to the food system. Systems thinking as applied to a property will involve looking at “the whole.” This will naturally force a landowner to look for the root causes of problems, interactions, and cause and effect relationships. Also, the way in which a system is looked at, will depend on what the ultimate goals are and will help the landowner plan the best way to achieve those goals. There are several questions that come to mind that can assist land owners in fine tuning or setting goals for their property that include: • Why did I want to own a small acreage property? • Why did you buy this particular property? • What do you want your property to look like? • What would you like to accomplish on your property? Some goals might be to maximize income, to supplement income, for fun, wildlife habitat, fish, grazing, 4-H

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Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 31

DR. LINDA KAUFFMAN, DVM Burnt Fork Veterinary Clinic

Advice for pet situations (10 animals or less) WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic

Facilities & Housing Sheep and goats require field fencing like woven wire or hog/cattle panels to keep them in. Electric fencing can be adequate in some situations, but be aware that it will not keep predators, like dogs, out. If you are fortunate enough to have pasture, your animals can run on it year round if you rotate them to around the pasture to prevent over-grazing in any one area. If you have a dry lot (no pasture), then provide good quality hay. Shelter buildings are not absolutely necessary, but are preferred. An enclosed barn is highly recommended if you are breeding animals and have babies during cold weather. An open front building or lean-to to provide shelter from wind, rain, and snow is fine. Sheep, llamas, and alpacas need shade in summer. If animals become ill, especially in the winter, it is necessary to confine them. Providing water and monitoring their feed intake, as well as output, requires electricity in the barn or nearby. Having a facility also makes confinement and handling for deworming, vaccinating, shearing and other veterinary procedures easier.

Feeding Goats are browsers and prefer many types of plant species, in addition to grass. They may consume as much as 80–85 percent browse and 15-20 percent grasses. Sheep tend to eat grass primarily. They graze selectively and prefer the higher quality portion of the plant. Pasture and/or good quality hay need to be available. Limit hay, as animals will waste it. Overweight animals, especially neutered males, can develop many health problems. When buying hay for the first time, take someone with you who is knowledgeable about type and quality. Know the weight of the bales or have a scale to weigh the feed to ensure you are feeding appropriately. A general rule of thumb is that non-pregnant or non- lactating ruminants need at least 3-5 percent of their body weight for consumption each day. Remember, this is a guideline to start with and to use it you must have an accurate weight for your animal. Goats, except Angoras, body condition or body score is easily visible, but animals with wool or fiber require handling to make this assessment (ie. touch their

back and ribs). These heavy wooled animals can be much thinner than you realize, so get that “hands on” experience. Grain- Generally, it is not necessary to feed grain to sheep, goats, and camelids if good quality roughage in adequate amounts is available. Breeding and lactating animals are exceptions, as well as possibly animals being fattened for slaughter. Many people feed grain, often to the detriment and even demise of their animals. Grain needs to be fed with caution. I generally recommend feeding a grain designed specifically for that species. Generally grain should be fed in small amounts. Consult with your veterinarian or with a knowledgeable animal producer instead. I frequently see problems when COB (corn, oats and barley grain mixture) is fed to sheep and especially goats. COB is widely available, frequently fed, and recommended by feed stores. In many cases, COB is fed as a “treat”, which is fine, but feed in terms of ¼ to ½ cup (2-4 oz.) to a 75 - 100 pound animal once daily. Minerals - In our mineral deficient

Page 32 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

valley, mineral supplementation is important. This topic can be complicated, but in general it is recommended to offer a loose mineral (not in block form) and loose or block salt (not trace mineralized or iodized). This means offering both, but not in a combined product unless done under the recommendation of a veterinarian. (Certain mineral products are designed to be mixed with salt and fed this way.) Why is loose mineral form important? Nutritionists will tell you animals cannot spend enough time licking a mineral block to consume an adequate amount of mineral to meet the nutritional needs of ruminants and camelids. This is due to the mineral deficiencies of the ground and the feeds raised in the soil. Once again, choose the mineral that is designed specifically for the species you own. Sheep and goats are sensitive to the levels of copper fed to cattle and horses. Cattle and horse feeds and minerals if consumed in adequate amounts can produce a fatal toxicity in sheep and goats.

ruminants. (This product contains three of the eight clostridial types found in Covexin 8.) Both of these products are available at feed stores and some pharmacies.

CDT or Covenix 8? If yes, then the baby will be protected for a period of time after the birth IF they received her colostrum. 3. How old is the baby? How much and how often has it been fed? Is it Parasites nursing on its own or is it being tube Intestinal parasites are a common, fed? often debilitating or fatal problem in 4. If the orphan lamb is older, find sheep and goats. Animals that pasture out or look to see, if it’s testicles on irrigated ground are more at risk banded and its tail docked (male and for severe infestations. It is important females)? to consult with your vet regarding a 5. If this is a goat kid, similarly check deworming program as needs and to see if the male is banded and ask situations vary greatly in the Bitterroot about disbudding (removing the horn Valley. Be aware that intestinal parabuds). Goats grow large horns and sites are becoming resistant to the quickly learn to use them no matter dewormers currently available, so it how gentle they may seem. Some is very important to deworm strategiproducers do their own disbudding, cally. This means deworming when and others have veterinarians do it. necessary and managing pastures Disbudding needs to be done at a to minimize parasite contamination. young age (10 days to 14 days old) to Your vet is a good source to examine avoid surgery. Generally a local anesfeces and make recommendations for thesia is used and an electric dehorner products to use to deworm, as well is used to burn the horn bud. as advising on pasture management practices. There is no pat recommenShearing and Foot Trimming dation on when to deworm. You need Shearing is the most responsible to consult a veterinarian and check thing to do for any animal which stool samples to properly manage requires it, which includes most of General Health Care your animals. these animals except short-haired The vaccinations listed below are Older and younger animals are more goats. Choose a time in April or May given once a year. Young or unvacat risk for parasite infestations and it is before the sun is too intense to cause cinated animals need a series of two possible for them to became so heav- sunburn. I have seen sunburn severe vaccinations given one month apart. ily parasitized that they die. enough to cause third degree burns Small ruminants and camelids are and skin loss in a llama. The lesson generally vaccinated for the clostridial Young Animals being not to shear them too short at diseases (tetanus family). Two prodIf you purchase or are given an the height of summer. Some individuucts are available: orphaned animal or a small triplet, als that shear sheep will also do llamas 1. Covexin 8 covers eight types of quad lamb or kid, there are several and alpacas. Since alpaca fiber is valuthe clostridial diseases that ruminants questions to ask the owner. able, having a specialist shear them is are susceptible to, including tetanus. 1. Did the animal get colostrum from recommended. (Note: Small ruminants are more the mother or an artificial product? Foot trimming is necessary in almost susceptible to tetanus than cattle, so Colostrum is the first milk from the all these animals unless they run on tetanus is not usually included in cattle dam and is a must for small animal dry, rocky ground. Foot infections 8-way vaccines.) ruminants because it contains life sav- and lameness can be caused by negli2. CDT covers the three most coming protective antibodies. gence or lack of foot care. mon clostridial diseases know to small 2. Was the mother vaccinated with

Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010 - Page 33

Agriculture Heritage Notebook The Bitter Root Cultural Heritage Trust works in partnership with families, neighborhoods, and communities to restore historic structures, bring back traditional events and celebrations, encourage interpretation, and affirm cultural values.

The Heritage Trust is delighted to be a part of the Ravalli Republic Ag Mag and will be bringing you stories of our local agricultural history and heritage in each issue. For this inaugural issue we asked Wendy Beye to highlight an historic valley barn and the family that owns it. Wendy, is working on the BitterRoot Barns Project. Wendy’s barn photos will ultimately serve many purposes, but her primary objective is to write a book about selected historic Bitterroot barns. Beyond their architectural beauty on the landscape, Wendy incorporates the stories of the families that own, use, and steward the barns. The Bitter Root Cultural Heritage Trust is proud to be a partner to the BitterRoot Barns Project.

WENDY BEYE - 2010

Bessie Bolin is a petite woman, neatly dressed and coiffed as she graciously invites me into her cozy ranchhouse dining room to explore the history of the straight-backed centenarian barn just down the lane. Formalities are soon behind us, and Bessie puts on a pot of coffee to be savored with some homemade chocolate chip cookies. Her daughters Marlene and Shirley join us, the phone rings a few times, and finally we begin a treasure hunt for documents and memories. The Bolin Ranch has been pieced together over the last 120 years from transfers of original homesteads due not only to outright sales, but also to bankruptcies, deaths and tax defaults. Ernest Bolin was born on the ranch, and moved his bride Bessie onto ranch headquarters in 1952. They raised Herefords, black angus, and children in the beautiful valley that stretches east from Lone Rock School Road along Ambrose Creek and up into the grassy slopes of the Sapphire Range. Bessie is a meticulous record-keeper, and has Abstracts of Title for all the parcels that make up the ranch. The earliest documents, dating from the late 1880s, evidenced land grants of 160 acres each to several different homesteaders. One name, William Marshall Franks, stood out. Bessie said a man named Franks used to come sit in the grass near the barn, and just gaze at it. He told her that he and his father built the barn. We keep digging, and find a transfer from W.M. Franks to his son, Cyrus.

Bessie exclaims, “That was his name – Cyrus!” Another document details a distribution of land to Cyrus, his brother John, and a sister, Florence Lockridge, upon W.M. Frank’s death in 1907. If Cyrus Franks helped his father build the barn, it had to be constructed prior to 1907, but probably no earlier than 1887, the date of the homestead land grant. If the Franks family followed the tradition of most homesteaders, the barn was the first building raised on the land – survival of the family depended upon survival of their livestock. The barn, visible from Bessie’s front window, appears to be in excellent condition for its 100+ age. We spend a little more time tracking the chain of title from the Franks family to the University Orchard and Development Co., a St. Louis, Missouri company that bought up much of the ranch in 1910 and leased it to prospective apple, pear, and cherry orchardists. The St. Louis company soon went broke, perhaps because of the overabundance of orchard tracts and dearth of lessees in the valley. In 1918, another company, Ambrose Farms, purchased the land and proceeded to go broke raising hogs. Ambrose Farms lost title through tax default, and the ranch was purchased in 1935 by Percy and Rose Pentz, who in spite of the Depression, had managed to stash some money in savings. That same year, Percy and Rose deeded some of the land to Norman T. Bolin, who had married Rose’s sister

Page 34 - Agriculture Quarterly, March 2010

Charlotte and produced a son named Ernest. An old photograph from the family album shows Norman and a handsome draft horse posing in front of the barn in 1938. But enough historical sleuthing for now – it’s time to explore the barn. Marlene and I pull on our high rubber boots, I grab my camera, and we squish down the muddy lane for a closer look at the barn, cheerfully accompanied by Ruby and Louie, the family dogs. We chat as we slog along. She recalls being repeatedly scolded by her father for enticing her cousins to join her in jumping from the beams in the granary beyond the big irrigation ditch siphon. The grain stored there made for soft landings, but their repeated leaps pushed the grain out the door so it couldn’t be closed against animals and weather. Ernest was not happy. The soft cooing of pigeons roosting on the barn greets us as we swing the weathered door aside and step into the shadows. The north side of the barn served as a milking barn, with about a dozen wooden stanchions along the centerline. Rows of still honey-colored rough-sawn timber trusses support the beautifully designed structure. Whittled pegs lock mortise and tenon joints together. The only nails visible are the spikes used to hang harnesses and tools. We climb up the ladder into the loft where the hay used to be stored. Now we can hear the pigeons sliding on the metal roof that Bessie and Ernest installed in the early 70s. Waist-high chutes lead from the loft down to the feeding trough in front of the milking stanchions. The hay trolley hangs on tracks below the barn’s ridge, and a clamshell hay hook rests under the eaves. We have to watch our step, as the floorboards under the eaves are not solid, allowing air to circulate around the hay. I can imagine how sweet the loft smelled at the end of the summer harvest.

The south side of the barn contains horse stalls, with large windows opening to the center lane of the barn so hay could easily be pitched to the animals. The doorsills and floor are worn from years of shod drafthorse traffic. Brittle harnesses and bridles hang all along the wall. Marlene reaches behind a folded back shutter and finds part of an old mouse-eaten catalog that had been stuffed there. The advertisement for automobiles touts “the latest 1915 models.” We spend another half hour meandering through the other old buildings at the ranch headquarters: a bunkhouse, a machine shed, a root cellar with wooden barrels still in place, a log shelter for the angus bulls, a shop with a handcrank drill press, and the smokehouse. In our earlier conversation, I had asked Bessie what she envisioned for the ranch in twenty years’ time. She sighed, “It probably won’t be a ranch. You can’t raise a steer and sell it for 75 cents a pound when it costs you over a dollar a pound to raise it.” Marlene and Shirley reluctantly agreed with WENDY BEYE - 2010 the economic facts that cause small operations to become financial burdens, but said they believed the demise of family ranches is a great loss to our community and society as a whole. Like other ranching families, the Bolins are rooted in the land that sustained them for so many years, and if those roots must be severed, the entire clan will be shaken. Sunset brings my visit to an end. The air chills, and it’s time to pack up and head home. Then Marlene mentions some really old buildings that are on the ranch acreage in the mountains to the east. I laugh and say, “I’ll be back next summer with my riding mule!” THIS PAGE - Straight-backed Bolin barn with granary in the distance to the left of the barn.

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