Western Farm, Ranch, & Dairy - West-Southwest - Fall/Winter Edition 2022

Page 1

Ritz WESTERN FAR M, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com FREE A Winning Strategy Against Soybean White Mold and SDS Pressurized Exhaust Kills Burrowing Rodents West-Southwest • Fall/Winter Edition 2022 THE VITAL SOURCE OF THE AG INDUSTRY

Generation 2 & 3

Teton • Castle Russet

Burbank • Alturas • Payette Call Us Today For More Information.

DROGE FARMS

Manhattan, Montana

Glenn: 7590 Stagecoach Tr. • (406) 580-7588

Vernon: 7525 Stagecoach Tr. • (406) 539-6586

Tim: 7666 Stagecoach Tr. • (406) 539-7200

3
WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz
Raceway
Box
Eagle,
rebirdonline.com
Harvest The Best, Plant The Best!”
www.FarmRanchDairy.com
Firebird
P.O.
1398 •
ID 83616 208-939-8986 www.fi
“To
Image by Ken Ritchie
Ritz WESTERN FAR M, RANCH, & DAIRY Table of Contents AGRICULTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and NaturalResources is the Place for You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Fertilizer-Cost-and-Availability Crisis Requires Farmers to Practice Precision Farming to Stay in Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Pressurized Exhaust Kills Burrowing Rodents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 A Winning Strategy Against Soybean White Mold and SDS . . . . . . . . 12 Stukenholtz Laboratory Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Permanent Foundations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Stainless Steel Air Seeder Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Benefits Of Using Sweetpro On Dry Pastures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 LIVESTOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Catch A Ride On The Feed Train® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Rio Hondo Livestock Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Water Grows Nebraska Dairy Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 MARKETPLACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 West-Southwest • Fall/Winter Edition 2022 4 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com

WESTERN FAR M, RANCH, & DAIRY a Ritz Family

President/CEO

Publication

Michael Ritz – mikeritz@ritzfamilypublishing.com

General Manager

Brenda Stoner – brenda@ritzfamilypublishing.com

Sales

Keven Davis – kevin@farmranchdairy.com

Pat Drury – pat@ritzfamilypublishing.com

Ritz FAMILY PUBLISHING,INC.

Corporate Office

Ritz Family Publishing, Inc.

714 N Main Street

Meridian, ID 83642

www.ritzfamilypublishing.com

Sales

For all sales inquiries, call toll free 1-800-330-3482 or 1-208-955-0124

info@ritzfamilypublishing.com

Subscriptions

For a subscription or to change your mailing address, call toll free: 1-800-330-3482 or 1-208-955-0124

info@ritzfamilypublishing.com

Design & Layout By iRockimages.com, Boise, ID Printed By Owyhee Publishing, Homedale, ID Copyright© 2022. All rights reserved. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of this publication, however, the publisher does not assume responsibility for omissions or typographical errors. The publisher does not assume responsibility or is liable for the contents of any advertising herein. Publisher’s liability for errors in an advertisement is limited to a correct insertion in the next publication. In the event of a misprint, the publisher must be informed of such error prior to printing of the next publication.

5 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz
Ritz
Cover Image by Robert Jones

AGRICULTURE

6 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com
Image by Gábor Adonyi

University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the Place for You

The University of Wyoming’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has a program for you! With 8 different Bachelor’s degree program options and Graduate and Doctoral programs to compliment Bachelor’s degrees, there is a place for everyone. The programs we offer include agriculture business, agriculture communications, plant production and protection, animal and veterinary science, family and consumer science, microbiology, molecular biology, and rangeland & watershed management.

In addition to top-notch academic programs there are many ways to enrich your time here at UW. With over 20 different clubs, organizations, and nationally competitive teams, there is always something to fill your schedule. If you’re one for competition, we have teams for livestock, meat, and wool judging, equestrian and rodeo. Looking to extend your professional network? Check out Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association, UW Block and Bridle, Wyoming Collegiate Wool Growers or Pre-Veterinary Club. Gain hands on skills and experience through ACRES Student Farm, Food Science Club, Ranch Horse Team or apply to be a Cowboy Joe pony handler. We also have agricultural based Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and Sigma Alpha Sorority to really round out your collegiate experience.

To top it all off, we have excellent and affordable tuition. The University of Wyoming was ranked 2nd in the nation among landgrant universities and #5 overall in the Wall Street

Journal’s 2020 “Is Your College Worth the Cost.” The College of Agriculture has a great selection of scholarships as well, with over $900,000 awarded to students last year.

With diverse degree programs and a club for everyone, the UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the place for you.

7 www.FarmRanchDairy.com
, g gy
us
| 307-766-4135
Watershed Management. We also offer master ’ s and doctoral degrees to complement a bachelor ’ s degree. We support over 20 student clubs, organizations and nationally competitive teams. Visit
at uwyo.edu/uwag

The Fertilizer-Cost-andAvailability Crisis Requires Farmers to Practice Precision Farming to Stay in Business

Efficient Fertilization Practice is now a necessity!

Since the onset of 2020, fertilizer prices have been exploding. But now, simply the availability in addition to evermore outrageous cost of fertilizer due to a variety of well-publicized reasons has become very seriously problematic. Presently, there seems to be no ceiling to cost escalation or foreseeable end to limitations on supplies. This means that every pound or gallon of fertilizer applied must be utilized by the crop to the greatest extent possible.

About “Precision Farming”: This term has implied mechanical means of precise seed and fertilizer placement, variable-rate fertilizer applications based on grid soil sampling and nearinfrared ærial surveys, metered applications of fertilizers through irrigation systems and GPS guidance of tractors and sprayers. But realistically, these approaches address only a modest part of achieving maximum crop performance with the most efficient use of money and resources. Whether or not precision mechanical means are used, here some of the most important considerations when attempting to get the most out of the least:

• “Traditional” practices have got to go! Here are the biggest mistakes I’ve seen farmers make over and over again during my 30-plus years with TPS Lab:

• The major application of fertilizer being made at the start of the growing season, expecting it to suffice for the entire season.

• The wrong fertilizer for the soil type or crop.

• Not keeping up with the latest advances and discoveries in crop nutrition.

• Not using bio-stimulants to improve crop performance and its resistance to disease and insects.

• Ignoring existing soil nutrients which are plantunavailable, especially in calcareous, high-pH soils.

• Ignoring irrigation and spray water quality.

• Ignoring soil health/life.

• Not planning beyond this year’s crop using the “Regenerative Agriculture” approach.

• The key issues in efficient crop production are:

• Timing and placement of fertilizer applications.

• The correct fertilizer for your soil type, the crop and its stage of development.

• Acceptable irrigation and spray water quality.

• The use of biological inoculants and bio-stimulants, such as amino acids, growth hormones and other beneficial products that may not be essential for plant growth.

Timing and Placement of Fertilizer Applications Is Crucial

– Many farmers apply the bulk of their fertilizers at the onset of the season. This is colossally wasteful, as plants develop their appetites and tastes with growth, much of the fertilizer has been dissipated by the time the plants start needing it the most. This is particularly true with N. Remember that crop nutritional needs change throughout the growing season, so applying the wrong fertilizer at the wrong time for your particular crop wastes much of your money. As to placement, with row crops, side-dressing can require much less fertilizer and starter “pop-up” fertilizer is astonishingly effective in getting crops off to fast vigorous starts. After emergence, the use of foliar sprays is the most efficient method of getting nutrients into plants.

About Foliar Sprays – In some areas of the country, particularly the Corn Belt, foliar sprays of plant-beneficial and nutritional agents are typically seldom used, as this area of the country has been historically known as having the highest-producing capacity of corn and soybeans per acre. Unfortunately, the Midwest’s rich soil nutrient pool is declining due to reduction of soil organic matter (soil carbon) much like

8 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com

the rest of the country. This leads to nutrient deficiencies, especially micronutrients, that limit plant genetic potential resulting in reduced yields and quality. As a result, increased disease and insect pressure increases input costs of additional fungicides and pesticides which reduces return on investment. Here, foliar sprays of bio-stimulants, micronutrients and trace elements can have big, faster and longer-term impacts on crop health, performance and economics.

Type of Fertilizer – Here is where a Soil Test is really important! If you have calcareous soils and buy micronutrients in the oxide form, you have literally thrown money on the ground with no benefit at all. When it comes to nitrogen, there can be a huge difference between anhydrous ammonia, urea, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate as to its longevity, its utilization by the plant and its impact on native soil chemistry and soil life. Is it nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen or organic nitrogen? The forms of other nutrients are equally important – for example, MAP or DAP? Choosing the best fertilizer for your specific soil conditions or foliar fertilizer for specific stage of growth can save huge amount of money and increase ROI. This is the reason why some have not seen much success from the use of foliar sprays. The wrong product, mixing incompatible or antagonistic products together, wrong application rates, missing critical stages of growth and inadequate water quality are quite common mistakes.

Plant Sap Tests at critical stages of crop development during the season are crucial to determining the nutritional needs of the crop so that no more than necessary of what is applied, thus saving money and limited supplies. Plants eat and drink every day and their tastes and appetites change with time. Those changing needs (but no more than needs) must be accommodated to have some assurance of a profitable outcome.

Advances and Discoveries in crop nutrition and health are being made all the time – particularly in the chelated forms of micronutrients, resulting in a much higher efficiency of plant uptake and utilization. This means using less to produce more. A fairly recent discovery is foliarly-applied water-soluble silicon. Si stiffens and hardens cell walls, thereby discouraging piercing and gnawing insects and resist disease – and lodging. Si forms a very thin hard layer that resists nematodes and soil pathogens on roots. A very recent tool is nanoparticles that encapsulates the inputs you already use into tiny nanoparticles that glide through foliar and root barriers, thereby improving efficiency and speed of uptake and reducing the energy required by the plant to get nutrients into its cells.

Bio-Stimulants – There is more to crop health and nutrition than just chemistry. These game-changers include organic acids, growth hormones and biological inoculants that can dramatically improve crop performance, nutrient uptake efficiency and resistance to disease and insects - thus reducing or eliminating entirely the need for costly pesticides and fungicides. Encourage the plants, microbes and other soil life to do much of the heavy lifting!

Already Existing Soil Nutrients – Particularly in calcareous soils, many of the metal nutrients exist as carbonate and bicarbonate chemical compounds often in abundance – all very insoluble and therefore unavailable to plants. The standard soil treatment is sulfur but the latest method also includes the use of bio-stimulants. These break the chemical bond by chelating the nutrients into bioavailable forms. Humic/Fulvic Acids, Amino Acids, Enzymes and beneficial soil bacteria from additions of soil inoculants all play a vital role to access this nutrient pool. Additions of these bio-stimulants to your existing fertility program can increase your fertilizer efficiency by more than 20% in most cases, allowing you to cut back on fertilizer in times of high cost and limited availability, and have long-term cumulative benefits.

Water Quality Test – Irrigating with hard or salty water can have dramatic impacts on soil chemistry and structure, because What’s In Your Water Becomes Part Of Your Soil ®. As aquifer levels fall, natural dissolved minerals become more concentrated. There are several methods to remediate soil. Using hard water for the spray mix can change the chemistries of spray agents to the extent of making them ineffective and possibly damaging plants. Appropriate water treatment is needed to offset or remediate these problems.

Regenerative Agriculture – Planning beyond this year to reduce costs and increase crop performance by regenerating soil structure and health/life, thereby increasing long-term nutrient availability and carbon sequestration, reducing future costs and resources. Reduction of soil disturbance and continuous vegetation cover on soil as much as possible increases the amount of diversity of organic residues to maximize nutrient and water use efficiency by plants. Restoring overall microbial life is essential to soil/plant health and biodiversity. This sustainable approach is a long road to travel but it must be initiated if farmers want to be successful over prolonged challenging times.

Bottom Line – Maintaining balanced nutrition and vigorous soil life at every stage of your plants’ life cycle will ensure that no matter what challenge Mother Nature sends, your crops will have the best chance of making you money. Soil, Water and Sap Testing is one of the best investments a grower can make, especially during these times of uncertainty with exorbitant fertilizer prices so you can apply only what your crop needs, where it needs it and when it needs it!

Don’t guess and hope for the best!

9 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz

Pressurized Exhaust Kills Burrowing Rodents

The H & M Gopher Control PERC® system (Pressurized Exhaust Rodent Controller) uses carbon monoxide from pressurized engine exhaust to kill burrowing rodents such as gophers, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, moles & voles.

Exhaust gas has long been one of the most lethal and least expensive methods to kill burrowing rodents, but until now there hasn’t been an economical, efficient delivery system.

Company owners, Allen Hurlburt and Virginia Massey, said the PERC® system involves a narrow steel wand that is used to probe the burrow and inject pressurized exhaust. The burrow is filled with lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide under pressure. The rodent has no chance to escape or block the burrow.

An internal combustion engine generates the carbon monoxide and drives a compressor pump that pressurizes the exhaust gas to 110 psi in a storage tank. An air hose and a handheld probe inject the gas directly into the burrow without any digging.

The PERC® system is simple to use and safe for the operator as well as wildlife since there is no poison bait or explosion involved. Crop stands are

not damaged during treatment. No other control method is as effective, efficient, and as inexpensive to operate as the PERC®.

A PERC® system can treat moderately infested alfalfa fields at about 3.5 acres an hour with a single operator. Each probed location requires only about 2-to-3-minute injection times.

Units have been shipped to customers from Southern California to Central Canada, and as far east as Florida. Though most of the market has been with alfalfa growers, orchard and specialty crop growers have also purchased units. The PERC® system is the best solution anywhere burrowing rodents are a problem.

The PERC® system comes in three sizes, the 206, 412, and 620. The 206 and 412 comes as a skid, single axel, tandem axel, or road trailer. The 620 is sold as a skid, tandem axel, or road trailer. Contact us and we will help you decide what might be right for you.

For more information call toll free (855) 667-5181 or visit the website www.HandMgophercontrol.com and request a quote.

10 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com
11 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz

A Winning Strategy Against Soybean White Mold and SDS

If your fields had disease this past season, you’re at higher risk of that disease reoccurring.

According to Dr. X.B. Yang, Plant Pathologist at Iowa State University, fungus from white mold (sclerotia) and sudden death syndrome can survive in soil for up to seven years. Rotating crops can reduce the amount of pathogen, but it is unlikely to be eliminated. Yield losses can be as high as 50 percent in fields having severe infestation.

While there is no silver bullet approach for eliminating white mold or SDS, they can be effectively managed through a multiple step process to limit yield loss. Practices for reducing severity include rotating to non-host crops, using resistant

varieties of seed, and having your seed dealer apply Heads Up Seed Treatment.

The full list of mitigation strategies is available on HeadsUpST.com/manage

What is Heads Up®?

Family owned and operated since 1999, Heads Up is a biological seed treatment registered for conventional and organic use, offering protection against both white mold and SDS.

Key Benefits Include:

• Low use rate and compatible with other treatments.

• 15+ years of trials and third-party research

• Full-season protection from a broad spectrum of disease.

• EPA and PMRA registered. OMRI™ listed for organic use.

• Increased yield and lower overall incidence of disease.

• Fewer infected plants, which reduces the spread of disease and lessens the amount of sclerotia returning to the soil – positively impacting future planting.

• Can apply well in advance of planting.

Speak with a Heads Up representative today for help in developing a winning strategy against white mold and SDS in 2023.

Call 1-866-368-9306 or visit HeadsUpST.com for more information.

12 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com

Stukenholtz Laboratory Inc .

Celebrating 52 Years of Agricultural Testing

In 1970, there were no commercial soil and plant testing laboratories in Idaho. Farmers applied fertilizers based upon educated guesswork. Dr. Dale Stukenholtz and his wife Joyce saw an opportunity to build a business and started a soil and plant testing laboratory and field consulting service based in Twin Falls, Idaho. Dr. Stukenholtz had an unusually diverse background as an educator at the University of Nebraska, an agronomist in the fertilizer industry, and a farmer, and he saw a need for more modern fertilizer recommendations to produce greater yields at less cost. His clients were the growers, so he could make unbiased recommendations that maximized economic return to the farmer. After extensive field research, he developed these improved fertilizer recommendations that quickly became popular with growers and form the basis for nearly all fertilizer applications in the intermountain west area. Stukenholtz Laboratory clients include growers from all neighboring states and several foreign countries including Australia, Canada, Egypt, Russia, Mexico and New Zealand.

Stukenholtz Laboratory provides 1 to 2 day service, including picking up and delivery time, across Southern Idaho from St. Anthony and Grace to Parma and Homedale. Results can be delivered, mailed, faxed, or pulled from the Laboratory’s webpage: www.stukenholtz.com. To improve their service, Joyce and Dale Stukenholtz expanded the laboratory 25 years ago, installed the latest in computerized instrumentation and quality control, and made it the most modern and well equipped agricultural laboratory in their market area.

Critical to the success of Idaho’s most efficient laboratory and largest field consulting firm has been its personnel. Dr. Stukenholtz has had a PhD in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition since 1964 and his son and Laboratory Manager

Paul has nearly completed his own. Consulting agronomists include J.P. Kruckeberg of American Falls, a 43 year veteran of field consulting and the most successful single agronomist in the state, and Bart Kunz. The Laboratory and office staff are equally good.

Stukenholtz Laboratory continues with research and improvement. In conjunction with the Idaho Crop Production Association and University of Idaho CFEP research project, Stukenholtz Laboratory has helped to ensure that fertilizer recommendations in Idaho are the most cost efficient possible and produce the maximum economic yield while protecting the environment. Stukenholtz Laboratory personnel have conducted field research on over 40 different products and continue to be the experts at “cutting edge” agricultural technology. As we end our first 50 years of business and begin our next, we would like to thank our current and former employees for their dedicated work and our customers and clients for their years of support.

13 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz
STUKENHOLTZ LABORATORY Inc. Agricultural Consulting & Testing • Soil Testing • Irrigation Scheduling • Feed Analysis • Contract Research • Tissue Testing • Pest Management • Field Research • Grid Sampling • Variable Rate Fertilization • International Testing • Agronomic and CCA Seminars • Nematode Testing Contact: Paul Stukenholtz, Consulting Agronomist Agronomists: JP Kruckeberg, Bart Kunz, Cameron Brower, Antone Christensen, Wess Gibson, Cody McCoy, Kevin Victor 208-734-3050 • 800-759-3050 • Fax 208-734-3919 P.O. Box 353 • 2924 Addison Ave E. • Twin Falls, ID 83301 E-mail: frontoffice@stukenholtz.com Website: www.stukenholtz.com
Analysis room at Stukenholtz Laboratory Inc.

Ritz WESTERN FAR M, RANCH, & DAIRY

14 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com
15 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz
Image by Alois Wonaschütz

EQUIPMENT

16 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com
Image by Franz Bachinger

Permanent Foundations

Progressive builders are meeting the growing demands of consumers by offering a range of foundation solutions.

Since 2004, Midwest Perma-Column® has been leading the way with a permanent foundation system combining the durability of precast concrete with the value of post-frame construction. The Perma-Column® solution is a patented design that elevates wood out of the ground via a steel bracket atop a precast foundation pier.

Recognizing that wood columns in the ground have limitations, savvy consumers are driving market demand for permanent solutions. Consumers want their investment and their structure to be long-lasting.

Perma-Column® offers many advantages for consumers. Guaranteed to last for generations, Perma-Column® protects a homeowner’s investment for years to come. It provides the strength of concrete without the expense of a continuous-pour concrete foundation. It eliminates the cost of repairing or replacing damaged wood in the future. Chemically treated wood can contaminate soil; Perma-Column® precast columns are environmentally friendly, containing no toxic chemicals.

The precast columns are three times

stronger than concrete and install easily using existing construction methods. In addition, comparativestrength testing at the University of Wisconsin and Purdue University found they outperformed industrystandard wood columns.

The Perma-Column family of postframe products includes Sturdi-Wall

anchor brackets for new construction, repairs and renovations. And for deck construction, Perma-Column precast deck posts use the same groundbreaking design as the postframe foundation system.

For more information call 800-798-5562 or visit our website at www.midwestpermacolumn.com

17 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz
Wood in the ground will rot. Concrete will not. Perma-Column® elevates wood out of the ground, so your post-frame building will last for generations – guaranteed. START OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOTING BUILD BETTER. BUILD STRONGER. BUILD TO LAST. Sturdi-WallTM Brackets Drill set for cured foundations Sturdi-Wall Plus™ Brackets Wet set for poured foundations The Perma-Column® System Permanent post-frame foundations 1/3 page square (4.75 w X 4.625 h) 800-798-5562 www.midwestpermacolumn.com

Stainless Steel Air Seeder Parts

The solution to your corrosion problems!

Romafa Metal Works realized the enormity of the problem that exists of the many corroding air seeder parts and farmers’ and ranchers’ desperate needs for a solution. Romafa, through careful planning, designing, and testing, developed stainless steel replacement air seeder parts for multiple brands of air seeders.

Romafa Metal Works found by using stainless steel for the replacement part those parts are stronger and more durable. The parts can handle a lot more stress before showing signs of wear and tear. Plus in addition to being more rust resistant, the replacement parts are also more resistant to staining, and – well, let’s face it – they look better too.

You no longer need throw money at a relatively temporary solution only to see it rust away almost before your eyes. Instead, replacing your corroded air seeder parts with Romafa’s parts made of stainless steel will be a lasting improvement and solution.

cattle ranching community.

Ronald, with his experience with designing and prototypes in the metalwork industry, also offered these skills to fill the needs of his customers and help bring their ideas to fruition.

Romafa (from the first two letters each of ROnald, MArcela, and FAmily) Metal Works very quickly became known as a productive and venturesome business.

HOW IT STARTED - Back in 2012 Ronald Kornelsen left his job as a designer and started a small family business with his wife, Marcela, and their family, doing welding, machining, and repair work for the local agricultural and

Soon local as well as distant customers came to them to have their machinery repaired and/ or improved. New ideas were offered, designed, built, and tested.

For Romafa, this created many opportunities for growth as a business, and with the help and expertise of their innovative employees, they have grown to be a business with many different products and projects.

For more information on our stainless steel air seeder parts, our light weight yet durable boom for ditch sprayer trucks, our alfalfa seed sieves for combines (reduces the curls among your alfalfa seed by at least 50 per cent), or if you have a project of your own you need help with, visit our website at www.Romafa.com , or call Jim Kinnaman at 204-364-2244

18 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com

Benefits Of Using Sweetpro On Dry Pastures

On many eastern US pastures, cattle take one or two steps between bites, but on some western grazing lands, cattle need to take between fifteen and thirty steps. The forages available on the ranges can be very good, but the time window of their peak nutrition can also be very short. There are times when cattle cannot be kept moving enough to find what they need. When cattle do find good grass in these conditions, they can park on that spot, eat everything and create problems with land managers.

What are the rancher’s performance expectations in these conditions? To keep cattle alive, or to grow the herd? The cow needs the right body condition to rebreed and grow a calf every 12 months. Harvey Dietrich of the Diamond A Ranch in Seligman, AZ Once Said, “You can’t play catch up with a cow.”

Supplementation with SweetPro lick blocks can help keep both cattle and the land healthy. SweetPro blocks are fiber based, not molasses with all its negatives (ie: storage, containers, sugar negative associative effect, microbial digestive upset). Also, unlike the costs of loose mineral daily delivery, SweetPro blocks are easy to move, clean up and only need to be placed out every 10 days.

SweetPro blocks significantly increase the forage feed efficiency of cattle on these western grasses and help raise body scores to a healthy producing state. This automatically puts up to 25 pounds on the calf at weaning time and helps improve ranching profitability. (Calves don’t need creep feeds when body weight is put on the cow.) Energy and fertility of bulls is also supported to further enhance rebreeding over larger ranges.

SweetPro

CDS for even delivery. Minerals, organic trace minerals, prebiotics (including the most MOS), enzymes, protein and fiber are provided to the animal on a fermented carrier without weather issues or over consumption. SweetPro blocks match the forage conditions.

19 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz
blocks use DDGS and

LIVESTOCK

20 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com
Image by David Mark

Catch A Ride On The Feed Train®

In his previous career, before becoming a manufacturer, Bob Lutz was a cattle farmer. As such, he was always looking for ways to save time and money and make life a little easier. Since he was running a rotational grazing system to conserve his pastures, he was spending a lot of time moving feed bunks. Thus the dream of the time and labor saving mobile feed bunk system came into existence.

In order for this system to work properly, a special steering mechanism was necessary to cope with the hilly terrain here in northern Missouri. Bob kept experimenting until he came up with the correct formula and put it into action for his own use. He then applied for and was granted a patent on the steering system.

The high quality construction of the Feed Train® mobile bunk led to requests for stationary bunks of the same quality and those were added to the product line. Next we were receiving customer requests for creep feeders and these were designed so that no tools are required for set up, thus avoiding the “lost screwdriver syndrome.”

Customer requests for bulk bin storage followed and two sizes in portable bulk bins were developed – a 1.5-ton bin and a 3-ton bin. These sizes are also available as stationary units as well as a 5-ton bin. These bulk bin products are also used as seed tenders. And since most cattle farmers now use ATV or UTV units in their operations, we have created u nits for feeding from the seat of your vehicle.

Pull-behind units come in 500- and 1000-pound capacity. And the UTV unit that sits in the back of the vehicle holds 600 pounds. Scales are available for any of these units.

Take a look at our website at www.FeedTrain.com or call us at 888-592-2351 for additional information or to find a dealer near you.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS  ATV Feeders  Bulk Bins  Creep Feeders  Seed Tenders  Feed Bunks Unionville, MO (888) 592-2351 feedtrain@yahoo.com for additional information visit: www.feedtrain.com Great Products Built to Last from Feed Train ScaleOptionalNow Available 1000# Capacity Now Available NEW UTV FEEDER  600 lb capacity  Unloads in less than 2 minutes  Translucent tank makes feed visible  4” auger services several different types of feed  Large lid opening for easy fill LLC

Rio Hondo Livestock Supply

Rio Hondo is owned and managed by Richard Brook. Rio Hondo is Spanish for the “deep creek” running through the Brooks’ ranch situated in the Snake River Valley of southern Idaho, 4.5 miles west of Buhl, along Scenic Highway 30.

Richard Brooks has been in the ranching and farrier business for 35 years, having complete knowledge and expertise pertaining to the horse shoeing industry including distinctive brand name tools and supplies. They also include their son and daughter, Rick and Suryia in the daily operation of the business emphasizing friendly service and customer satisfaction.

Thorough knowledge and experience in cattle ranching prompted them to offer consumers Hi-Hog, “The Outstanding Brand” in farm and ranch livestock handling equipment. Rio Hondo is the only provider of Hi-Hog equipment in Idaho. An “onsite” equipment display offers consumers a “no obligation” demonstration with the opportunity to check out the high quality and ease of handling this exclusive equipment offers.

Rio Hondo would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for their support and patronage. We appreciate your business, and look forward to supplying your needs in the future.

22 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com

Water Grows Nebraska Dairy Industry

Nebraska has a growing dairy industry, and it all comes down to water. A dairy needs water to grow crops, water for cows, water for milking and cleaning. And then there is the challenge of getting rid of wastewater, where do you put it? In Nebraska, we have those answers, and it is why our dairy industry is growing!

As a state, Nebraska is in a position of strength when it comes to water. The Nebraska portion of the High Plains Aquifer remains at or above the same level as when we first started irrigating from it more than 70 years ago. The Nebraska aquifer has several advantages; first it has recharge meaning rainfall goes through to the aquifer to replenish it. Secondly, is rainfall, irrigation supplements our rainfall which means that irrigation is only used as needed. Lastly, a local system of management ensures the aquifer will be sustainable for generations to come.

Nebraska’s other water strength is the ability to use all the wastewater and manure solids a dairy can generate. Having nearly 9 million acres of irrigated land means there are a lot of center pivots that can be used to dewater lagoons in the summer. The remainder of the wastewater is injected into crop fields postharvest. Not only does the crop get “free” water in the summer, but it also gets some nutrients during the growing season, right when it needs it. The remainder of the liquid and solids are applied in the fall or spring.

In Nebraska, we need manure. It is estimated that livestock manure fertilizes less than 15% of our 20 million acres of cropland. There

is a huge opportunity to put manure on crop acres which leads to improved soil health, better water infiltration, improved yields, and lowers the input cost for the farmer.

Nebraskans values our Good Life. We know that the sustainability of our state is tied to the established sustainability of the Nebraska Aquifer. As the dairy industry grows in Nebraska, we have the feed, the people, and the water to make new dairy growth a success now and far into the future.

If interested in learning more about dairying in Nebraska contact AFAN at www.becomeAFAN.org or call 402.421.4472.

www.FarmRanchDairy.com N E B R A S K A L A N D . W A T E R . O P P O R T U N I T Y . P i c t u r e p r o v i d e d b y U n i v e r s t y o f N e b r a s k a a t L n c o l n # 1 I n i r r i g a t e d a c r e s T h e H i g h P l a i n s A q u i f e r u n d e r N e b r a s k a h a s 5 X t h e a m o u n t o f w a t e r a s L a k e E r i e G r o u n d W a t e r i s m a n a g e d b y l o c a l N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e D i s t r i c t s w i t h a l o n g t e r m g o a l o f s u s t a i n a b l i t y C o n t a c t A F A N t o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t w h y N e b r a s k a i s t h e s t a t e t o d a i r y i n ! B e c o m e a f a n o r g o r 4 0 2 4 2 1 4 4 7 2

MARKETPLACE

Irrigation Supplies and Rentals

20488 Pinto Ln, Caldwell, ID 83607 (208) 453-9155 | www.interwestsupply.com

TANK COATINGS ROOF COATINGS

Available for METAL, composition shingles or tar roofs. Long lasting and easy to apply. We also manufacture tank coatings for concrete, rock, steel, galvanized or mobile tanks. Call for our free catalog: VIRDEN PERMA-BILT (806) 352-2761

www.virdenproducts.com

24 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com
Ken Clark - Owner 169 S. Sierra Way San Bernadino,
92408
909-889-4084
Free: 800-345-2335 Fax: 909-884-5954 Email: Sales@CleanCutter.com
CA
Local:
Toll
25 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz
INDEX www.fairlys.com 208.342.7777 800.246.7879 2301 Main St. Boise, ID 83702 Afan www.becomeafan.org 23 Clean Cutler Tiller Blades www.cleancutter.com 24 CleanFix North America, INC. www.cleanfix.org 2 College of Agriculture - University of Wy www.uwyo.edu/uwag 7 Custom Milled Lumber 24 Droge Farms 3 Elston Manufacturing, Inc. www.elstonmfg.com 25 Fairly Reliable Bob’s Farm listing www.fairlys.com 25 Firebird Raceway www.firebirdonline.com 3 Feed Train LLC www.feedtrain.com 21 H & M Gopher Control www.handmgophercontrol.com 11 Heads Up Plant Protectants INC www.headsupst.com/rta 12 Interwest Supply Co www.interwestsupply.com 24 Marci Goats 24 Midwest Perma-Column www.midwestpermacolumn.com 17 Modern Printers farm listing www.modernprinters.net 26 New Era Farm Service www.newerafarmservice.com 27 RCO Pest Control Products www.rodent-baits.com 5 Rio Hondo Livestock Supply 22 Romafa Metal Works Inc. www.Romafa.com 18 Stukenholtz Laboratory Inc www.stukenholtz.com 13 Sweet Pro www.sweetpro.com 19 TPS Lab www.tpslab.com 28 Virden Perma-Bilt Co www.virdenproducts.com 24 Wilger Inc www.wilger.net 2 Winkler Canvas Ltd. CANADA www.winklerstructers.com 24 Wirth Farms Inc. 24
ADVERTISERS
26 Ritz WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY www.FarmRanchDairy.com 714 North Main P.O. Box 556 Meridian, Idaho 83680 Phone: 208-888-5682 Fax: 208-288-1946 Cell: 283-3567 Email: greg@modernprinters.net www.modernprinters.net COPIES PRINTING • FAX
Image by Ameer shah Mohamed Farook

LIQUID R/S

MICRONIZED NUTRA-MIN

BIO-BLEND R/S MICRO-SOFF LIQUID COMPOST

A soluble extract derived from composted dairy manure that has gone through a thermophilic controlled biological oxidative process. Our product can be applied to the soil, metered through irrigation systems, or sprayed on foliage. Fortified with humic acid, seaweed extract and yucca schidigera, regular use may be of benefit, particularly in dry periods when plants are stressed for food and water

A naturally occurring mineral formed when ancient plant and sea life was subject to eons of Hydra-Thermal reactions. It contains almost all of the known macro and micro elements in trace amounts.

A non-manure based tea fortified with humic acid, seaweed, and yucca schidigera that can be applied to the soil, metered through irrigation systems or sprayed on foliage. Regular use may benefit plants in dry periods when plants are stressed for water and food.

An organic-acid liquid formulation of Citric and Humic aid derivative blends. It has a pH of less than 2.5, which can help buffer high pH and sonic soil conditions. Ideal for helping to clean drip systems. It is safe to handle, does not burn. After 90 days it will break down leaving short chain sugar carbons which can help stimulate biological growth.

A soluble extract from New Era Compost that can be applied to the soil, metered through irrigation systems, or sprayed on foliage. Regular use may benefit plants in dry periods when plants are stressed for water and food.

A soluble extract from New Era Compost and fish solubles that can be applied to the soil or metered through irrigation systems. Regular use may benefit plants in stressful periods of plant growth.

27 www.FarmRanchDairy.com WESTERN FARM, RANCH, & DAIRY Ritz
COMPOST
LIQUID CONCENTRATED COMPOST
www.newerafarmservice.com 2904 East Oakdale Avenue Tulare, CA 93274 559-686-3833 nutrient and Stable • rich source of organic matter • Pathogen Free
Weed Free Micro- in Rich • organisms

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.