DECEMBER 2016
Vol. XVII No. 11 P.O. Box 997 Conrad, MT 59425-0997
Phone 406-271-5533 Fax 406-271-5727 website: tradersdispatch.com
E-MAIL: trader@3rivers.net OR tradersdispatch@yahoo.com
Annie’s Project coming to Havre, MT
By Nichole Gray, Hill County Extension This upcoming January the MSU Hill County Extension Office is hosting a series of agriculture based risk classes for farming and ranching wives called Annie’s Project. A 1940s Midwest farmer’s wife named Annie that kept extensive farm records that played a pivotal role in her families success inspired Annie’s Project. The goal of Annie’s Project is to not only assist women to develop skills but to also build a network within their community. The educational series consists of two levels, level one features five risk areas and level two focus on succession planning. This six educational session is a level one program featuring five different risk areas including financial risk, human resource, legal risk, market risk, and production risk. Past participants from around the country have found Annie’s Project to provide “extensive information and resources on a wide variety of basic ag-related topics. I really appreciate having some basic knowledge and tips on where to learn more”. They were able to glean pertinent information “I learned about crop insurance, sealing grain, input costs, share crop leases, balance sheets, life insurance needs, Beginning Farmer loans, grain bin loans, accounting software, special use valuation, inheritance tax, Ag Decision Maker and many valuable web sites.” The program will also feature guest speakers from around the area. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
UPCOMING AUCTIONS
Dec 1-19, Kinsey Auctioneers & Real Estate, Equipment, Online....................A2 Dec 1-20, Musser Bros, Inc, Empire Lath & Plaster, Online..............................A5 Dec 1-31, Musser Bros, Inc., Contractor Equipment, Vehicles,Trailers, Online..A5 Dec. 12, Buchholz Auction, Buffalo, Jamestown ND.........................................A2
Figure 1
To fallow or not to fallow: An innovative and unique experiment at the WTARC
By Drs. Roger Ondoua, Assistant Professor of Agronomy and Nutrient Management, MSU, Western Triangle Agricultural Center and Maral Etesami, “To be, or not to be…” Shakespeare wrote has been grown. Confronted with this reality, in the opening statement of Hamlet, his Winter wheat-fallow agricultural systems famous play. Prince Hamlet contemplates have been widely adopted to reduce the risk death and suicide while waiting for Ophelia, of crop failure. No-till combined with the the love of his life. Exactly four centuries fallow system (“Chemfallow”) allows the later, this year, Montana grain farmers face conservation of water that had been stored a different kind of existential question: “to in the soil profile. However, reduced risk fallow, or not to fallow” the land after lentils, goes along with reduced profit potential. The peas, or chickpeas. issue is the perception by the producer that In Montana, the question is less philoleaving land fallowed is required to store soil moisture rather than grow crops. This sophical than agro-ecological and economiperception stems from cases of pulse failure cal. Primarily due to low annual quantity and across Montana attributed to severe atmopoor distribution of precipitations, dryland crop production risk in Montana is high. spheric (solar radiation, heat, precipitation) With annual average precipitation oscillatand soil (moisture, temperature) climate conditions. However, there are economic ing between 12-14 inches, most of the soil water storage is depleted after a single crop CONTINUED ON PAGE A24
UW offers pesticide training for new commercial applicators
By University of Wyoming Extension Training for those seeking new commercial pesticide applicator licenses is December 12-16 in Laramie. Sessions are at the Albany County Fairgrounds, said Jeff Edwards, University of Wyoming (UW) Extension pesticide training coordinator. The course is specific to those new to pesticide application; however, those with a current Wyoming pesticide applicators license can attend and receive up to 24 continuing education credits (CEUs) to keep their licenses valid. “This course is an intensive week-long education program that will assist in preparation for your commercial applicator examinations,” Edwards said. A commercial pesticide applicators license allows the purchase and application of restricted and general use pesticides and the applicator to receive payment for services. Topics covered include core materials, state statutes, application procedures, weed and insect identification and other CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
PRODUCTION SALES
Jan. 24, 2017, Churchill Cattle Co, Manhattan....................................................A7 Feb. 4, 2017, Prickly Pear Simmental Ranch, Helena.......................................A10 Feb. 18, 2017, Sparks Herefords, Plevna............................................................A7 Feb. 22, 2017, Veseth Cattle Co., Malta..............................................................A11 Feb. 28, 2017, Hill’s Ranch Simmentals, Stanford............................................A16 Mar. 2017, Duncan Ranch Co, Jopin...................................................................A7 Mar. 1, 2017, L Bar W Cattle Company & Sidwell Ranch, Columbus................A7 CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Figure 2
PRIVATE TREATY
Beery’s Land & Livestock Co., Vida..............................A7 Feddes Herefords, Manhattan.......................................A7 McMurry Cattle, Billings.................................................A7
Advertiser Index Page B1
Thomas Herefords, Gold Creek.....................................A7 Wichman Herefords, Moore...........................................A7 South Boulder Angus Ranch, Cardwell........................A4
Recipe Patch Page A34 & A35
ADVERTISING DEADLINE FOR JANUARY ISSUE The deadline for the January 2017 issue is
Wednesday, December 28