JANUARY 2017
Vol. XVII No. 12 P.O. Box 997 Conrad, MT 59425-0997
Phone 406-271-5533 Fax 406-271-5727 website: tradersdispatch.com
Popular mid-winter event to focus on cattle
By Cal Thorson, Technical Information Specialist, Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, Mandan, North Dakota After focusing successfully on crop production for the past two years, the 2017 edition of “Farming and Ranching for the Bottom Line” will put more attention on beef cattle topics. The unique event, scheduled for February 28 at Bismarck State College, is a joint effort of the Area 4 Soil Conservation Districts, USDA’s ARS and NRCS, NDSU’s Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station, and BSC. Researchers and specialists from those agencies will discuss Calving Date Decision Making and Alternative Livestock Systems, Water Quality Management, Cross Fencing for Aftermath and Cover Crop Grazing, the Weather Outlook, and Perennials in an Annual Cropping System. A panel of producer innovators will then talk about their “real world” experiences in implementing the management strategies the speakers had discussed. New this year will be a keynote presentation, “Taking Advantage of these Challenging Times” from Taylor Brown of the Northern Ag Network in Billings, Montana. Brown is a nationally recognized broadcaster and agricultural advocate. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
PRODUCTION SALES
Jan. 24, Churchill Cattle Co, Manhattan..............................................................A7 Feb. 1, Begger’s Diamond V, Wibaux...................................................................A8 Feb. 4, Prickly Pear Simmental Ranch, Helena................................................A10 Feb. 6, Gateway Simmental & Lucky Cross, Lewistown..................................A12 Feb. 18, Sparks Herefords, Plevna......................................................................A6 Feb, 20, Bulls of the Big Sky, Billings...............................................................A14 Feb. 22, Veseth Cattle Co., Malta.......................................................................A15 Feb. 25, Neel’s Angus & Never Sweat Ranch, Missoula..................................A22 Feb. 28, Hill’s Ranch Simmentals, Stanford......................................................A17 Feb. 28, Connelly Angus, Valier.........................................................................A33 Mar. 1, L Bar W Cattle Company & Sidwell Ranch, Columbus..........................A7 Mar. 1, Sidwell Ranch, Columbus........................................................................A6 Mar. 3, Diamond Bar S, Great Falls....................................................................A19 Mar. 4, Redland Red Angus & Gelbvieh, Hysham............................................A27 Mar. 4, Bulls of the Bitterroot, Stevensville......................................................A26 Mar. 6, Clear Creek Angus & Weaver Herefords, Chinook...............................A23 Mar. 7, Apex Angus, Valier..................................................................................A25 Mar. 9, Fritz Red Angus, Brady..........................................................................A29 Mar. 10, Flesch Angus, Shelby...........................................................................A35 Mar. 11, Duncan Ranch Co, Joplin......................................................................A7 Mar. 11, Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Labortory, Miles City........A7 Mar. 13, Holden Herefords, Valier.........................................................................A7 Mar. 14, Cooper Hereford Ranch, Willow Creek..................................................A7 Mar. 20, Sun River Red Angus, Great Falls.......................................................A34 Mar. 22, Westphal Registered Red Angus, Grass Range.................................A38 Mar. 24, Harrer’s Lost Lake Ranch, Great Falls................................................A39 Apr. 7, McKechnie Herefords, Shelby..................................................................A7
AUCTION SALES
Jan. 29, RLP Auctions, Western Auction, Hamilton.........................................A18
Farm business workshops offered across Montana
A series of winter workshops across Montana will help beginning Farmers and Ranchers interested in starting a new business or adding a new enterprise. Planning For On-Farm Success offers expert presenters from the Montana University System, and panels of experienced producers and ag professionals to help participants understand and develop the tools they need to launch a successful new enterprise. Workshops will be offered in Missoula, Bozeman, Butte, Joliet, Columbus, Corvallis and Conrad The workshops, hosted by MSU Extension in partnership CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
E-MAIL: trader@3rivers.net OR tradersdispatch@yahoo.com
Wayne (right) Slaght along with son Ben Slaght (left) received the 2017 Environmental Stewardship Award at the Stockgrowers Convention in Billings, Montana on December 9, 2016. They operate the Two Creek Monture Ranch near Ovando, Montana.
MSU Extension Cropping Seminars Montana State University Extension will host the annual Cropping Seminar series January 9 – 12, 2017, in Fort Benton, Chester, Shelby, Cut Bank, Choteau, Conrad, Stanford, and Great Falls. Topics will include pest identification, habits of profitable farmers, cereal variety trial updates from the local research centers, and control of ground squirrels, gophers and voles in crop settings. Dr. Mary Burrows, MSU Extension Plant Pathologist, will present, “Pest Identification: The cornerstone of integrated pest management.” Participants will learn about the plant disease triangle, disease cycles, and how to submit a sample to their county agent or the Schutter Diagnostic Laboratory for diagnosis. Participants will engage in a hands-on activity to identify and manage a disease of wheat or pulse crops that is important in their area. This activity will provide hands-on skills applying Integrated Pest Management. Cereal variety updates will take place at each location from each region’s researcher. Researchers will cover 2016 data and historic data of cereal grains including yield, protein, wheat stem sawfly resistance, disease resistance and test weight. Peggy Lamb, Agronomy research scientist at Northern Ag Research Center near Havre, will speak in Great Falls, Fort Benton and Chester. Dr. Pat Carr, Superintendent and Associate
Advertiser Index Page B1 Recipe Patch Page A51 ADVERTISING DEADLINE FOR FEBRUARY Wednesday, February 1
Professor-Cropping Systems at Central Ag Research Center near Moccasin, will give updates in Fort Benton, Great Falls and Stanford. John Miller, agronomy research associate at Western Triangle Ag Research Center near Conrad, will cover talks in Shelby, Cut Bank, Conrad and Choteau. Dr. Stephen Vantassel, Montana Department of Agriculture Vertebrate Pest Specialist, will present the biology and identification of gophers, ground squirrels, and voles. Control methods will be discussed, including the use of trapping, fumigants, or bait stations as they apply to large-scale farming operations. Dr. George Haynes, MSU Extension Ag Economist, will present ten habits of profitable farmers. With currently low commodity prices and steady input costs, this will give insight as to where to cut costs or increase revenue to stay in the black this coming year. No pre-registration is required, and all producers are encouraged to attend. All morning seminars begin with registration at 8:30 a.m., and presentations start promptly at 9 a.m. The day’s seminar should conclude by 3 p.m. Pesticide points will be available. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
PRIVATE TREATY
Beery’s Land & Livestock Co., Vida..............................A7 Dutton Hereford Ranch, Gold Creek.............................A7 Feddes Herefords, Manhattan.......................................A7 Geib Red Angus, Dagmar............................................A30 J Bar E Ranch, Plentywood...........................................A7 K.L. Slagsvold Herefords, Lindsay................................A6 McMurry Cattle, Billings.................................................A6 South Boulder Angus Ranch, Cardwell......................A24 Storey Herefords, Bozeman.........................................A24 Thomas Herefords, Gold Creek.....................................A6 Wichman Herefords, Moore...........................................A6