JULY 2014
Vol. XV No. 6 P.O. Box 306 Valier, MT 59486-0306
Phone 406-279-3291 Fax 406-279-3249 website: tradersdispatch.com E-MAIL: trader@3rivers.net
Purchase hail insurance by August 15 deadline
With some much needed rain falling across most of Montana, now is the time to evaluate your crop insurance needs. Montana farmers and ranchers can still purchase state hail insurance through August 15 by contacting the toll free number at (844) 515-1571 or visiting the website at http:// agr.mt.gov/agr/Programs/Commodities/HailInsurance/ to obtain forms. With last year’s record hail insurance claims, the Hail Board purchased reinsurance to ensure that any and all claims made by Montana producers covered by the state hail insurance program will be paid. County Department of Revenue offices will no longer be processing new policies; instead they will be providing information to interested parties on how to begin the process. Forms are also available at Montana State University Extension Offices and Conservation District Offices. At the request of producers and authorized by the State Legislature, the dry land hail insurance rate increased to $75 per acre and $114 per acre for irrigated land. The Hail Board also approved a five percent premium increase. Producers should contact the Montana Department of Agriculture to discuss coverage and rates. continued on page A2
UPCOMING AUCTIONS
July, Rivers West Auction, Online........................................................................A2 July 12, WHB, Hay Consignment, Great Falls.....................................................A4 July 16, Shobe Auction & Realty, Willson Farm, Moore.....................................A3 July 16, Musser Bros. Auction, Gold Creek Auction, Online.............................A5 July 16, Moodie Implement, Online.....................................................................A9 July 17, Haugland’s Action Auction, Owan Estate, Williston ND......................A8 July 19, Bo Carpenter Auction Inc., Consignment, Kalispell............................A6 July 19, RK Statewide Auctions, Hibl Farm, Poplar.........................................A26 July 24, Rivers West Auction, Circle KBL Outfitters, Evaro...............................A7 July 26, GSI Auction Service, Girard Inventory Reduction, Scobey...............A13 July 26, RK Statewide Auctions, Hartwick Estate, Miles City.........................A47 July 30, Steffes Group, Inc., AgIron, West Fargo, ND.......................................A10 July 31, Musser Bros. Auction, Absaroka Mountain Cabin, Online..................A5 Aug., Rivers West Auction, Online.......................................................................A2 Aug. 2, Stere Auction Service, Black Auction, Kalispell..................................A12 Aug. 2, Weaver Auctions, Mentzer & B&B, Hall................................................A15
Cover cropping and crop insurance
The National Center for Appropriate Technology; the Montana Natural Resources Conservation Service; Montana State University; and Montana Farmers Union have been working with the Montana Organic Association on a project to explore cover cropping and crop insurance issues. The project is supported by the USDA Risk Management Agency. The tour will also include information provided by Jeff Schahczenski of NCAT on how crop insurance can be affected by cover crops. If you are interested in attending this farm tour or others below, please pre-register at: https://www.ncat.org/tours/ We will send you the details. If you have other questions, please contact Jeff Schahczenski by email at jeffs@ncat.org or phone at 406-494-8636. The other farm tours set for the summer include the following: July 16, 2014: A conventional farm tour and workshop in Toole County with mixed livestock and small-grain grower Griff Bye, who is developing a unique cover cropping and livestock system. Although he has never experimented with cover crop cocktails before, Griff is going about in a big way, with 10 percent of his 11,000 crop acres being planted to covers this continued on page A2
Students discuss healthy soils and plants with Misty Vermulum (right) , NRCS at Ag Days at Sunburst school.
Beef in the Kitchen Culinary Contest
The Montana CattleWomen are sponsoring the twelfth annual state beef cook-off as the Great Falls State Fair on July 26, 2014. The contest entitled “Beef in the Kitchen Culinary Contest” will take place in the Family Living Center at the Montana State Fairgrounds between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The contest will again be for both youth and adults. At 5:00 p.m. winners will be announced, cash prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places; $150, $75, and $50 respectively. “Beef in the Kitchen Culinary Contest” contestants will create their own fun beef recipe that promotes nutritional balance and has all-family appeal Any youth between the ages of 10-18 years of age may enter the contest. Youth must be able to prepare
and display the beef dish without adult assistance. All adults are 19 years and older. Contest entry forms and rules are available at the Cascade County Extenion Office at 406-454-6980, or 3300 3rd Street N.W., continued on page A2
PRODUCTION SALES
Aug. 31, Montana Breeders Group, Horse Sale, Great Falls..........................................................................A12 Sept. 25, Ehlke Herefords, Townsend.........................A35 Nov. 9, Hereford Influence Feeder Calf Sale, Three Forks........................................................................A35
PRIVATE TREATY
Feddes Herefords, Manhattan....................................A35 McMurry Cattle, Billings..............................................A35 Peterson Sheep Co., Lemmon SD..............................C47
Youth Waterfowl and Upland Bird Clinic
Fish, Wildlife and Parks is hosting a youth waterfowl upland bird clinic 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 10. The event will take place at Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area between Fairfield and Choteau. This clinic is for youths 10-17 years of age who would like to become involved in upland bird and waterfowl hunting by learning the skills to be successful and ethical. This is an interactive clinic that will discuss safety in the field, ethics, traditions, bird identification, and regulations. There will also be decoy setting, duck calling and gun dog demonstrations by the Golden Triangle Sporting Dog Club. Everyone will have a chance to learn range estimation and how to pattern a shotgun so if you have your own gun bring it along. Participants will have the opportu-
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nity to receive individual coaching in clay target shooting. For those without a gun, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or FWP will provide one along with ammunition. Advanced sign up is required by calling Bob Johnson 406-727-7400, ext. 226. This clinic is free of charge and lunch will be provided by the dog club. Sponsors are FWP, Golden Triangle Sporting Dog Club, the Great Falls chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Deadline for August issue is Aug 1