The Trader's Dispatch - June 2024

Montana State hail insurance is available

In light of recent storms, the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding producers that applications for State Hail Insurance Policy are now available through MDA’s State Hail Insurance Program.

Producers can insure crops against hail damage at the maximum coverage rate of $75 per acre for dryland and $114 per acre for irrigated land. Rates charged are a percentage of the insured amount and vary by county. A detailed list of rates by county and crop can be found online by visiting the MDA website. State policies are available for purchase until August 15, 2024.

Producers who previously purchased state hail insurance will receive applications in the mail. Application forms are also available online or by calling the MDA office. Staff are available to process policies, file claims, and help answer any questions producers may have regarding coverage options. Completed forms can be emailed, mailed, faxed, or used as a reference when contacting the office by phone.

Contact Information:

Montana State Hail Insurance Program

P.O. Box 200201

Helena, MT 59620

Phone: (406) 444-5429

Email: agrhail@mt.gov

Toll Free: 1 (844) 515-1571

Fax: (406) 444-9442

Loss claims are due to the office by October 1, 2024, and must be submitted within two weeks of the hail damage occurrence. Forms are available online or by request.

AUCTIONS

June 15, Rick Young & Sons Auctioneers, Jerry VanHaur Retirement, Hilger MT A2

June 15, RK Statewide Auction, Richland County & Consignment, Sidney MT A3

June 15 - 18, Booker Auction Co., Johnson Foods Farming Dispersal, Online A5

June 15 - 19, Booker Auction Co., Onsite Eltopia WA, Online A5

June 15 - 20, Booker Auction Co., Offsite Across Inland Pacific NW, Onine A5

June 15 - 20, Ophus Auction Service, Williams Land & Cattle Co, Online A7

June 22, Collins Auction Service, Diamond B Ranch, Choteau MT A4

June 15 - 26, Ascent Auction Service, Summer Equipment-Ag, Construction & Transportation, Online A8

June 15 - 26, Dooley Auction, Consignments, Online A4

June 26, Fritz Auction, Stan McCarter Farm, Shelby MT & Online A9

June 27, Rivers West Auction, Hackney Backhoe Service Retirement, St Ignatius, MT A11

Aug 24, Weaver Auctions, Fall Consignment, Drummond MT A6

MWBC board set to meet

The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) Board will meet on Monday, June 24th, 2024. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Pollard Hotel in Red Lodge, Montana with the option to join remotely via Zoom. The agenda is tentatively set to review board assignments, financial reports, and address general updates.

The public is invited to participate at the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee board meetings. To view an agenda for the meeting and learn more about the committee, visit MWBC’s website at montanawbc.com.

For information to join the meeting virtually or to request an agenda, please contact the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee at 406-761-7732 or by email at wbc@mt.gov.

Annual summer field day series in Montana

From

the MSU News Service

The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station will once again host a series of field days this summer at six of the university’s research centers around the state, plus two additional events at campus farms in Bozeman.

“We look forward to our field days every year because of the opportunities they create to interact and share research results with agricultural producers and friends around Montana,” said Sreekala Bajwa, director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and the college’s dean. “Getting to share and receive feedback on research projects helps us to tailor our work to the needs of our state and to foster relationships with our many partners.”

The Montana Agricultural Experiment Station comprises the main station at Bozeman; the Department of Research Centers facilities at Conrad, Corvallis, Creston, Havre, Huntley, Moccasin and Sidney; and the USDA’s Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City.

PRIVATE TREATY

At the events, visitors can meet faculty, learn about ongoing and future research projects, offer feedback, share a meal and tour facilities. Discussion topics will include plant breeding and variety testing, livestock management and production, precision agriculture, irrigation and input management, and more.

2024 Field Day Schedule

Northern Agricultural Research Center, Havre: June 20, 3 p.m.

Central Agricultural Research Center, Moccasin: June 26, 8:30 a.m.

Eastern Agricultural Research Center, Sidney: June 27, 8 a.m.

Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, Conrad: July 10, 10 a.m.

Northwestern Agricultural Research Center, Creston: July 11, 11 a.m.

Spring in Montana means brandings - an age-old tradition for many ranchers that brings friends and families together to get calves branded and worked before being turned out to summer pasture. Photo by Suzy Benzing

Annual summer field day series in Montana

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

Post Agronomy Farm, Bozeman: July 17, 8 a.m. Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching (BART) Farm and MSU Horticulture Farm, Bozeman: Augugt 29, 5 p.m.

Western Agricultural Research Center, Corvallis: September 12, 4:30 p.m.

All field days are free and open to the public. More information can be found at agresearch.montana.edu/fielddays. html or by calling the College of Agriculture dean’s office at 406-994-3681.

Research projects receive support from MT Fertilizer Advisory Committee

From the MSU News Service

Ten agricultural research projects in the Montana State University College of Agriculture received support from the Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee last month, seeking to advance knowledge around cropping systems, environmental preservation, water management and more.

Each year, the seven-member Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee disburses funds collected through an assessment on commercial fertilizers. The assessment was approved by the Montana Legislature to support research and education focused on soil fertility and management. The committee is made up of agricultural producers and includes representatives from the College of Agriculture and MSU Extension.

“This year’s proposals were well received by the committee, and it was very competitive,” said Darrin Boss, associate director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and assistant dean for research in the College of Agriculture. “The desire to support producers by generating research made possible through the fertilizer assessment was wonderful to see. I want to thank the volunteer committee who did a stellar job throughout the review and selection process.”

This year’s MFAC funding totals just under $394,000 and will support more than two dozen MSU faculty and graduate students from the Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology and Department of Research Centers.

More information about the Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee can be found at ag.montana.edu/mfac.

#####

Fossil evidence shows that a Bigfoot-like creature called Gigantopithecus did exist one to nine million years ago and is most likely the ancestor of today’s Sasquatches, if they exist.

Diamond B Ranch

June 22nd, 2024

Check-in begins at 9 am - Auction starts at 10 am

Accepting cash, check or charge Live and online auction

Bidding open now at: www.jerrycollinsauctions.hibid.com for all of the catalog items.

Diamond B Ranch, 4730 US Hwy 89, Choteau, MT 59422

There is road construction at the ranch so please plan accordingly

HAY EQUIPMENT

2 small square bale handlers. Bale sweep.

New Holland 277 small square baler. Hay wagons. Bale spears.

Haybuster chopper.

Haybuster 3 pt. processor.

MISC. EQUIPMENT

Diamond C Fleetneck trailer. Living quarters trailer, older model, no title, water damage.

Gooseneck livestock trailer. John Deere land plane. Grain auger (has blown over) Culivator (possible John Deere) 3 point hole auger. Antique manure spreader. Antique 2 bottom plow. Optimum PG225 sprayer. Sprayer that will fit side by side. (2) - PowerTek NEW diesel generators, have never been started. Much

TRACTORS

2001 John Deere 7410 4260 hours. Very Clean. 1970 Caterpillar D4D dozer. Case 580C backhoe. Farmall 450 Massey-Ferguson 165 White 4-210 runs but needs hydraulic work.

Make room for safety around farm trucks

With the cropping season underway, farm trucks are on the move across the region. Safety experts at North Dakota State University remind other drivers to give trucks extra room to operate.

“Farm trucks are large and heavy,” notes Angie Johnson, farm and ranch safety coordinator with NDSU Extension. “They require more room for turning and stopping than we often expect.”

Surveys of farm operators by the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU indicate that tractor-trailer semitrucks are the most commonly used farm trucks across the region.

“The average 5-axle semi loaded with corn weighs more than 75,000 pounds,” Johnson says. “Bringing a vehicle of that size and weight to a stop takes about 40% longer than the typical passenger vehicle – up to the length of one-anda-half football fields.”

Also, because of their size, semitrucks have large blind spots, called “no zones” by the motor carrier industry, where other vehicles are invisible to the driver.

“If you can’t see the driver in the truck’s side mirror, it’s likely that the driver can’t see you,” Johnson adds. “When passing or being passed, do not linger in those blind spots. Cutting in front of a semitruck or following too closely can also put you in a blind spot and dramatically increase your chances of being involved in a crash.”

The North Dakota Motor Carriers Association provides information on no zones on its website at www.ndmca.org/ no-zone/.

The National Safety Council reports that more than 70% of injuries and deaths resulting from large-truck crashes occurred to occupants of other vehicles. “Because of the difference in size and mass between large trucks and passenger vehicles, drivers and passengers are almost always the losers in crashes,” Johnson says.

The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute reports that 72% of truck-involved injury crashes in North Dakota occur on rural interstates or other rural roads. On gravel roads, the number of truck-involved injury crashes is significantly higher than injury crashes not involving trucks.

Drivers of farm trucks often face unique challenges posed by rural roads.

“Gravel roads or even some paved roads were not designed for the size of trucks that are using them now,” says Kelly Bengtson a road and bridge engineer with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute and a former county engineer. “Drivers have to be careful of soft or non-existent shoulders, rutted or damaged road surfaces and narrow driving lanes.”

A common issue is intersections that weren’t designed to give large vehicles enough room to turn. Drivers may have to swing wide and use multiple lanes to negotiate turns in those intersections. Bengtson advises giving those drivers room to maneuver.

Farm trucks may enter roadways from field approaches or stop in unexpected places to deliver crop inputs or service farm equipment. Clouds of dust from gravel road or farm operations may reduce visibility.

“It’s important to pay attention to your surroundings and be extra cautious any time there are trucks or farm equipment operating in the area,” Bengtson says.

Johnson said farm trucks may also be driven by inexperienced or youthful drivers (semitruck drivers must be at least 18 years old), so it’s best to give them extra space to operate.

Truck drivers need to make sure they operate at safe speeds on rural roads. According to Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute research, the most common contributing factors in injury crashes are weather conditions, failure to yield and traveling too fast for conditions.

“Driving a large vehicle is a serious task that requires your full attention,” Bengtson says. “You need to be aware of road and weather conditions as well as surrounding traffic and adjust your speed accordingly.

EVERYTHING MUST GO! COME AND NAME YOUR PRICE! Call or text Jerry at (406) 581-6456 for more information.

Both Bengtson and Johnson note that patience goes a long way toward preventing most rural truck related incidents. “Being in a hurry to pass, following too closely, or cutting in front of trucks can have deadly consequences,” Johnson emphasizes. “Be a defensive driver by anticipating farm truck and equipment operators to make wide turns and unexpected field approach turns. Understand that they can be operating at lower speeds, which can cause rear-end collisions if you are driving distracted. Take your time when meeting or following farm trucks and equipment, as a few extra seconds or minutes to be cautious is a small price to pay for safety.”

For more farm and ranch safety tips from NDSU Extension, visit ndsu.ag/roadsafety.

WANT TO BUY

Mature, Live, Feral Pigeons

Lots of 250+

Will pick up in Northeast

MT area

Leave voice mail or text (970) 372-8685

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

50 head - 2-year-old pairs Red Angus and 1/2 Shorthorn Vaccinations up to date $4000/pair

Phone Lander O’Connor, Poplar, Montana (406) 790-0071 or (406) 768-8188

Montana Department of Agriculture 2024 Pesticide Disposal Program

If you have any old pesticides - insecticides, herbicides, rodent poison or fungicides - laying around unused, the Montana Department of Agriculture will take them off your hands. The agency will hold waste pesticide collections in Western Montana in July. The collections are scheduled in Eureka on July 9; Clearwater Junction on July 10; and Butte on July 11. The disposal program is a non-regulatory, service progam that offers pesticide users the opportunity to dispose of unwanted and unusable pesticides in a safe and legal way that is economical and convenient. Disposal costs are free for the first 200 pounds and $1.00/lb. per pound for additional amounts over 200 pounds. Disposal by other services can cost 5 to 10 times more. Additional information and the required pre-registration forms are available by contacting Carli Davis in Richland at (406) 465-0531; mail to Dept. of Agriculture, Pesticide Disposal Program, 508 Prairie Dell Rd, Richland, MT 59260; email Carli.Davis@mt.gov; website http://agr.mt.gov/pesticidewaste-disposal-program

ND cropland values up significantly while cash rents see modest gains

North Dakota cropland values increased 11.59% heading into the spring of 2024, marching upward from 2,863 per acre to 3,174 per acre, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension agricultural finance specialist.

This represents the third year in a row where North Dakota cropland values have increased more than 10%. The increase follows cropland values appreciating 10.92% and 13.46% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. This is according to the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands Annual Land Survey data which has been weighted for this article by county acreage count and put into NDSU Extension regions. The original survey data can be found at: https:// www.land.nd.gov/resources/north-dakotacounty-rents-prices-annual-survey.

Within those same years, cash rental rates for cropland in North Dakota have increased 3.12%, 6.82%, and 3.71% in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. The statewide average cash rental rate moved upward from $75.90 per acre to $78.70 per acre creating a rentto-value ratio of 2.48%.

“The rent-to-value ratio is simply the state average cash rental rate divided by the reported average market value,” says Parman. “Rent-to-value does not consider taxes or other ownership costs which would be considered in a traditional capitalization rate. Therefore, the capitalization rate will typically be lower than the rent-to-value ratio. What the rent-to-value ratio helps capture is the expected yearly income from land ownership relative to the purchase price helping identify a rate of return absent ownership costs which can vary from state to state.”

The largest increases in land prices occurred in the north central and south central NDSU Extension regions with both increasing more than 20%. The largest increases

in rental rates for cropland values occurred in the southwest and south central regions where both region’s rental rates increased more than 8%.

The north valley and northwestern regions’ cropland values were also both up more than 10% in 2024, with the remainder of the state’s regions increasing in the midto-high single digits. Two regions including the east central and south east region’s rental rates barely edged up less than 1% while most other region’s cash rental rates on cropland increased somewhere between 3% and 5%.

“A jump in land values across North Dakota that large is a bit surprising given the decline in net farm incomes from 2022 to 2023, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s projected decline from 2023 to 2024,” shares Parman. “It is also a bit surprising that such a large increase in land prices have not pulled cash rental rates higher, especially given that interest rates have been significantly higher over the last few years.”

With land values this high relative to rental rates and income recently, and the expectation that net farm income will be lower in 2024, the biggest financial benefit to land ownership in the current environment has been capital appreciation. The last time cropland in North Dakota saw a rapid rise in land values from 2008 to 2013, there was about a seven year period to follow where land prices along with rental rates completely flattened from 2014 to 2020. During that time interest rates remained historically low, keeping borrowing costs down and other investment options less attractive.

Parman continues, “In the coming years, higher rates than the 2014 to 2020 period seems likely and may put upward pressure on rents relative to land prices.”

Drought plans should be updated, as weather predictions could impact forage

By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Educator

In parts of the High Plains region, recent developing dry conditions are starting to raise concerns that we may see reduced forage production from pasture and rangelands as we move on into the rest of the spring and summer. The www.weather.gov/gid/ NebraskaPrecipitation map shows many parts of the Sandhills and Panhandle regions receiving below-average precipitation for the last 30 days. This time frame is critical for precipitation that drives cool-season forage production on rangeland and pasture.

The Climate Prediction Center recently released its long-range forecast for June, July, and August, and it is leaning toward above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation for the western two-thirds of Nebraska. (See the CPC Long Range Weather forecast for more information.) If these conditions materialize, it could further significantly reduce forage production from rangeland and pasture as well as yields from annual and perennial hay crops. Already, drought conditions are impacting eastern Colorado and the western two-thirds of Kansas.

Hay stocks in many parts of the High Plains Region are significantly higher than

they were a year ago. On May 1, the USDA National Ag Statistics Service reported that hay stocks in Nebraska were up 79 percent from last year, with an estimated 950,000 tons of hay on hand. These conditions have resulted in hay prices being significantly less than they were a year ago.

These circumstances should prompt producers to consider the possibility of securing a portion of the expected needed hay supplies for next fall and winter now. Should hot, dry conditions develop, stocking rates on pastures may need to be reduced and hay yields could be significantly less than they were a year ago. This would be supportive of hay prices, especially later in the summer and moving on into the fall.

Nebraska Extension has several resources at beef.unl.edu on strategies for dealing with drought conditions related to cattle production. Now may be a good time to pull out the drought plan and review both options and trigger dates for decisions should drought conditions develop. Planning and thinking through options now give producers greater opportunities to act in a timely manner should it be needed.

WILLIAMS LAND & CATTLE CO. AUCTION

2015 John Deere 332E Skid Steer, full cab with heat, AC, radio, hand controls, two speed, high flow hydraulics, quick attach, sells with an 84-inch low pro JD bucket, shows 551.7 hours, Serial #1T0332EMEEE25731, like new.

• Lowe 1650 Skid Steer mount Hyd post hole auger, sells with a 16, 12, 8, inch augers, like new.

• John Deere Skid Steer mount

2015 Chevy 3500 High Country, 4 door, 4x4, dually, long box pickup, Duramax diesel, 6 speed Allison auto transmission, loaded interior, with sun roof, leather heated seats, Bose stereo, 5th wheel hitch, chrome grill guard, shows 62,061 miles, this is a very clean pickup stored inside all of its life.

48-inch pallet forks, like new.

• Skid Steer mount 66-inch rock bucket, like new.

Case 2870 tractor, 3 Pt, PTO, 4 range plus 3 speed power shift transmission, 4 Hyd remotes, 20.8-34 dual tires, sells with a Degelman 12HD blade, hydraulic lift manual angle, has 2-1 Ft extensions, new batteries, shows 6,710 hours, Serial # 885420,

EQUIPMENT

• Thorsen manual chute with hydraulic lift wheels.

• Hi-Qual calf table.

• 15-HW mud leg 12 Ft panels.

• 9-24 Ft 6 rail mud leg panels.

• 3-15 Ft slant bar feed panels.

• 14-12 Ft mud leg Powder River portable panels.

• 2-2 - W 14 Ft 5 rail gates.

White Field Boss 31 utility tractor, 3-cylinder diesel engine, MFWD front axle, 1155 QA loader, 5 Ft bucket, 3 Pt, PTO, 6 speed speed transmission, 7-16 front tires, 11.2-24 rear tires, open station with ROPS, shows 459 Hr, sells with a Ford 6 Ft manual angle 3 pt blade, new battery.

• 2-Behlen Country 11 Ft feed troughs.

PICKUPS & TRUCKS

1991 GMC Top Kick Dump truck, 3116 cat engine, 6 speed manual transmission, 9 Ft dump box and hoist, live hydraulics front is plumbed for a snowplow, rear plumbed for sander, has pintle hitch, air brakes, shows 163,539 miles, new batteries, passenger fender is damaged.

• 13, Hi-Qual 12 Ft heavy duty mud leg panels.

• 19, Hi-Qual 14 Ft heavy duty mud leg panels.

• Hi - Qual 10 Ft panel with 4 Ft man gate.

• Hi - Qual 12 Ft frame & gate.

• HI - Qual maternity pen

• 2001 Chevy 2500 extended cab short box 4x4 pickup, Duramax diesel, Allison auto transmission, heated leather seats, 5th wheel hitch, shows 149,843 miles, stored inside.

• 1991 Chevy 1500 regular cab long box 4X4 pickup, V8 gas engine, 5 speed manual transmission, manual locks and windows, shows 163,980 miles, paint is poor

• 1978 GMC Custom Deluxe 20 4X4 Reg cab pickup, V8 gas engine, 4 speed manual transmission, shows 78,671 miles, has a Dew Ezz bed mounted bale pick and roll, body is poor runs well

Cat D-6C crawler tractor, electric start, 3 speed power shift transmission, 12 Ft dozer with hydraulic tilt, Hyster rear hydraulic winch, 20-inch grouser pads with ice cleats, new batteries, full ROPS from front nose cone to rear cab, Serial # 76A4128 • Caterpillar D-4 with hydraulic dozer, the engine is disassembled; radiator is missing, for parts

• New Holland 144 windrow inverter.

• New Holland 14 Ft 1116 Bi-directional header, steel conditioner.

• Versatile 17 Ft 4018 Bidirectional grain draper header, pickup reel.

• 16 Ft, Case IH 8380 Swing tongue swather, 5 batt reel, dual feed augers, 1,000 PTO hydraulic pump, steel on rubber conditioner, Serial # CFH0087157.

• 10 Ft dump rake.

• New Holland 56 ground drive turn over rake.

• New Holland Bi-directional swather attachment.

• Farmhand 880 tub grinder 1,000 PTO, rear conveyor

• Farmhand 880B tub grinder, 1,000 PTO rear conveyor

• Snow King 3 Pt snow blower, 8 Ft.

• Anderson 3 batt rock picker, PTO drive.

• 3 Pt bale carrier.

• 3 Pt round bale Hyd spinner

• 24 - inch x 18 Ft metal chain hydraulic drive conveyor

• Friggstad 41 Ft chisel plow, 3 section, Hyd wing fold

• RENN 505 35 Ft chisel plow, dead rod, 3 bar Mid-West mounted harrows.

• 17 Ft Ezee-On tandem disc, mud scrapers, 24-inch serrated front discs, 24-inch straight discs on the rear.

• Meyers 3 Pt ditcher, no Hyd cylinders.

• 16 - 48 inch long U shaped aeration tubes.

• Caldwell 12-inch aeration fan.

• 2- auger hoppers.

TANKS & PROPANE TANKS SHOP TOOLS & EVERYTHING ELSE

• Harris cutting torch and cart with bottles.

• 2 - Floor jacks.

• 12 inch DeWalt radial arm saw.

• Milwaukee Corded band saw.

• Spud bars.

• Craftsman Roll around tool box loaded with tools.

• Chains and binders.

• Barnett drill press floor stand with Morse chuck.

• Brand new Ace wheelbarrow.

• Coats 10-10 Super Power man tire machine.

• 3 Ft deep – 8 Ft wide ½ inch top welding table.

• 3 Ft deep - 4 Ft wide welding table, grated on one end.

• Jack stands.

• 4 Ft fiberglass ladder.

• 6 Ft fiberglass ladder.

• 8 Ft fiberglass ladder.

• 24 Ft extension ladder.

• 28 - inch roll around toolbox loaded with tools.

• Lots of hand tools and sockets and wrenches.

• Dansor free standing pellet stove.

• 5 - Pallets of 7X9 paver bricks.

• 17 - Pallets of 12X16X6 paver bricks.

• C clamps and boxes of assorted welding rod.

• DeWalt bench grinder on stand.

• 250-gallon propane tank.

• 500-gallon propane tank.

• 1, 500-gallon fuel tank and stand.

• 4- 500-gallon fuel tanks and stands.

• 1, 300-gallon fuel tank and stand.

• 1, 300-gallon gas tank and stand.

• Oak double secretary desk

• Oak buffet

• Restored cook stove with double warming ovens and water tank.

• Oak tall standing full-size headboard and footboard.

• 3 - Oak square tables.

• Childs rocker.

• Sewing machine.

• Oak table and 6 chairs.

• China hutch.

• Old Wooden pull type toys.

• 15 gallon Red Wing crock

• 2 gallon Red Wing crock

2010 Polaris Ranger 800 EFI, full cab with heater, 4x4 front winch, dump box, aluminum wheels, electric wipers, shows 1,087 miles, new battery, very clean stored inside like new condition.

• 2003 Honda XR 400 motorcycle, kick start, headlight, stored inside.

2011 Tarnel 20+5 tandem axle dually goose neck trailer, 2 ramps and rear flip up beaver tail, spring ride, oil bath hubs, 235/8516 tires.

• 2006 Hallmark 8.5-16 Ft enclosed trailer, 3,500-pound tandem axle, rear fold down door.

1997 Travalong stock trailer 7x18 Ft, center slide gate, solid rear gate, 6,000-pound torsion axles, passenger side escape door, very nice trailer. • Western Ranch brand 4 horse bumper pull trailer, center sliding gate.

8X10 Ft storage shed.

8X20 FT Yellow Conex box, like new

• 8X8 Ft Tan Conex box, like new

• 10X12 Ft storage shed.

• 8X20 Ft Green Conex box.

• 1968 Wilson 38 Ft cattle pot, center load gate, tandem axle.

Hi-Qual Crowding tub, 27 Ft S alley, side trailer load off of tub.

#####

Why can’t I remember whether I brushed my teeth? I need an angel to remind me, Lord. I went back and forth to the bathroom half a dozen times at least, debating the entire time whether I did or didn’t. Finally, I brushed–perhaps again–just to be sure.

Time to start planning for heat in the feedlot

By Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Extension Educator

Preparing for heat stress in the feedlot ahead of heat events allows faster response when the heat index climbs. Photo courtesy of UNL Feedlot Extension.

As we approach the end of May, it may be time to start thinking of the summer heat, particularly that first heat event that cattle and folks who manage may not be prepared for. The following is a list of some strategies cattle feedlot managers and their crews could begin thinking about as nice weather today turns into heat-stressing weather later.

The list is divided into areas of focus based on cattle type, feeding and watering considerations, and facilities management.

Heat management based on cattle size and type

Keep cattle marketing current to avoid excessively heavy cattle.

Consider extending show lists to include pens that are from 30 to 45 days of initially projected final weight.

Place cattle with light-colored coats in pens with greater propensity to create heat stress.

Feed adjustments to consider in hot weather

Higher fiber concentrations in feedlot diets lower the peak of heat of fermentation.

Afternoon/evening deliveries prevent excessive heat load. Avoid challenging cattle to eat more when hot weather is forecast.

Water considerations for feedlot cattle

Keep these concentrations below the following recommended levels:

Total dissolved solids — 3,000 mg/L (or parts per million/ppm)

Sulfate — 1,000 mg/L (or parts per million/ppm)

Nitrite — 33 mg/L (or parts per million/ppm)

Nitrate — 45 mg/L (or parts per million/ppm)

Figure daily water intake (approximately) by multiplying dry matter intake by 0.75 to render a workable estimate in gallons per head. (Example: If dry matter intake is 24 lb per head daily, projected summer water need is 18 gallons per head daily).

Make sure the water flow rate is adequate. Water flow to meet an 1,800-gallon demand for 100 head is 75 gallons per hour (18 times 100 divided by 24 hours) or flow of 1.25 gallons per minute. Plan for cattle daily water needs to be met in 6 rather than 24 hours, which would mean a flow of 5 gallons per minute minimum is required in this scenario.

Cattle access at the water tank should permit 48” of linear space per animal and for 5% of the pen population.

Maintain water quality by regularly cleaning water troughs.

Stray voltage may be the reason cattle in certain pens underperform. Check for stray voltage.

Add temporary water tanks if necessary.

Shade, bedding, sprinklers, and windbreaks for feedlot heat management

Deploy temporary shades.

The minimum area to consider shading an individual animal should be 32 square feet.

Bedding during hot, summer days keeps cooler surface temperatures and permits space management.

Test and adjust or repair sprinkler heads.

Bedding stacks and any other temporary windbreak structures should be removed from the vicinity of pens.

Control weeds and grass growth within pen alleys and waterway berms.

Deploy fly control programs that consider premises, habitat, and on-animal control.

The intention to release this list well ahead of any heat event was to aid in reminding feedlot managers and their crew to start preparing for heat events. However, some items listed above must be in place well ahead of the heat stress events.

These include placing more heat-tolerant cattle in pens prone to experiencing greater heat loads, evaluating water tanks or other areas for stray voltage, increasing water access, deploying sprinklers and shades, and controlling fly and weed populations. In some cases, cattle need to be accustomed to these strategies while in others, such as fly control, the target organism needs to be exposed to the intervention well ahead of the heat event.

Death Customs

In The Solomon Islands of the South Pacific, a body was traditionally placed on a reef where it would be eaten by sharks.

MCCARTER FARM AUCTIO N

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024 LIVE ONSITE & ONLINE

Registration

After many successful years of farming, Stan

of his

www.fritzbull.com for

early. As

The deadline for advertising in the July 2024 issue of the Trader's Dispatch will be June 26th. Phone (406) 271-5533.

TRUCK AND MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

1990 International 4900 mechanic truck, 6000 lb. crane, Lincoln 250 diesel welder, IR gas air compressor .........................$12,000

Caterpllar 70 service manuals and some parts books $300 D6C or D6C C-frame, never welded, good $300

Call or text for more info and pictures. (406) 544-5209, leave message

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Check for defective anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks

North Dakota farmers and agriculture retailers are encouraged to check their anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks following a recent safety advisory from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, says Rob Proulx, North Dakota State University Extension agriculture technology systems specialist.

The advisory focuses on nurse tanks manufactured from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2011, by American Welding & Tank at its plant in Fremont, Ohio. According to the safety advisory, nurse tanks manufactured by American Welding & Tank from 2009 to 2010 were subject to a prior Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration investigation and enforcement action due to improper manufacturing processes.

In August 2023, a 2009 American Welding & Tank nurse tank experienced a catastrophic failure. This resulted in the release of all product and caused the tank to propel over 300 feet from its original location. This incident, and results from follow-up testing of 150 additional tanks, indicate potential continuing problems with American Welding & Tank nurse tanks that have now been in service for over a decade.

Agriculture retailers and farmers who own anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks can identify if they have a 2007-2011 American Welding & Tank nurse tank by reviewing the tank manufacturer and date of manufacture listed on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers identification plates attached to the tank, which are required by state and federal law. Owners of affected tanks are strongly encouraged to arrange for a nurse tank inspection conducted by a certified cargo tank inspector in accordance with the standards of the Nurse Tank Inspection Program. According to a recent North Dakota Department of Agriculture news release, inspection is only required for tanks with a serial number beginning with 6. A certified cargo tank inspection includes visual inspection, pressure testing using air or water, and non-destructive thickness testing. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Adminstration Cargo Tank Search lists 37 North Dakota facilities with active certification to conduct cargo tank inspections. To identify testing sites in North Dakota, select North Dakota from the state/country dropdown menu and click on “Search for Records” at the bottom of the page.

“Safety is paramount when handling anhydrous ammonia,” Proulx says. “If you own an affected anhydrous ammonia nurse tank, it is an essential safety practice to have it inspected at a certified testing facility. Only after thickness testing and pressure testing, along with visual inspection, should the nurse tank be considered thoroughly inspected.”

Pasture and livestock management using drones

By Samantha Daniel, UNL

Producers face a variety of challenges when managing livestock herds and the forage crops grown to feed them. In many ways, technology can help streamline management improving operation efficiency and productivity. An important and increasingly popular example of this technology is drones.

Drone technology can be utilized to help save time and reduce costs. For example, drones with high resolution cameras can determine forage utilization by cattle across entire pastures; saving time by reducing the need for groundbased pasture inspections. Recent studies have also shown that drones can be used to estimate and monitor forage crop biomass and scout for insects and disease.

For livestock management in particular, drones can be an invaluable tool. They can be used to inspect herds, find wayward animals, check for estrus, monitor during calving season, check water sources, and even herd livestock. It’s important to note that after a short period of acclimation, cattle tend to adapt well to the sound of a drone.

A major downside to drones is the startup costs. A good imaging drone will cost anywhere from $500 - $5000. Further, to legally fly a drone for agricultural purposes, a Part 107 license must be obtained by passing an FAA exam which costs $175. Please note that additional requirements must be completed to apply pesticides with a drone.

The 604N/605N balers deliver the strength, productivity and operating convenience of Super M baler technology with the added capability and enhanced performance of features like the patented dual-stage belt-tightening system. From top to bottom, this baler is built to withstand tough conditions and high-capacity production — offering smooth, consistent performance to highvolume hay producers who want large 6 ft (1.8 m) diameter bales.

An operator will recognize the heavy-duty components and several key features like 5-bar pickup, direct crop feed, optional netwrap system and high-strength upper/ lower drive rollers. It all results in reliable performance and increased efficiency. The 604N/605N balers come equipped with 21.5L–16.1 flotation tires, a hydraulic bale ramp, a moisture sensor and an automatic pickup clutch. Packaged together these features help optimize performance for high-volume producers. The 604N/605N balers look noticeably different, but what hasn’t changed is the smart design, machine durability and the reliable, user-friendly performance that have come to define Vermeer balers.

1 The optional pickup clutch automatically stops the pickup when the desired bale size is reached,lessening inadvertent overfill of the bale chamber to help protect the rollers, bearings and belts. Seals on either side of the pickup bushings help keep out dirt and dust. Toolless gauge wheel adjustment allows for efficient pickup height adjustments.

2 Direct Crop Feed enables the forage crop to be fed directly to the bottom drum and bale-starting chamber.

3 The E-Link Pro display offers enhanced usability, such as accessible bale weight and moisture readings on the home screen with standard moisture sensors and optional scale kit. Additionally, the E-Link Pro comes with the ability to keep track of information for up to 20 customers, with up to 10 fields per customer.

4 Optional Auto Lube greasing system, controlled through the E-Link Pro display, provides automatic lubrication to critical bearings at user-defined intervals.

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What to expect from alternatives to corn silage

By Karla Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management | Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist

Drought has limited pasture availability and forced many producers into feeding total mixed rations (TMR) to cows. Including silage in a TMR can reduce ration cost, improve the energy content of the diet, and add moisture, which can serve as a ration conditioner. However, high commodity prices have encouraged many grain farmers to plant corn for grain rather than silage. Silage can also be made from small grains such as rye, wheat, oats, triticale, or barley, or from summer annual forages such as forage sorghum, sorghum-sudan or pearl millet. While these silages can usually be produced cheaper than corn silage and can certainly improve diet quality when included in poor quality hay based rations, producers should be aware that all silages are not the same quality.

The quality of all silages, including corn silage, is largely impacted by plant maturity, dry matter content of the forage at harvest, and the amount of oxygen removed through packing and covering. Therefore, regardless of the type of silage fed, samples should be sent to a commercial laboratory for nutrient content analysis. However, there are some generalizations that producers should be aware of when comparing types of silage.

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The total digestible nutrients (TDN), a measure of energy for the animal, in corn silage is usually about 68 to 72% and the crude protein (CP) is around 8-10% when the grain in the silage is about 50% of the plant material harvested. This is usually the case when harvest occurs at the black layer and 30% dry matter. In a two-year study comparing winter wheat, winter triticale and cereal rye harvested at various stages of maturity in the spring there were not a lot of differences among species within stage. However, the nutritive value of these small grain silages varied significantly due to stage at which they were harvested.

Stage at harvest impacts both yield and nutrient content of small grain silages. In general, the yield increases as maturity increases and nutrient content decreases. Although, due to starch formation in the seed head the energy content of small cereals increases slightly from milk to sough dough.

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Again, the actual nutritive content of silage achieved will vary a lot from situation to situation as silage management such as moisture content, packing density achieved and covering all affect the end result. Sampling for nutrient analysis should be done after the silage is fermented as the energy content can change a lot during the process. On average small grain silages sampled on-farm in Nebraska lost 9% units of TDN from green chop to silage. These losses were as little as 2% units of TDN with well packed silage put up at the right dry matter (30 to 35%) and as much as 17% if put up too wet (20 to 25% dry matter). It is easy to overestimate the dryness of small grains and put them up too wet. If this happens it is better to feed the silage out earlier because the silage will continue to deteriorate as the clostridial bacteria growth uses up the lactic acid and makes it less stable.

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Summer annual forages can also be used for silage, and as with small grains, are generally cheaper to produce than corn silage. Forage sorghum silage is about 80-90% the feeding value of corn silage due to the reduced starch content and the harder seed coat of the sorghum kernel compared to corn. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids can also be used for silage but will have less grain in the silage. They will also have lower yields than forage sorghum but can be swathed and harvested earlier to allow for planting of winter hardy small cereals. As with all silages, conditions during harvest and packing impact the quality of the ensiled product and nutrient analysis should be obtained prior to feeding.

Producers who are purchasing small grain silage need to be aware that performance will not be the same as with corn silage, and therefore cost should not be either.

Alternatives to corn silage such as small grain silage or sorghum silage can be economical additions to beef cattle diets when a TMR is fed. Producers need to be aware that silage quality can vary, due to many factors, but that small grain and forage sorghum silages usually have less TDN than corn silage. However, these silages can improve quality in diets containing low quality hay or residues and therefore should be considered as a viable alternative. Local University of Nebraska extension personnel can assist producers with developing rations containing these alternatives to corn silage.

Quicken for the Farm, Ranch, Home, or Small Business series registration open

By Kari Lewis, MSU Extension

MSU Extension – Glacier County and Farm Service Agency are teaming up to offer a series of classes on Quicken for the Farm, Ranch, Home, or Small Business. Quicken is a personal finance software (subscription based) that can be used for the home and/or small business/farm/ranch. It allows for splitting receipts across multiple income and expense categories, using a budget, creating year-end reports for taxes and financial decision making, etc.

Classes will be June 18, 20, 25, and 27 from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Glacier County Extension Office conference room, 1210 E. Main Street, Cut Bank, MT. Topics will include: Introduction to Quicken, categorizing income and expenses correctly, managing multiple asset and loan accounts, creating reports for budgeting, utilizing Quicken for business decisions, and utilizing Quicken to track spending.

Kari Lewis, MSU Extension - Glacier County and Lacy Roberts - FSA Farm Loan Manager will teach and meet one on one with individuals as needed to meet their needs. Lacy Roberts, Farm Service Agency Farm Loan manager brings experience from the farm/ranch bookkeeping side and what is needed from a banker’s perspective while Kari Lewis has taught numerous personal finance classes as well. Together, they’ll tailor the information to the needs of the individuals.

If anyone is unable to attend in person classes, there are great online bookkeeping resources for the farm/ranch as well, available through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Agricultural Profitability. There is a self-paced, free virtual Quickbooks Training for Farm and Ranch Record Keeping available at https:// cap.unl.edu/quickbooks-register. There is also a Quicken for Farm and Ranch Financial Record Keeping, self-paced virtual

– Glacier course which is $20 and must be completed within 60 days. Registration for the online Quicken course is available at https://cap. unl.edu/quicken. For individuals with no previous experience with Quicken, it might be valuable to take the virtual Nebraska class prior to the in-person sessions in Cut Bank, and then bring questions to the inperson sessions as well.

For more information, please contact Kari Lewis at kari.lewis@montana.edu or 406-873-2239. To register for the inperson Quicken classes in Cut Bank, please do so at https://tinyurl.com/5pjj68c4 or by calling (406) 873-2239 by June 17. There is no fee for the classes, and they are open to anyone.

Montana State University Extension is an ADA/EO/AA/Veteran’s Preference Employer and Provider of Educational Outreach. Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in the classes should contact Kari Lewis by June 14. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Pigs at war

Described by one writer as “a pink brick of meat encased in a gelatinous coating,” SPAM seems pretty gross to folks who aren’t used to it (and even to plenty who are). It probably wouldn’t have become popular if it hadn’t been for World War II. Because it was cheap, portable, and didn’t need refrigeration, SPAM was an ideal product to send into battle with U.S. GIs. It became such a common sight in mess halls (where it earned the nickname “the ham that didn’t pass its physical”) that many GIs swore they’d never eat the stuff again. Even General Dwight Eisenhower complained about too much Spam in army messes.

Montana Hereford Breeders

We love being able to send the Trader’s Dispatch free of charge but...... we hate seeing them not being read and thrown out.

• If you no longer want your Trader’s Dispatch let us know!

• If you are getting two and only need one let us know!

We don’t check the obituaries so if someone was receiving the paper and has passed let us know!

With postage prices rising steadily we’d like to know our postage costs are justified. Contact us at: (406) 271-5533 or email us at info@tradersdispatch.com

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“What to do about those pesky grass bugs?”

For producers concerned about discolored wheatgrass in pastures and fields, the University of Wyoming Extension has released a free digital publication on how to identify and treat black grass bug infestations.

Especially in eastern Wyoming, black grass bugs can cause significant damage to cool season grasses, severely reducing the nutrient content of livestock forage and preventing seed formation.

or (406) 271-3137 “Laying it down since 1990”

“This insect species can become a serious pest of wheatgrass pastures that are important either for spring grazing or later harvesting for hay,” says Scott Schell, UW Extension entomologist and co-author of the new publication. “The insects can also move from infested pastures, highway rightof-ways or Conservation Reserve Program fields into winter wheat fields and damage the crop.”

These small, cold-tolerant insects emerge in early spring and feed on the intermediate and crested wheatgrasses common in eastern Wyoming. The discoloration and poor growth caused by their feeding is easily mistaken for damage caused by drought or frost.

Damaged plants often recover with adequate moisture later in the season, but infestations during a drought may result in lasting damage.

The new publication presents various options for control, including grazing practices, mowing, prescribed burning and chemical treatment. Depending on when the infestation is detected, or whether the goal is to prevent a future infestation, recommended strategies may vary.

To be effective, insecticide treatments must be completed early in the season, before the insects have matured and deposited eggs, says Schell. Ideally, chemical treatment should take place after the majority of the insects hatch, but before they have caused extensive damage.

Previous studies have shown that if successful control is achieved, it can take several years before the bugs reach damaging population levels again.

The authors also note that control may not be necessary every year. Black grass bug populations fluctuate in response to variation in temperature, moisture, snowpack and other conditions that affect their life cycle. However, if a wheatgrass pasture deteriorates to a point at which it’s no longer productive, they recommend remediation rather than attempting control.

To view the new publication, visit https://bit.ly/blackgrass-bug-wy. Contact Schell at sschell@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-2508 with questions.

Kudzu, a fast growing Japanese vine

Originally brought into the southern U.S. in 1876 for use as shade. People noticed livestock ate the vine and that kudzu helped restore nitrogen to the soil. It seemed like a perfect plant to cultivate. So in the 1930s, the U.S. government helped farmers plant kudzu all over the South. By the 1950s, it was out of control, blanketing farmers’ fields, buildings, utility poles and – often fatally – trees. Today, utility companies spend millions of dollars annually spraying herbicides on poles and towers to keep them kudzufree. And instead of helping plant kudzu, the government now gives advice on how to get rid of it.

An adult female black grass bug actively feeding on a crested wheatgrass with its piercing-sucking beak. The light spots on the leaves are evidence of where black grass bug feeding has occurred, sucking out the nutritious plant cell contents. Photo by Scott Schell

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1980 International Service Truck

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2001 Chevrolet C6500

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Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Society annual meeting

By Chabella Guzman, UNL PREEC communications

Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Society will hold its 2024 annual meeting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension, & Education Center from June 11 to 13 in Scottsbluff.

“Each state has its own Soil and Water Conservation Society chapter, that meets annually,” said Robin Foulk, NSWCS member and past president. “We rotate around Nebraska and this year we are having it in the Panhandle.” The society reaches out to members in western Nebraska to host the event and get the agenda ready.

This year’s theme is “Tech Talks - Tech Walks,” focusing on various technologies, in and outside. “We reach out to members each year for subjects they would be interested in,” she said. “Some of the key talks will include Palmer amaranth control, soil health a major conservation topic and we’ll have the Natural Resources Conservation Service trailer, that will give demonstrations on soil health.” Greenhouses and their various designs will be looked at with talks on high tunnels, and geodesic greenhouses and a tour of the North Platte Natural Resources District’s geothermal greenhouse.

The Tech Talk - Tech Walk will also visit Meadowlark Hearth Farms on Wednesday, June 12. The farm is an organic heritage seed farm that promotes seed production.

For more information and to register visit https://form.jotform.com/241032241835143

The agenda follows:

June 11

Noon – 1 p.m. Registration at North Platte NRD Board Room

1- 1:15 p.m. Welcome

1:15 - 2:15 p.m. High Tunnels & Geodesic Dome Greenhouses – Jeff Edwards

2:15 - 3:15 p.m. NPNRD Geothermal Greenhouse – Kristee Moore, NPNRD. Tour of greenhouse follows

5 - 6 p.m. Social Hour

June 12

Events at Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center (PHREEC)

7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Registration Bluestem Room

8:30 - 8:40 a.m. Welcome by John Westra Director of PHREEC and SWCS President Claudia Stevenson

8:40 – 9 a.m. Travel and tour of Meadowlark Hearth Farms www.meadowlarkhearth. org 120024 Everett Dr, Scottsbluff

10:40 – 11 a.m. Return to PHREEC

11 - Noon Palmer Amaranth Control – Dr. Nevin Lawrence

Noon - 1 p.m. Lunch (Bluestem Room) 1 - 2 Tour Palmer Amaranth Control Test Plots - PHREEC

2 - 2:30 p.m. Break

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Cheatgrass Control Studies – Mitch Stevenson’s Grad Assistants

3:30 - 3:45 p.m. Travel to Cheatgrass Control Test Plots (estimated 13.5 miles North of Scottsbluff)

3:45 - 4:45 p.m. Tour Cheatgrass Control Test Plots

4:45 – 5 p.m. Return to PHREEC

June 13

7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast and SWCS Foundation Board Meeting at Bluestem Room at PHREEC

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.SWCS Chapter Meeting

9:30 - 10 a.m. Break

10 - 11 a.m. Soil Carbon Amendments – S. Corey Brubaker, NRCS

11:00 - 12:00 Introduction to Soil Health – NRCS Soil Health Team Elizabeth GrayAssistant State Soil Scientist, Riley Hackbart, Tyler Durr

12:00 - 12:30 p.m. Box lunch

12:30 - 2:30 p.m. In-field Soil Health Assessment and Soil Health Trailer Demo.

Life on Mars?

For centuries, humans have looked up at our closest planetary neighbor and wondered if we would ever live there. Today, scientists are working on making this a reality. NASA has even announced a date for the first manned mission to the Red Planet: 2031.

The bad news: It may be closer to the years 3031 before a human can take a stroll around Mars wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. As it stands right now, Mars’s average temperature is -81°F, its atmosphere is extremely thin, and it contains almost no oxygen. To fix all three of these problems would be, by far, the larges and

boldest undertaking in human history. The good news: Mars possesses many of the basic elements necessary for life to develop, the most crucial being water. The planet also has a promising atmospheric makeup: 95.9 percent carbon dioxide, 1.9 percent nitrogen, and 0.15 percent oxygen. While that’s far below the 20 percent oxygen in our atmosphere, it’s encouraging because four billion years ago, Earth’s atmosphere was nearly the same as Mars’s is today. So, to make Mars earthlike–or terraformed–it needs heat, more water, a thicker atmosphere, and lots and lots of oxygen. But how do you do it in less than four billion years?

The North Platte NRD’s Greener Gardens Greenhouse will be one of the stops on the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Society annual meeting tour. Photo by Chabella Guzman

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Ideas for estate and transition planning: Gift Leaseback

By Jessica Groskopf , Extension Educator, UNL

For many farm and ranch families, bringing children or grandchildren into the operation is the ultimate goal. Successfully bringing additional family members into the operation may require some creativity as all parties need to maintain a viable standard of living. This series of articles will highlight ideas and tactics for bringing another family member into the operation. If this is the first article you are seeing in this series, I would encourage you to go back to the previous articles for background and additional guidance.

In a previous article, we discussed gifting as a tactic to transfer wealth between generations. Simply gifting assets helps reduce estate value and potential taxes for the owners, and increase the wealth of the heirs. However, some families are hesitant to engage in gifting strategies because the farm or the ranch needs access to those assets to remain viable. This article expands on gifting strategies by combining gifts with a lease agreement.

Remember, the person gifting assets is called the donor, usually a parent, and the person receiving the gift is the donee, usually a child.

In the scenario below, the donor will be gifting farmland to the donee. If it is a true gift, the donee could do anything with the farmland they want. If the donee wants to, they could lease the farmland back to the donor at fair market value.

This scenario greatly benefits the donor. First, the donor would continue to farm the land allowing them to maintain their standard of living. Second, the asset would be removed from their estate and if completed outside of the applicable lookback periods could reduce the assets counted toward long-term care, and/or estate tax. Depending on the nature of the asset, removal of the asset may also decrease the donor’s property taxes. Finally, like with other leases, the donor would be able to deduct the rent as a business expense, potentially lowering their income tax liability. However, the donor also has the risk of the lease being terminated.

The donee benefits by receiving the asset as a gift, and the income from the lease. Additionally, they may also be able to depreciate the asset, if it is depreciable and there is value to depreciate. If the terms of the lease are not followed, the donee has the flexibility to terminate the lease. Land is not the only asset that could be used in this scenario. Any physical asset used on your farm or ranch could be employed in a gift leaseback. However, land, machinery, and equipment are the most logical as they are often leased by farm and ranch operation. The IRS is very critical of these types of transactions. Work with your financial team to make sure it is handled correctly. There needs to be a written lease agreement in a gift leaseback scenario, and the agreement needs to be followed.

Grasshopper management

By Samantha Daniel, UNL

The 2024 rangeland grasshopper risk map from the USDA indicates there may be increased grasshopper activity in central Nebraska and the panhandle. Keeping an eye on fields this summer can help mitigate economic loss from grasshopper feeding.

Grasshoppers tend to thrive in dry, hot conditions while outbreaks can be severely limited by cool, wet spring weather; however, it is still recommended that producers throughout the state scout their fields while grasshoppers are still in the nymph stage and therefore easier to control. While there have already been reports of large numbers of adult (flying) grasshoppers in central Nebraska, they are typically bandwing grasshoppers that rarely cause economic damage. If you are observing large numbers of flying adult grasshoppers and are concerned, contact your county extension office.

One of the best ways to scout for grasshoppers is to use the square foot method. Randomly select an area several feet away and visualize a one square-foot area around that spot. Walk toward this spot and count the number of grasshoppers you see in or jumping out of this area. Repeat this procedure 18 times and divide the total number of grasshoppers by two. This will give you the number of grasshoppers per square yard. Economic thresholds for grasshoppers range from 8 to 40 grasshoppers per square yard, depending on a variety of factors. Keep in mind that control is generally recommended before grasshoppers reach the adult stage.

For current insecticide recommendations for controlling grasshoppers in rangeland, forages, alfalfa, and other crops, please contact your county extension office.

Pruning

Early spring and late winter is the best time to prune many shrubs and small trees.

Shrubs that bloom in summer and autumn generally develop flowers on the current seasons’ growth and should be pruned before the first flush of growth in the spring.

Shrubs that bloom in the spring or winter should be pruned immediately after flowering has finished.

In early summer, prune evergreens that are not in flower. Prune conifers in late summer or early autumn. Prune other evergreens after flowering.

Pruning is practiced to maintain plant health, control plant growth, and encourage flowering and fruiting. These objectives should be remembered as you prune.

Pruning should encourage plant health, not plant disease, so it is important to prune properly using the correct pruning tools.

For twigs and light branches, hand pruning shears or secateurs can be used.

Loppers may be used for branches up to 1-1 ½” thick. Use a pruning saw for larger branches.

Hedge shears or clippers should be used to trim closely clipped hedges only.

All tools should be kept sharp. Sharp tools cut easier and avoid bruising the plant tissue. Bruising the plant causes slower healing of the wound and causes an increase in the probability of disease.

A clean cut should be made; the cut surface should have a smooth surface, not a rough one that looks as if the tissue has been torn or pulled.

Care should be taken not to damage the plant around the cut, or rip or tear the bark above or below the cut. The cambium layer, a thin layer of cells just below the bark, is important in wound healing and it is easily damaged. Do not twist or turn the shears as you cut because you will damage the plant as well as the shears.

Unless a shrub is a topiary or part of a formal hedge, it should not be closely clipped but allowed to develop naturally and pruned to keep in shape.

First remove all dead, diseased, or injured branches. If necessary, thin out the plant. Remove branches that cross each other or they will become entangled. If the shrub still looks too thick, remove some of the older branches that are distinctly different from the rest of the shrub. Cut back any very long growth to a bud.

To reduce the size of a shrub, cut back each branch 4”-6”, to a new bud. Do not use hedge shears; cut each branch separately.

Prune hybrid tea and floribunda roses in March. Cut out dead, diseased, or thin wood and trim back the main shoots. When cutting back main shoots, count buds from the base of each shoot and cut just above the second or third one. The length of the shoot is less important than the number of buds.

Shrub roses are best

pruned in winter. As both old and modern roses produce most of their flowers on shoots produced from old wood, prune lightly. Remove dead, thin, and decayed wood and shorted main stems by one third.

Prune rambling roses in the autumn. Cut untidy, flowered shoots right down to the base and tie new shoots to the trellis or support. If there are a few new shoots, leave some of the flowered shoots in place, cutting back just a little.

Climbing roses are also best pruned in the autumn. Remove any crossing or thin shoots and reduce the height of the main stems by about one third. This prevents them being blown about by the wind. Remove any side shoots that spoil the shape and cut back the others by about two thirds.

Miniature roses should be pruned in March. Cut off any dead, diseased, or thin wood and trim back the main stems.

####

By the 1880s fudge was made and sold in candy stores selling confections. Folklore suggests a confectioner erred in making caramel. Upon realizing the mistake, the confectioner likely said “Oh Fudge”, and the candy was invented.

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2015

How to Store Leftover Garden Seeds

By Sheila Hillberry, SDSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer, under the direction and review of Prairey Walkling, Kristine Lang, Rhoda Burrows, and Vaughn Reints

After seed starting, or at the end of the growing season, many gardeners find themselves with partially full seed packets. Do not throw these seeds away, as most will last more than a year after the “sell by” date. Some seeds will keep 10 years (or more!) if carefully stored. Below are some recommendations for how to store your garden seeds to keep them viable for use again next season. In addition, learn about some of the issues with vigor that you may see when using old seeds.

Seed Storage Tips

Here are some tips to extend the life of seeds:

• Reducing humidity is the most-important factor in extending the life of seeds. In general, relative humidity below 60% is best for seed storage. Avoid storing seeds in sheds or garages where they may be exposed to high humidity in the summer.

• Store your seeds in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Exposure to temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit will greatly decrease the viability of your seed for future planting seasons.

• Seeds can be stored in sealed containers, plastic bags, and wax or paper envelopes. When seeds are stored in sealed containers, ensure that moisture is not trapped within the container; if you see condensation forming inside the jar or container, you may have issues.

• A refrigerator can be a good option for seed storage that can extend the storage life by several years. Seeds stored in the refrigerator should be in a sealed container. When seeds are removed from cold storage, let the container reach room temperature before opening the container to avoid condensation on the seeds within the container.

• If you have grown and harvested seeds yourself, make sure that they are thoroughly dry before storing the saved seeds.

• If you want to check for viability before planting, do a germination test.

Expected Storage Life

Different seeds have different expected shelf life, even with the best conditions. Parsnips are notoriously shortlived seeds. Tomatoes, lettuce, beans and peas benefit most from careful handling. Keep in mind that the older the seed, the lower the germination and vigor. For this reason, some choose to mix in new seed with the old when direct seeding or seed at a higher rate to account for a reduced percentage of plants that may germinate after several years of storage. Time is precious in our South Dakota growing season, and no one wants to end up short on their favorite flowers or vegetables!

Seeds have greater longevity than you may think. With proper storage, you can often successfully utilize commercial seeds for several years beyond the “sell by” date. This allows you to save money by not purchasing new seed every year, and it also allows you to hang onto your favorite varieties in the event there are issues with availability in the following season. Below are the expected storage life of several popular vegetable seeds when stored properly.

Things to Consider

When making the choice to use old seed, there are considerations one should make, especially if concerned with profit. Seed vigor is essential for the successful cultivation of vegetable crops, influencing everything from germination rates to overall plant health and crop yield. A plant grown from old seed can be affected throughout its lifecycle. Fresh seeds generally exhibit higher vigor compared to carryover seeds, which can suffer from reduced germination rates and increased disease susceptibility if stored for too long. These issues underline the importance of proper seed storage and the timely use of seeds. High seed vigor ensures rapid, uniform emergence and development across a variety of field conditions, leading to a robust and even crop stand.

• Delayed Germination and Emergence: Seeds with low vigor take longer to germinate, resulting in uneven crop stands and making the plants more vulnerable to weed interference. Seedlings are often smaller plants that take longer to get established.

• Increased Disease Susceptibility: Weaker seeds are more likely to contract soil pathogens, leading to greater occurrences of seed rot and seedling blights, which thin out stands and reduce plant productivity.

• Reduced Stress Tolerance: Seeds that lack vigor are less CONTINUED

Harvest window for quality winter rye forage is small

As the days get longer, grass growth is fast in the Northern Plains. Among the cereal grains, winter rye has one of the fastest growth rates, quickly moving from the vegetative stage to stem elongation and head emergence in the blink of an eye. This impressive rate of growth rate makes winter rye difficult to manage if the goal is to harvest for high-quality forage, says James Rogers, North Dakota State University Extension forage crops production specialist.

According to Rogers, there are three major factors that affect plant forage quality: plant species, plant part (leaves vs. stems) and plant maturity. Within a single plant species, plant maturity is the most important factor influencing forage nutrient content. All forage plants will go from a leafy, vegetative stage that is high in protein and low in fiber (high quality) to a reproductive stage that is low in protein and high in fiber (low quality). As the plant moves from vegetative high quality to reproductive low quality, plant yield increases. The rate at which plants progress from the vegetative stage to reproductive stage depends on species, with some plants, such as legumes, declining in quality at a much

slower rate than a grass.

“Unfortunately, rye declines rapidly in quality with increasing maturity,” Rogers says. “This means that if you wish to capture rye at good forage quality to avoid it being ‘just a grinding hay,’ pay careful attention to plant maturity.”

Research conducted at University of Minnesota and Iowa State University shows that as rye maturity increases from vegetative to reproductive, there is a linear decline in crude protein and digestibility (energy). With declines in protein and energy, fiber content increases. Increased fiber will decrease ruminant daily voluntary dry matter intake. Limited intake, also limits protein and energy intake, which can then cause the ruminant animal to fall short of meeting daily nutritional requirements. If not corrected, this can lead to many negative ripple effects on production, Rogers warns.

“Forage yield increases with maturity, which is not a bad thing,” Rogers says. “We need yield to support herd size and to reduce and spread-out the cost of production, so there needs to be a compromise between forage yield and quality.”

For rye, the yield-quality compromise point for harvest is the boot stage. Boot stage is when the seed head has risen to the top of the stem at the base of the flag leaf. At this point, the seed head is easy to feel at the top of the stem but has not yet emerged.

“The problem with rye is that the boot stage lasts for only a very short period of time,” Rogers says. “Once the seed head emerges, forage quality declines rapidly, while yield increases due to

a decreasing leaf-to-stem ratio.”

Data from the University of WisconsinMadison has shown that relative forage quality (an index combining dry matter intake and digestibility) drops 4 to 5 points per day with increasing maturity beyond the boot stage. As a general rule, the yield-quality compromise for harvest is at the boot stage for cereal forage crops such as oats, wheat, barley and triticale. Rogers advises ranchers to begin grazing these cereal forage crops around the late vegetative stage. Variation exists between these crops in how rapidly they mature past boot stage. For rye, this point is very rapid. Triticale is similar as it is a cross with rye. Rogers acknowledges that the timing of grazing or forage harvest always has tradeoffs. He advises ranchers know the nutrient demands for the class of livestock they are feeding. For dry cows, a more mature forage will meet demands. Young cows growing calves will require a higher quality forage. Variations due to environmental conditions, fertility and variety will have an effect on yield and quality. To account for these variations, always test forage.

Mustache, Motorcycle,

Motor Home, and Mama

Saw a dude blowin’ down the street on his Harley – his white hair flyin’ in the wind

But what really impressed me was that handle bar mustache of his, coverin’ up his grin

That mustache was white as snow an’ the ends of it flowed back behind his ears,

Mixin’ with that long white hair! He was out for a spin!

Now I’m about to retire. Gonna get a big bonus check

Me and Mama been discussin’ how these dollars could be well spent.

It’s makin’ our thoughts a wreck

But after seein’ that guy on his bike, I got my mind made up,

I’m gonna grow my grey locks. Get me that long mustache.

I’m gonna ask Mama don’t she want some tattoos and piercings?

To make her look real neat?

As she sits on our black Harley on that high back seat! Why she’ll look fine all leathered up and comfy with her big grin

A helmet on top of her head and HER long hair flyin’ back in the wind.

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She’s still a darn good lookin’ gal, I’ll be proud as a peacock havin’ her sittin’ there in back of me…

Trouble started when I asked if I could call her my “old lady”

When on the Harley we ride

Mama sounded mad as a buzzin’ bee, her bad manners were tough to hide

I reckon we’ll have to buy her that motor home… And my bike will be on the trailer behind!

©Copyright Donna and Robert Lee Ridgway

How to Store Leftover Garden Seeds

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A20

capable of withstanding environmental stresses, such as cold or wet conditions, leading to poor seedling growth and development and, consequently, reduced crop uniformity and yield.

• Economic Impact: The use of low-vigor seeds can lead to higher agricultural costs due to the need for increased seeding rates to achieve desired stand densities, as well as elevated expenditures on pesticides and fungicides to combat the increased pest and disease pressures. This ultimately results in lower yields and diminished profits.

Ensuring high seed vigor through meticulous selection and testing is critical for maximizing productivity and achieving high-quality crops. Proper management practices are vital for maintaining seed health and vigor, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and output of agricultural operations. For most backyard gardeners, using old seed is not a deal breaker, but some scenarios may end in disappointment.

Shelf Life by Variety

Below is the expected storage life of several popular vegetable seeds when stored properly.

2 YEARS

Corn

Lettuce

Okra

Onion

Parsley

Parsnip

Pepper

3 YEARS

Bean

Broccoli

Carrots

Celery

Kohlrabi

Peas

Spinach

4 YEARS

• Beet

Cabbage • Fennel • Kale

Mustard • Pumpkin • Rutabaga • Squash

• Swiss chard

• Tomato

• Turnip

• Watermelon

5 YEARS

• Brussel sprouts

• Collards

• Cucumber

• Endive

• Muskmelon

• Radish

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Small grain forage harvest

By Ben Beckman, UNL

As we work our way through spring, many small grains are maturing fast and nearing harvest windows. Are you ready to make the most out of these forage options?

Producers seeking hay should consider the animal being fed and feeding method before harvesting. For young growing cattle, small grain hay should be cut in the boot stage or as soon as possible following heading to ensure higher protein and energy content. Mature cow and feedlot managers may consider delaying their forage harvest until the hard dough development stage to increase forage quantity; since these cattle can utilize lower quality forage than younger beef animals. Small grains with awns like rye, triticale, and wheat can be a concern at later maturities. Grinding the hay, feeding in ration with additional moisture, or using an awnless (beardless) variety can reduce this risk.

No matter how you harvest, delaying can mean higher productivity. Nebraska studies have shown an 8 ton per acre increase between harvest at boot stage and soft dough on irrigated fields. The trade-off for delaying forage harvest was an 8% drop in crude protein content.

Another concern for silage harvesters is proper moisture when packing. A statewide study looking at 17 Nebraska producers found the biggest loss of small grain silage quality was packing too wet despite almost all producers having wilted the crop before packing. Silage packed too wet had almost 3 times the energy loss that those packed at proper moisture content Shoot for 70-72% moisture for proper packing. Study survey data showed producers who harvested at boot, heading, or pollination stage and wilted for 16 to 24 hours appeared more likely to achieve target moisture levels.

Zucchini Casserole

4 cups grated zucchini, squeezed dry with a towel after

1 1/4 cups Heart Smart Bisquick, *see note below to substitute

1/3 cup minced onion

3 large egg whites, beaten

1 large egg, beaten

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, good quality

1 tsp kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste

1 tsp parsley

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mix everything together in a bowl.

Spray 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and pour mixture.

Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, approximately 45 to 50 minutes.

Roasted Green Beans with Carmelized Onions

1 tablespoon extra virgin oil

2 large Vidalia Onions, about 1 1/4 lbs, peeled and sliced

kosher salt and black pepper to taste

2 pounds green beans, trimmed

olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 425F.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add onions, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.

onions in a skillet

Cook, stirring often until they begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low and cook stirring until the onions are deep golden brown and soft, about 30 minutes.

Caramelized Onions

Meanwhile place the green beans on a sheet pan and spritz all over with olive oil spray, 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper, to taste.

Bake until tender crisp, about 16 to 18 minutes, turning halfway.

roasted green beans

Transfer to a platter and top with caramelized onions. Serve hot.

Roasted Mexican Zucchini

4 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch half moons

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

2 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese juice of 1/2 lime

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the diced zucchini, olive oil, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and ground cumin.Toss until evenly coated.

Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and spread evenly in a single layer.

Roast for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until zucchini is fork tender.

Top with cotija cheese, lime juice, and chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately.

Tomato Salad

5 large or 8 cups medium ripe red heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

8 - 10 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

In a large bowl combine the tomatoes, red onion, basil, olive oil, garlic and season liberally with salt and pepper. Let the tomato mixture sit room temperature for about 20 minutes to let the flavors blend (the juices from the tomatoes will release and create a kind of dressing). Toss well.

Corn Tomato Avocado Salad

1 cup corn kernels , from 1 large steamed corn on the cobb

5 ounces diced avocado, from 1 medium

1 1/2 cup diced Persian cucumbers, about 3 small

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

2 tablespoons diced red onion

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, from 1 medium lemon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

fresh black pepper, to taste

Steam corn in steamer or microwave (or you can grill or boil) until tender, about 5 minutes.

Let it cool then transfer to a large bowl.

Toss all the remaining ingredients together and serve immediately.

Surfing science

Surfing is hundreds of years old. Ancient Hawaiians surfed on big, heavy, wooden boards. In the 1950s the sport caught on in Southern California, where new engineering techniques and materials like fiberglass allowed for lightweight, smaller boards that still supported the mass of a surfer on the water. Spectators flocked to the amazing sight of swimmers standing on seemingly flimsy surfboards while cresting the tops of breaking waves. Most did not know they were watching some excellent feats of rotational motion and physics.

Balance is obviously an important part of surfing. How does a surfer stay stationary (balanced) on a board that’s cresting a wave? Along the lengthwise center of the board and slightly toward its tail, where there’s extra mass, lies the center of the board’s gravity. This point is the board’s axis–like the fulcrum at the center of a seesaw. Where the surfer stands in relation to the axis controls his or her board’s rotational motion exactly like the up-anddown rotational motion of a seesaw. If the rider’s weight moves too far toward the nose of the board, the board tips (or torques) forward and the nose sinks. Too far back and the tail sinks. A good surfer straddles the center of gravity with one foot toward the tail and one toward the nose. The two torques cancel each other out, and the surfer is balanced.

But it takes more than an understanding of rotational motion to make a brilliant surfer. Our surfer needs a thorough (even if intuitive) understanding of the development of potential energy and how it can be turned into kinetic energy. A surfer arrives at the top of a wave just before it breaks. By taking up this position, she has gained potential energy. Potential energy is the potential product of you and your equipment’s weight or mass, and the vertical distance you’re about to fall. Our surfer converts this potential energy to kinetic energy when she drops off the top of the wave down toward the flat of the wave. This conversion into energy gives her the power to propel herself along despite the friction of the water currents. The surfer can non ride the wave.

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#####

Too many churchgoers are singing “Standing on the Promises” when all they are doing is sitting in the premises.

How viruses move across species

By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension news service

Anyone who remembers the COVID-19 pandemic may have a heightened sense of concern with news stories announcing that traces of the influenza virus have been appearing in unexpected places.

On a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Kansas State University veterinarians shared their educational insight to help beef producers get an understanding of how the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus transmits and what that might mean for cattle operations.

“(HPAI) is a virus. Most viruses don’t cross species, but the influenza virus is one that will move between birds and pigs, and occasionally other animals including humans,” K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said.

K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers added: “It is called highly pathogenic avian virus because in birds there is a high mortality rate,” Lubbers said. “It often moves from wild birds that bring it through the flyways to commercial poultry operations and that can lead to a high death loss.”

Earlier this year, the virus was detected in dairy cattle operations.

“With this particular outbreak, we’ve seen it cross over to cattle, usually at low levels, and that is something we haven’t identified before,” Larson said.

So far, the dairy cattle have had a different experience with the HPAI virus compared to how a typical virus might impact them, Lubbers said.

“Usually, viruses in dairy cattle are more likely to impact cows in early lactation when there is some immunosuppression around the time of calving, but with this virus, it seems to be associated with cows in mid-lactation, with the primary clinical signs being high fever and decreased milk production,” he said.

The way that veterinarians can confirm the presence of the virus is through testing.

“Identifying the virus means that viral genetic material has been detected by a PCR test or a genome sequencing test,” Lubbers said.

K-State veterinarian Brad White added: “Many of these tests pick up on the genetic components, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there is a live virus in the animals or anything else that we test, such as milk or meat.”

So, what should a beef producer do with this information?

“Beef producers need to recognize that diseases are complex and it takes time to figure them out,” Larson said. “Right now, we still have a lot to learn about this virus in cattle.”

As part of that cautionary step, governmental agencies are putting restrictions on cattle movements.

“USDA APHIS has developed regulations regarding interstate movement of lactating dairy cattle, so it is important to work with your local veterinarian to get the latest information prior to shipping animals from the dairy,” Lubbers said.

He also advised producers to have a heightened awareness of what is happening on their operations.

“If you notice a large die-off of wild birds, that would be something to notify someone about,” Lubbers said. “Also, if your herd has some positive tests, it would be good to monitor the workers in the operation closely.”

National Onion Ring Day

This holiday is always tastefully enjoyed on June 22nd

After french fries, onion rings are the second most popular choice to pair with your burger or hot dog. They go great with Italian sausage, too. Aren’t you lucky that someone a long time ago, created the first onion ring recipe? Here lies the great mystery or debate….. just who first created the onion ring recipe?

It is well documented that the first onion ring recipe was in the recipe book The Art of Cookery Made Easy & Refined. It was published in 1802. In the 1900s, several other individuals, companies, and restaurants made claims to be the first. Those supporting their case suggest the 1802 recipe wasn’t truly onion rings. But, that 1802 recipe called for onions sliced into rings, and to be fried. Undoubtedly, those who came up with recipes in the 1900s contributed to the evolution of onion rings and contributed new recipes for our beloved rings. But, the 1802 recipe was the first.

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Manual head gate with rear assist, has head holder. Bi-fold back gate, hinged neck access, palpation cage attached, straight side squeeze, double side opening doors, drop bars for access. Excellent condition. Asking $8100 Phone (406) 531-1036

#####

Always drink upstream from the herd. – Will Rogers

#####

Never set on a barbwire fence naked. – Texas Bix Bender

Controlling flies on cattle requires proper timing

Face flies, horn flies and stable flies are the most common and most treated pests on North Dakota livestock operations. Left uncontrolled, these pests can cause significant loss in livestock production.

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Fortunately, North Dakota State University Extension specialists say that the proper pest management strategy can provide effective control.

While integrated pest management is commonplace for controlling crop pests, similar concepts can apply to controlling livestock pests, according to Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist, Dr. Gerald Stokka.

“Integrated pest management involves using the right type of control at the right time for the right duration to control pests effectively,” Dr. Stokka says. “For example, in beef cow-calf operations, applying pest control for lice and flies prior to pasture turnout will not be effective and will waste resources related to pest control.”

Timing and type of pest control depends on the species of flies. Horn and face flies typically are not present at pasture turnout and do not reach economic thresholds for applying control until midsummer.

Horn flies are gray and look like small houseflies. Horn flies bite and spend most of their time clustered around the head, shoulders and back of cattle. These blood-sucking flies feed up to 20 to 30 times per day. This constant biting causes cattle pain and stress, and can reduce the cattle’s weight gains by as much as 20 pounds, according to Dr. Stokka.

Face flies look like large, dark house flies. They are nonbiting flies that feed on animal secretions, plant nectar and manure liquids. Face flies may transmit pathogens responsible for infecting the eye and causing pinkeye in cattle. The life cycle of a face fly is approximately 21 days. Populations tend to peak in late summer.

Stable flies are similar in size to house flies, but have circular markings that distinguish them from horn flies. In addition, these flies bite on the abdomen and legs, feed on blood, and are very disruptive to cattle grazing. They breed on organic matter and are very difficult to control with topical pour-on and injectable products.

Pest density is another factor in determining timing of control strategy, according to Colin Tobin, animal scientist at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center.

“When fly counts reach 200 flies per animal, the economic threshold has been reached and animals will have significant weight loss,” Tobin says. “The economic threshold is the pest density at which producers should take action to manage the pest.”

Tobin says that the first step in determining when to apply control is to properly scout pastures and cattle to determine fly type and fly populations. Horn flies typically rest on cattle throughout the day, whereas face flies land on the face of cattle for a meal and then retreat to nearby structures (forages, fences, etc.).

Ear tags contain insecticides that are released slowly into the animal’s hair by movement, so ear tags should not be applied until fly populations are nearing the economic thresholds (typically from mid-June to July). Tobin advises reading insecticide labels carefully because recommendations can vary for the number of tags to apply (one or two), the age of cattle that can be tagged, and the chemical class of active ingredient (pyretheroid, organophosphate or a combination).

NDSU Extension specialists recommend rotating the class of insecticide each year and removing tags when they no longer provide effective fly control to help prevent flies from becoming resistant to the insecticides.

“To achieve proper fly control, pour-on and sprays must be applied every two to three weeks throughout the fly season,” Tobin says. “Applying these products before pasture turnout likely will not be an effective fly control method. Additionally, all avermectin pour-ons and injectables impact internal parasites and are not labeled for fly control.”

Feed additive insecticides can be included in mineral formulations for the cattle. The additives pass through the animals’ digestive system and destroy the developing horn fly maggots in the manure. These additives are effective in killing 80% to 90% of the developing fly larvae in animals that have consumed the product.

Extension livestock specialist Karl Hoppe advises ranchers to offer feed additives at least 30 days prior to fly emergence in late June or early July. Continuous use of these products may speed up resistance in the fly populations, he warns. Back rubbers, dusters and other means of delivering insecticides, as well as nonchemical fly traps and reliance CONTINUED ON PAGE A29

Controlling flies on cattle requires proper timing

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A28

on natural fly defense mechanisms (dung beetle control of larvae), also are available. As with the other control methods, Hoppe advises watching for economic thresholds and considering what control measure will work best.

“When applying any type of pest control, be sure to carefully read the label prior to application,” Hoppe says. “It is important to

tive, the fly population may have developed a resistance to that type of insecticide, which may require another method or product.

“Pest control can be costly,” Hoppe says.

“Producers can reduce costs by following principles of integrated pest management and applying the appropriate products at the appropriate time for the appropriate control of pest populations.” monitor populations to see if the product is achieving the desired level of control.” If a product is not effec

In January 1943, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands - who lived in exile in Ottawa, Ontario, with her two daughters during World War II - gave birth to a third daughter at Ottawa Civic Hospital. At the request of the Dutch government, the Canadian government legally designated the hospital room “Dutch soil” to ensure the princess would be exclusively a Dutch citizen (and not also a Canadian citizen), a requirement for the new princess to remain in the Dutch royal line of succession. In thanks for its wartime kindness, the Dutch government still sends Canada 20,000 tulips every year.

LOOKING TO BUY •

It’s theorized that the Moon had a thicker atmosphere long ago, but this was lost into space when lunar volcanic activity stopped.

By

Adam Varenhorst, Associate Professor & SDSU Extension Field Crop Entomologist. Additional Authors: Patrick Wagner, Philip Rozeboom

There have been an increasing number of reports of pastures with dead areas showing up this spring. A little digging into these areas has revealed that part of the problem is the presence of true white grubs, which are the larva of June beetles (Figure 1).

True white grubs feed on grass roots, leaving behind large, circular patches of dead grass and bare ground as shown in Figure 2. Their presence is often exacerbated in areas where grass has experienced drought stress and overgrazing.

True white grubs have a three-year life cycle, during which they grow underground and eventually emerge as beetles. Based on recent reports, it is estimated that 2024 is the third year of the true white grubs that are causing issues in southern South Dakota. This means the true white grubs will feed during 2024, and adult emergence will occur next spring (2025). The main concern for 2024 is the potential for severe damage to occur in pasture and rangeland due to the large size of the third instar grubs and their increased capacity to damage grass roots.

Profile

June beetle adults can be one-half to 1 inch long and are light to dark red-brown in color (Figure 3). They typically emerge in May and June and are frequently seen near lights at night. The June beetle larvae, or true white grubs, are white to cream in color and almost always C-shaped when observed. True white grubs can be distinguished from other grubs by the “zipper” pattern of hairs, or raster, at the end of their bodies (Figure 4).

Lifecycle

In the year that adult June beetles emerge, eggs are laid, and the true white grubs hatch and begin feeding. During this time, the grubs are fairly small, and feeding injury to the roots is not readily apparent. After the growing season ends, grubs overwinter in the soil. During the second year, the grubs are larger in size, and the associated feeding injury is more obvious. As mentioned, this feeding will be easier to notice in areas with drought stress. The patches of stressed grass will initially appear as a small area of yellowing or brown grass, but during the season the area will spread outwards. The grubs will then overwinter for an additional year. During the third year, the true white grubs are much larger, and feeding injury to grass will be readily apparent. The growth of the patches is likely dependent on drought stress, as well as the grub density. In July, the grubs pupate, and adults will be present in the soil, where they will overwinter. During the following spring, adults will emerge and start the cycle all over again. It is important to note that not all June beetles are on the same cycle, so adult emergences can vary.

Management

Areas that had signs of a white grub infestation last year will have more feeding injury during 2024. Many of the areas CONTINUED ON PAGE A31

Figure 1. True white grub larvae. (Courtesy: David Cappaert, Bugwood.org)

Figure 2. White grub damage. (Photo: Amanda Bachmann, SDSU Extension)

Figure 3. Adult June beetle. (Photo: Adam Varenhorst, SDSU Extension)

Figure 4. Zipper pattern of hairs on tip of abdomen used to identify true white grubs. (Photo: Adam Varenhorst, SDSU Extension)

Dying Patches in Your Pasture? Make Sure You

Don’t Have White Grubs

CONTINUED

where true white grub activity is being noticed had drought conditions during 2023.

There are no insecticides labeled for white grub management in pastures and rangeland. Doing so is considered an illegal activity and will cause more harm than good to the insect community that is present and will have little to no impact on the true white grubs in the soil. Currently, the recommendation for dealing with grub injury is to maintain a healthy grassland system and to avoid stressing grass, especially during drought conditions. Reseeding may be an option in circumstances where significant damage has already occurred. When reseeding, be sure to choose plants that are less attractive to June beetles, such as native grasses and forbs. Non-native, cool-season grasses can promote true white grub infestations and should not be used.

Hug Holiday

This holiday is always observed on June 29th

Here’s a warm holiday we all can get our arms around. Hugs are warm and uplifting. Everyone enjoys them. We are encouraged to give hugs to those who need them. On this day, people go out and give hugs at senior citizen centers, hospitals, and other places. The focus is on the elderly, sick and invalid, lonely people, and anyone who needs the warmth, cheer, and love that a hug provides. In addition, feel free to give ethe “big squeeze” to anyone and everyone. This very special day was created by the “Hugs for Health Foundation”. According to the Foundation: “This holiday is founded on the premise that hugs, friendship, and volunteer support are vital components to the overall senior care plan.”

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The red food dye for Skittles is made from boiled beetles. A common red food dye, carminic acid, is made from the crushed bodies of a beetle called the Dactylopius coccus. This acid is used in maraschino cherries, strawberry and raspberry flavored candy, and lipstick.

Rabbits in the garden?

From K-State Research and Extension news

Rabbits are a common invader of home gardens, especially when plants flower in spring. Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said there are many common-sense ways to keep the hungry critters out.

“This time of year, rabbits gravitate to young vegetables and flowers,” Domenghini said. “But there are some vegetables that are rarely bothered, including potatoes, tomatoes, corn, squash, cucumbers and some peppers.” Cynthia Domenghini said some methods for keeping rabbits away include:

Fencing

Fencing is often the quickest and easiest method of control. Domenghini recommended the fence be at least two feet tall with a fine mesh of one inch or less. Fencing support can be provided by a variety of products, including electric fence posts. However, fencing may not be a viable choice based on the desired appearance of the garden.

Floating Row Cover

Floating row cover is a light woven material that can be placed over plants yet still allows light, water and air to come through.

“Though most often used to promote early growth by keeping plants warmer than normal, it can also help protect young plants from insects and wildlife,” Domenghini said.

Repellants

Although commonly suggested for rabbit control, repellants must be re-applied frequently. Some can also be poisonous and cannot be used on plants intended for human consumption, Domenghini warned.

Trapping

Domenghini said live traps are usually recommended when the rabbit can be moved to a rural area several miles away from where they were initially caught.

“A number of baits can be used to entice the rabbit to enter the trap, including a tightly rolled cabbage leaf held together by a toothpick. However, rabbits often avoid baits if other attractive food is available.”

Sprinkler

A motion-activated sprinkler can be attached to a garden hose, releasing a short burst of water upon motion. Domenghini suggests picking a product that advertises it can protect at least 1000 square feet: “Such products are available from Contech, Orbit and Havahart,” she said.

Caring for young calves

By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension news service

Driving around in the country and seeing the cows and calves out on pastures full of green grass in late spring is a welcomed sight to many. And this is the time of year to begin routine processing for one- to two-month-old calves, and to develop a marketing strategy according to the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.

Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, the experts addressed calf health, nutrition and marketing strategies to maximize the likelihood of success.

“Now is a good time to do those basic processing procedures on young calves,” K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers said. “On bull calves, this is a good time to consider castration and then offer some protection against clostridial diseases depending on which castration method you use.”

Another management strategy that is good for young calves is to apply parasite control, K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said.

“Young cattle don’t have much resilience to internal parasites, so they respond well to a deworming treatment,” he said.

Regarding supplemental nutrition for one- to twomonth-old calves, some producers may be considering whether or not to offer creep feed.

“Offering creep feed at this point may not be economical because the cow is at peak milk production,” K-State beef nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said. “At this age, the calf’s rumen is starting to develop, and they will begin consuming more green grass and less milk as time goes on.”

Along with calf health and nutrition, the experts agree that late spring is a good time to develop a marketing plan and consider risk protection.

“Some marketing programs require calves to follow a health protocol, so that is important to review now,” KState agricultural economist Dustin Pendell said. “There are also a couple of insurance policies available that offer livestock risk protection for feeder and fed calves.”

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The Moon has a scanty atmosphere of 100 molecules per cubic centimeter. This is far thinner than the Earth, which has about 100 billion billion molecules per cubic centimeter.

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The Moon helps regulate the Earth’s climate.

THERE’S NO SECOND CHANCE WITH A SEED TREATMENT.

The best harvests start with a seed treatment — but not just any seed treatment. Albaugh has been delivering specialized solutions to growers in the PNW for more than a decade. From single active ingredients to custom blends, you’ll get the right seed treatment for the right acre — and give your bottom line a lift.

New research center on precision agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), and Nebraska Innovation Campus held a groundbreaking ceremony to launch the construction of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture. The state-of-the-art research center will be located on Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska. It will primarily focus on the challenges and opportunities in agricultural innovation for the 21st century.

“There is a long history of scientific innovation and collaboration between ARS and UNL, typical of the USDA – Land-grant University partnerships across the country,” said Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics. “Updated facilities ensure our best and brightest scientists work in the environment and with the tools they need to successfully meet the challenges agriculture faces.”

Federal, state and university leaders launched construction of the USDA’s National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture with a May 6 groundbreaking at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

During this digital era, agricultural production and agricultural landscapes are transforming. Farmers and producers need the latest information technology, tools, and data to make informed and innovative decisions for their unique operations. The Center will focus on key research areas to address these challenges and promote sustainable, resilient, and highly efficient agriculture practices.

“This project is a testament to the long history of innovation, ingenuity, and adaptability of agricultural producers across the United States and right here in Nebraska. It celebrates an incredibly productive 120-year partnership between USDA-ARS and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and it exemplifies the passion and dedication of agricultural, state, and federal leaders,” said Mike Boehm, NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor for UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Nebraska is a special place with incredible people, and the ripples of what we do here often extend around the globe. I believe the work that will take place in this facility will usher in a new era of American agriculture, and I’m thrilled that what happens next in agriculture will happen first in Nebraska.”

Construction will start with state-of-the-art greenhouses that will allow ARS to perform research on wheat, barley, sorghum, forage and bioenergy grasses and other crops. Research on how these plants respond to emerging pests and pathogens under a full-range of environmental conditions will empower scientists to make cutting-edge discoveries with the goal of developing climate-resilient crops for the U.S. agriculture industry.

Once fully completed, the 120,000-square-foot agriculture research complex will function as a central hub for multidisciplinary experts, scientists and engineers who will collaborate with industry and producers to improve water and food security, increase the resilience of agricultural landscapes, and enhance agricultural profitability.

The establishment of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture will further strengthen the long-lasting collaboration over the past century between ARS and UNL. These partnerships are instrumental in advancing research on sustainable bioenergy crops and production systems in an age where agriculture is expected to supply 40 percent of U.S. liquid fuels within the next three decades, in addition to providing food and fiber to the nation’s growing population.

The Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit and the Agroecosystem Management Research Unit are currently located on UNL’s campus. The scientists working at these units are making significant contributions to crop and livestock production systems by improving productivity, stability of production, sustainability, and profitability.

Dog fennel

At the turn of the 19th century, Johnny Appleseed wandered around the Ohio territory, planting apples wherever he went. It’s not widely known that he also sowed a plant called dog fennel, which was believed to be a fever-reducing medicine. It’s not only not medicine, it’s bad medicine; farmers are sick of it. “The foul-smelling weed,” says the People’s Almanac, “spread from barnyard to pasture, sometimes growing as high as fifteen feet.

Today exasperated midwestern farmers still cannot rid their fields of the plant they half-humorously call ‘Johnnyweed.’”

Forcing an early harvest

By Emily How, Horticulture agent, NDSU Extension –Ward County

There is a song going viral right now on social media about a woman named Barbara who is famous for her rhubarb pie. The entire song is a German tongue twister and catchy. Rhubarb is also trending due to a trend of people “forcing” rhubarb, a growing technique that is used for an earlier and tastier rhubarb harvest. I guess rhubarb is a pretty popular plant worldwide.

Growing rhubarb is a widespread practice in most North Dakota gardens. This plant can grow quite large and take over an entire section of a garden. Rhubarb is also one of the first edible plants that we see emerge in spring. So, the concept of forcing rhubarb intrigued me, especially with claims of brighter color, longer stalks and earlier harvest.

Forcing rhubarb starts at the beginning of the rhubarb season when the leaves emerge. After removing any weeds and debris from the rhubarb plant, add compost for nutrients - around, but not touching the plant. A bucket or rhubarb “forcer,” a bell-shaped terracotta pot with a lid, is then placed over the plant. The rhubarb is then grown in complete darkness for seven to eight weeks, or until the stems are long enough to harvest.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, this process started in the United Kingdom and dates back to 1817, when someone accidentally dropped a bucket on a rhubarb plant and left it. When the bucket was removed the stalks were a deep red color. This started the large-scale practice of transplanting rhubarb into windowless, warm sheds and forcing the rhubarb.

So why does forcing rhubarb work? The darkness causes the stem to shoot up looking for the light to photosynthesize and make food. Because of the rhubarb’s rhizome root system, it can use all the food storage available to fuel this rapid growth, leading to long stems and an earlier harvest.

For the best results, use third-year plants or older because they will have more food storage built up. A word of caution, if you decide to try out this method of growing rhubarb, do not repeat it on the same plant multiple years in a row as it will not be able to recover properly.

A large rhubarb plant can easily be divided to share with your family and friends. In early spring or late fall, take a sharp spade or shovel and divide the crown leaving three to four buds on the parent plant. Do not harvest from the rhubarb plant the first year and harvest minimal amounts the second year. By the third year, your rhubarb plant should be at optimal production. Make sure you do not overharvest your rhubarb to have some for next year!

To harvest your rhubarb, simply pull firmly and twist. The rhubarb should snap off and be ready to make your favorite rhubarb dish or maybe try your hand at Barbara’s famous rhubarb pie!

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One way to keep veggies crisp is to cook them on a broken burner like I did last night. Once more I neglected to check to make sure everything was working. I did thnk it was odd that the pot wasn’t steaming though.

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Someone once said the best place to look for a lost item is where you least expect it. That happened to my husband on Saturday. His missing carpentry nails were hanging out of his mouth–just where he’d put them! He tried to put the blame on me..

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Bourbon Day

Date celebrated: June 14th

Nobody really needs a good excuse to enjoy the odd tipple, but Bourbon Day gives anyone the perfect reason to dust off a bottle of this fine whiskey and have a glass or two!

History of Bourbon Day

Legend has it that the date on which Bourbon Day is celebrated is the anniversary of the very first time this famous drink was distilled, way back in the late 1700s.

Bourbon is a specific category of American whiskey, which is made from a mash that is primarily corn based–at least 51% must be corn in order for it to be classified as bourbon. Other grains in the mash typically include malted barley, rye or wheat. The mash is distilled, then aged for at least two years in barrels that are new charred oak barrels in order to be “straight bourbon whiskey”. Many bourbons are aged longer than 2 years. In fact, one labelling rule states that any bourbon aged for less than 4 years must state as much on the label. This is a very strong liquor. The corn mash to make the bourbon starts out at 80% alcohol and, through the aging process as well as filtering and bottling processes, the final product can be no less than 40% alcohol by volume.

Bourbon definitely originated in the US state of Kentucky, sometime in the 1700s, before it even had acquired its official name. The name seems to be a nod to the French Bourbon Dynasty, and possibly was in honor of Bourbon County, an area of Kentucky that was known for its corn growing.

While some people think that bourbon must be made in Kentucky, that’s not actually true. It simply needs to be distilled and aged in the state in order to be given the special name, “Kentucky Bourbon”. Most of this drink is still made in Kentucky and folks from that area would claim that it’s definitely the place where the best bourbon comes from.

In 1964, the US Congress recognized bourbon as a “distinctive product of the United States”. In fact, many trade agreements require that, to be called bourbon, a whiskey must be made in the USA.

While it is true that all bourbons are whiskey, not all whiskeys are bourbon.

Try a Different Kind of Bourbon

• Knob’s Creek. Whether choosing the 9-year, or the more sought-after 15-year, this brand is well known for its small batch varieties that everyone seems to love.

• Evan Williams Black Label. A great taste for a newcomer, this affordable brand brings 86 proof whiskey that is aged more than 5 years.

• Jim Beam’s Old Grandad. Mid-range price and 114 proof is super spicy and appreciated by those who want to avoid the “hype” of fancier brands.

Visit the Bourbon Capital of the World Bardstown, Kentucky has been hailed by some to be the “Bourbon Capital of the World”. With at least 10 different distilleries in the area, Bardstown offers an eclectic array of bourbon options, including: Bardstown Bourbon Company, Maker’s Mark Distillery, Jim Beam American Stillhouse and Heaven Hill Distillery. Bourbon Day events typically last over two or three days, hosting tastings, demonstrations, and expert discussions.

Try Some New Bourbon Cocktail Recipes

• Bourbon Old Fashioned. A classic, of course, but always amazing. This drink includes bourbon, bitters, water, sugar, and a garnish of orange peel.

• Bourbon Mint Julep. Another Kentucky favorite known for its attachment to the horse race, the Kentucky Derby, this refreshing drink simply calls for simple syrup, mint sprigs, bourbon and crushed ice.

• Bourbon Manhattan. Named after the city that never sleeps, this iconic American drink just begs to make with America’s Native Spirit! Mix bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and orange peel.

• Bourbon Sidecar. Normally made with cognac, this American-ized version of the drink is just as tasty. Shake together bourbon, triple sec and lemon juice with ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

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Mortified doesn’t describe how Jane’s parents felt after meeting her boyfriend. He sported vile tattoos, swore and just had a hostile air about him.

After he left, the mother said, “Dear, he doesn’t seem like a very nice person.”

“Mom,” Jane said, “if he wasn’t nice, why would he be doing 500 hours of community service?”

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2023 John Deere S780 (BE), Stk #82964, 325 Engine/226 Separator Hours, Extended Wear, Powercast Tailboard, Power Fold Grain Tank with Extension, 580/42 Front Duals, 620/26 Rears $545,000

2022 John Deere S780 (WA), Stk #83429, 485 Engine/384 Separator Hours, Premium Loaded Combine, HID Lights, Heated Floor Mat, Combine Advisor $495,000

2022 John Deere S760 (BE), Stk #79912, 353 Engine/273 Separator Hours, PRWD, Active Yield, Heavy Duty Reverser, Demco Grain Tank Ext, Premium Activation On Gen4, 22.5-ft. Auger, Duals, Like New Unit $419,000

2022 John Deere S770 (WI), Stk #85005, 420 Engine/275

Separator Hours, 4WD, ProDrive & 5 Speed Feederhouse, Premium Advance Tailboard, General Purpose Chaffer & Sieves, Power Fold Grain Tank $469,000

2021 John Deere S790 (HA), Stk #84273, 705 Engine/564

Separator Hours, Power Folding Grain Tank, Combine Advisor Ready, LED Lights, Premium Cab, Active Yield $497,500

MONTHLY STORE SPECIALS

WINNER

PIERRE

2023 John Deere 616R (PH), Stk #82990, 350 Hours, 120-ft., 20”, See & Spray, 480 & 650LSW Tires & Fenders For Each, About 350 Hours On Unit

$659,000

2023 John Deere 616R (PH), Stk #82989, 475 Hours, 132-ft. 20” Spacing, Carbon Fiber Boom, ExactApply, Signature Edition Cab, 380 Tires

PHILIP

2020 John Deere X750 Stk #82204 X750 with 60” High Capacity Deck, 495 hours, diesel, serviced, cleaned, runs well, cuts great she’s ready to mow $7,999!!

2019 John Deere 560M Stk #84342 560M baler with moisture sensor, and low bales at 11,500, great shape, shedded and ready to bale, maintained to be used, surface wrap and twine.

$33,999 CASH Or Low Rate Financing!

$619,900 2023 John Deere 616R (PH), Stk #82988, 493 Hours, 132-ft. 20” Spacing, Carbon Fiber Boom, 480 Tires & 650 LSWTires, Signature Edition

$619,900

2022 John Deere 612R (PI), Stk #85733, 550 Hours, 120-ft., 20”, ExactApply Nozzle Body, VF420 Tires, Boomtrac Pro Leveling, Ultimate Comfort & Vis Package, Premium 3.0 Activation

$514,900

2009 John Deere 568 Stk #83782 Mega wide pick up baler, both twine and net wrap, 1000 1-3/8th PTO, hydraulic pick up, bale push bar, 21.5L tires, starting to crack and show some thread. 20,000 bales. As is cash $11,500. Don’t miss out.....

$11,500 CASH Or Low Rate Financing!

$522,500

2022 John Deere 612R (HA), Stk #84837, 755 Hours, 120-ft. 20” Spacing, ExactApply, Stainless 1200 Gallon Tank, Front & Side Fill

2022 John Deere 410R (WA), Stk #82842, 404 Hours, 120-ft. 20” Spacing, ExactApply & Carbon Fiber Boom, Premium 3 Activation, Front Fill

$432,500

2021 John Deere R4038 (WI), Stk #84552, 2,400 Hours, 120-ft. 20” Spacing, Front Fill, Auto Solution Control, Air Purge, Premium Cab

$299,000

$349,000

2020 John Deere R4038 (PH), Stk #82155, 1,375 Hours, 120-ft. 20” Spacing, Excellent Condition, Stored Inside, ExactApply, Air Purge

2020 John Deere R4060 (WI), Stk #84515, 2,200 Hours, 120-ft. 20” Spacing, Automatic Solution Control, Hi Flow Pump, Starfire 6000 $359,900

1999 John Deere 4700 (SU), Stk #85764, 5,868 Hours, 90-ft., Stainless Tank, AutoTrac Ready with ATU200, Clean Unit Just Serviced This Spring $29,900

and

BLOOMFIELD

and pick up are 70%. Has auto oiler for chains. $39,900

HORSE TACK + FOR SALE

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Mom: “Billy! Why are you sitting on the toilet and hitting yourself...on the head?” Billy: “Works for ketchup!”

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“Should I weed the lawn, or say it’s a garden.”

Sharpening garden tools

Since gardening tools are expensive, it pays to take care of them properly. Always buy strong, good-quality tools and look after them well. If you can afford it, buy stainless steel as they will last a lifetime and are easier to clean. The best way to ensure that your tools will last a long time is to give them a thorough once-over before you put them away for the winter.

Keep a small garden trowel working smoothly by regularly sharpening the edge with a file.

Shovels, trowels, hoes, pruning shears, and hedge clippers will all work better if sharpened regularly.

Before starting, clean all rust off the tools to be sharpened. Always wear safety goggles and leather gloves when filing or sharpening metal.

Cut up some sandpaper to sharpen pruning shears. Use a 320-grit wet or dry sandpaper and cut three to four strips of sandpaper. Do this once a week for shears that are used frequently and put a drop of lubricant on the pivot screw to keep the shears working smoothly. This method also works for sharpening scissors.

On a hedge clipper, first clean the blades with a piece of steel wool and make sure none of the blades are bent. If a blade is bent, loosen the pivot nut and separate the blades, put the bent blade in a vice, and tweak it until it is straight.

Once the blades are straight, clamp one blade in the vice with the blade side facing up. Examine the factory edge, hold the file with both hands, and follow the direction of the bevel. Move the file in one broad stroke, moving away, along the entire cutting area. Apply moderate pressure on the downward side of the coarse metal file, going across the blade. Repeat this motion several times until the whole edge shows an even line of exposed, clean metal. This can take up to ten strokes. Repeat the process on the other blade. Remove burrs from the blade by placing a sheet of 300grit wet or dry sandpaper on a smooth, flat piece of plywood. Lightly sand the backside of the blade using a circular motion. After several circles, check to see if the burrs are gone. Reassemble the hedge clippers and cut away.

Use a file to remove nicks and smooth the edges of shovels and trowels. Before beginning, clean the trowel or shovel thoroughly with steel wool. Coat with a silicone spray for a finishing touch. This prevents rust and keeps soil from sticking to the tool.

Sharpen a garden hoe by filing the inside edge first, working away from the handle. Then take the feathered edge off the outside surface. A sharp hoe cuts through the ground with ease.

Clean all metal surfaces to remove any dirt that can harbor moisture and cause the metal to rust. Small and large stiff wire brushes work best for this task.

Once all the dirt has been removed, soak a cloth in motor oil, WD-40, or vegetable oil and coat the metal surfaces thoroughly. The oil coating will prevent rust from forming on the metal should moisture find its way into your garage or toolshed.

Wooden tool handles should be treated to prevent drying and cracking that can lead to splinters. Soak a rag in boiled linseed oil and rub the handle, allowing it to absorb the oil. Check to see that any screws or bolts are fastened securely. Clean resinous sap from the metal surfaces of loppers or secateurs/pruners with a cloth soaked in methalyted spirit, turpentine, or warm soapy water, then file the cutting edge.

Oil pivot points with a light household oil or WD-40. A honing stone should be used to sharpen these tools, but the technique is difficult, so it is better to get an authorized service agent to sharpen high-quality shears or secateurs.

Cleaning your gardening tools throughout the growing season, rather than waiting until the end of the year to do it. Get a good-sized barrel or bucket, fill it with sand, and add a quart of motor oil, then each time you use your tool, stab it a few times in the sand. The grit of the sand will knock the dirt off the metal surfaces and the oil will put a nice shine on the tool and keep it from rusting.

A regular garden hose pumps out 20 gallons of water per minute. If left on for 24 hours, that’s 28,800 gallons. Better not forget to turn it off!

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Susan, a young, vibrant woman, took a mighty tee shot on a par-5 and sliced the ball badly into the woods right behind a big tree. Undaunted, Susan took a bigger swipe, but unfortunately the ball struck a branch, shot straight back, and hit her in the head, instantly killing her. Moments later she found herself in front of the pearly gates, where St. Peter asked her, “I see you like to play golf. Are you any good?” “Well, I don’t want to brag. But I got here in two.”

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During World War I, the British executed 306 of their own soldiers for crimes such as desertions and cowardice. These included 25 Canadians, 22 Irishmen, and 5 New Zealanders. The French are believed to have executed more than 600. The Germans: 48. American: none.

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Why did the student eat his homework? Because his teacher told him it was a piece of cake.

Branding season is especially fun for cowboys and cowgirls who need to renew their roping skills, as many ranchers prefer to rope and drag calves to the branding fire. Photo by Suzy Benzing

BOBCAT & ATTACHMENTS FOR SALE

Bobcat 763 with smooth bucket

Bobcat bucket with teeth

Bobcat forklift attachment

$18,751

$902

$2185

Bobcat 6”, 9”, 12”, 18” and 24” auger bits with stand

Bobcat auger motor

Phone (520) 906-1859, Roundup, Montana

$3251

$2340

The vegetable garden

Instead of the hard work of getting up turf, and then having the problem of disposing of it, lay old paving slabs over the area to be made into a bed. Leave it for a month, or more, then take the slabs up. All the grass will have died off. Dig the new patch and dig in some compost. It works best in the winter months when the ground is wet.

Dig the vegetable garden during a dry spell in late autumn or early winter. The frost will make the soil crumbly and workable, ready to plant the seeds in the spring. Firm down the surface with your feet and level it off with a rake.

Potatoes are the best crop to sow in a new vegetable garden. They help to clear the ground of weeds because during their cultivation they need plenty of hoeing and weed clearing. They also produce dense cover to inhibit weeds. Their extensive root system breaks up the soil. If the garden was previously grassland, the potatoes may suffer from wire-worm damage.

Make a careful decision of how many vegetables of each type to plant. A lot of water is lost through leaves, so in a dry year, large brassica can draw out valuable soil moisture.

If the garden is small, chose cut-andcome-again plants such as leaf lettuce and spinach which will continue to crop from the same plant.

A three-course rotation plan should always be developed. Different groups of vegetables make different demands on the soil, and they require different cultivation. The allotted garden should be divided into three and each plot cropped in turn–pod bud and stem crops (peas, beans, leeks, celery), green crops (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale) and root crops (carrots, turnips, potatoes, beetroot). Runner beans and onions are the only exceptions and can be grown in the same plot two or three years in succession.

Seeds should be covered with soil two to four times their own smallest diameter. For early sowings, and in clay soils, cover a little less than the normal depth.

When sowing carrot seeds, distribute a layer of ground coffee grinds. This not only helps the carrots to grow straight, but also helps prevent carrot rust flies.

Seedlings should be transplanted as soon as they form their first true leaves (these are the third and fourth leaves to form) and before they become crowded in the tray or pot.

Rows of small vegetables should be thinned as soon as the individual plants begin to crowd each other and before there is the slightest chance of their becoming “leggy” for lack of light and air.

To prevent peas being eaten by pests, fill a short length of plastic guttering with compost and sow peas along the length as normal. Hang guttering out of reach of pests. When seedlings are 2” tall, slide the compost and seedlings into a shallow trench in the garden.

Runner bean and snap pea shoots should be supported with canes once the plants are around 6” tall. This will encourage them to climb.

If cloches are not used to protect young pea or been seedlings, then lightweight mesh netting must be placed over the row to protect from birds.

Dig the roots of beans and peas into the ground in the autumn as they are high in nitrogen and beneficial to the next rotation crop.

Always use two hands to pick peas to avoid pulling the plant out of the ground, Pinch out the tops of broad bean plants to encourage growth and plenty of flowers; this also discourages blackflies.

Avoid planting carrots in very stony ground, in fresh manure, or in heavy clods, as these cause misshapen roots.

Sow carrot seeds sparingly to minimize the need for thinning. Any disturbance of foliage attracts the carrot fly.

After thinning carrot plants or hoeing around them, remove all traces of thinnings and water lightly with a watering can or hose to dampen down the aroma from the foliage.

Carrots, beets, and turnips should be stored in a cool, dark place, packed in sand or slightly moist peat moss, or in boxes covered with bags containing sand, leaves, or peat moss.

When planting cucumber, pumpkins, or marrow, place a plastic collar around the seed (use an old bottomless pot or the center of a large plastic mineral bottle). When watering the plant, do not water inside the “collar” and this will keep the area dry around the plant and avoid “collar rot.” Another method is to submerge a pot next to each plant; when they need watering, pour water directly down below soil level.

Do not plant beans, corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, or spinach seeds until the soil is well warmed.

Avoid water cucumbers with cold or chlorinated water; keep a container of water in your greenhouse.

Plant cauliflower seeds in individual pots and transplant carefully without disturbing the roots. Space the plants 4” apart and 8” between rows. Never allow the plants to dry out.

Brassica plants benefit from being planted deep in order to establish a strong root system to support their large heads. Plant with the soil up to the level of their basal leaves.

To intercrop vegetables, plant rows of quick-growing crops, such as lettuce, radishes, or spinach between widely spaced, slower growing items, such as celery, peas, and tomatoes. If carefully planned, intercropping can result in producing more food from a given area. This can also be done with trees and shrubs and berry bushes, and herbs can be planted between fruit trees.

In a small garden, it is best to plant early potatoes. Each year use fresh certified seed tubers, as saved potato tubers can have virus contamination. For better results, choose seed tubers about the size of a hen egg rather than cutting up large ones. Early potato tubers should have two spouts (rub out any excess). Main crop tubers should have numerous sprouts.

Make sure that potatoes are always well earthed up as this stops them getting frosted or being exposed to the sun and becoming green and poisonous.

Harvest spinach frequently as it is prone to bolting, especially in light soils and dry conditions.

To improve the growth of leeks, add a little soot to the soil.

When planting leek plants, trim the root and leaf tips. Drop the plant into a 6” deep hole and fill the hole with water.

Weeding between onion rows should be done by hand, as hoeing will damage the shallow roots.

Small onion sets will produce onions that are less likely to bolt.

Plant onion sets, shallots, or garlic with a trowel–do not push the bults into the soil. With shallots and garlic, leave the shoot showing through on the surface.

Plant garlic cloves in January: poke 4” holes in the ground with the end of a rake and drop the garlic cloves into them. Squashes, pumpkins, and onions require CONTINUED ON PAGE B7

The vegetable garden

dry storage. The squashes and pumpkins should be “cured” for a week or two and then stored on a shelf in a cool, dark room. Onions should be kept in the dark, in a dry place.

Save some seeds from small red peppers and plant two or three seeds at a time in yogurt pots. When they are a couple of inches high, repot in a medium-sized plant pot. You will soon have an attractive indoor plant, and a supply of chilies.

Pick Brussels sprouts from the bottom of the stem, as the more mature sprouts are below the younger ones. Cut off the sprouts rather than pulling them to avoid damaging the stems.

Watercress can be grown in an area of fairly damp soil. Overwatering will diminish the flavor.

When feeding tomatoes with liquid, it’s easy to scorch the leaves. To avoid this happening, pour from the watering can using a piece of 1-1/4” drainpipe as a funnel directing the feed straight to the base of the plant, away from the leaves.

Pinching out the side-shoots on tomato plants is a good way to propagate them. If the side-shoots are pulled off the plant when they are about 4” long and planted in moist soil, they will usually root and produce extra plants for free.

Outdoor tomato plants should be of the bush variety as they are less labor intensive and do not require tying in or side-shooting.

Shake 1 teaspoon Epsom salt around tomato plants or peppers to green up the foliage.

When thinning larger plants, use a knife to cut the stem at ground level. This thins the plant population effectively and does not damage root systems of the remaining vegetables, as pulling out unnecessary plants will do.

Don’t waste vegetable thinnings. Small onions may be used as scallions or spring onions. Baby carrots can be added whole to soups and stir-fries. Salad greens, mustards, cabbage, and broccoli thinnings can be used in a mixed salad. Or the thinnings of many kinds of vegetables can be used for transplanting, if additional plants are wanted.

A thin coat of newly mown grass cuttings spread around their bases will help control caterpillars on brassica (cabbage, broccoli, etc).

When hoeing the ground, only disturb the top ½” of soil. Going deeper than this will cause more weed seeds to germinate.

Hay Stacking Service - Let Us

• We use the quickest most versatile self-propelled bale stacker on the market, which can handle most all terrain.

• We currently operate with three stackers, hire multiple drivers and work around the clock to meet all your forage stacking needs. Equipped to stack ANY SIZE of large bales; 3x3, 3x4, 4x4, and large rounds.

• Operating in the following counties: Teton, Cascade, Toole, Choteau, Pondera, Lewis & Clark, Wheatland, Judith Basin, Golden Valley County and Fergus County.

Trucks For Sale

LIP Decision Tool and farm loan resources available

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a new, online Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Decision Tool and farm loan resources available to agricultural producers and cooperators who help producers access USDA disaster assistance, farm loans and other federal farm programs. The new LIP tool and the farm loan informational video resources were developed in partnership with FarmRaise and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). These tools are now available at www.farmraise.com/usda-fsa.

“By providing collaborative outreach and technical assistance to the agricultural community, the Farm Service Agency’s partnerships with organizations like FarmRaise, Inc. increase awareness of and broader participation in our extensive suite of farm and farm loan programs,” said FSA State Executive Director Maureen Wicks. “Offering innovative tools and resources with help from our cooperators breaks down program delivery barriers ensuring equitable access to our programs for millions of rural, urban and small-scale to mid-sized producers.”

Current FarmRaise Tools and Resources

ness

call Fort Benton Realty LLC, Brokers Shane Ophus at 406-788-6662 and Mark Pyrak at 406-788-9280, or Agent Dennis Franz at 406788-1163, or email to markpyrak@gmail.com, OR to sgophus@itstriangle.com, OR to fden5069@gmail.com

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

2014 Brandt 1020 grain cart, hydraulic drive but can easily be made PTO.

John Deere 8650 PTO, 3 point, 20.8-38 duals, 6870 hours.

2021 Neville Built triple axle hopper trailer, steel, roll tarp, as new.

Myer’s Model M435 manure spreader, excellent condition.

FarmRaise, Inc. has created an online, educational hub -called Farm Service Agency 101 – comprised of videos, and resources that enable cooperators and the agricultural producers they serve to learn about and access major FSA programs.

The newly launched LIP Decision Tool assists livestock producers who suffered losses from eligible adverse weather events and other causes of loss as well as cooperators who are helping disaster-impacted livestock producers navigate available federal disaster assistance programs. The optional decision tool gives producers guidance on what is needed to gather and submit required loss documentation, reducing the amount of time needed to complete applications and enabling FSA county office staff to deliver much-needed assistance faster. Using this tool, however, is not an application for benefits or a determination of eligibility.

$50,000

$32,000

$60,000

$48,000 Brandt 10-70 swing auger, as new.

Chandler pull type fertilizer spreader, as new.

Through use of the LIP tool, livestock producers can provide supporting documentation, inventory numbers, and loss numbers to FSA county offices. Doing so, in advance of the initial county office visit, will help FSA staff serve customers more effectively and efficiently. Producers will also need to complete an application for LIP assistance and, upon request, may be asked to provide additional supporting documentation.

$30,000

$40,000

2010 John Deere 1835 air drill with 1910 tow behind cart 430 bushel, 60-ft. 10” spacing with mid row banders.

John Deere 330 28-ft. disc

John Deere 1650 60-ft. chisel plow with harrows.

$65,000

$8,000

$45,000

John Deere 9420 tractor, 1900 hours, standard shift set up to pull air drill. $168,000

2013 New Holland T6030 tractor with Degelman blade, 355 hours.

LIP offers payments to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by qualifying adverse weather events. LIP also covers losses due to eligible diseases and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law. This includes attacks by wolves and predatory birds.

Ford 7000 tractor with loader and New snow blower, good over all condition. Loader is rough.

Versatile 145 with Degelman blade.

Big Bud HN250 needs tires, original Cummins engine with 13 speed.

Versatile 610 Delta track, 2000 hours.

$25,000

$8,500

$30,000

In addition to the new LIP Decision Tool, the FarmRaise educational hub offers several, easily navigated farm loan programs how-to videos designed to introduce producers to FSA’s many farm loan programs options and guide them through the application process.

More FSA program resources and tools will soon be added to the FarmRaise educational hub. Cooperators and agricultural producers are encouraged to visit the FarmRaise educational hub often to access all available resources.

About the Partnership

USDA cooperators are organizations on the frontlines of access and often are the first point of contact connecting farmers to USDA programs. The partnership between FarmRaise, Inc. and FSA, through a cooperative agreement, aims to improve producer participation and customer experience in USDA programs through education and technical assistance to young, beginning, and small-scale to mid-sized producers, producers with disabilities, and veterans.

“We’re thrilled to partner with our colleagues in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to drive financial access through digital education,” said Jayce Hafner, the CEO of FarmRaise. “Growing up on an Angus beef cattle farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, my family experienced the positive impact of USDA programs on both our soil health and our balance sheet. This effort will take a team of teams, and we’re eager to collaborate with cooperators to build impactful tools that will most benefit their unique missions and diverse farmer communities in the decades to come. FarmRaise aims to propel our nation’s agricultural community into a transformative era of unprecedented growth, resilience and success.”

By developing a digital educational hub that delivers free, user-friendly, producer and cooperator-tested resources USDA and FarmRaise, Inc. will help FSA expedite program delivery to agricultural producers. The hub offers how-to videos and visual aids that educate producers about FSA programs and prepares them for submitting applications for program participation.

SUMMERTIME IS HERE!!!

2011 SiDumpR sidedump, 3 axle, electric tarp. Rental Unit

2012 Komatsu WA250PZ loader, hydraulic coupler, 3rd valve, ride control, 3 yard bucket, 12k hours, runs great. $47,500

MACHINE & SUPPLY

Planting warm-season annuals

By Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Forage and Cropping Systems Educator

Warm-season annuals or summer annual grasses such as sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids and sorghums grow best in Nebraska when soil temperatures are about 60°F (usually in late May to early June). In contrast, grass species such as Pearl millet, foxtail millet and teff can not tolerate cold air temperatures below 50°F; so planting of these species is usually recommended in June (and possibly extended into July) when soil temperatures increase above 65 to 70°F. Summer annual grasses can provide alternative or emergency forage when cool and native grass pastures are in short supply. These forages provide high flexibility and can be harvested as green chop, hay or silage; as well as grazed in summer or winter. In addition, summer annual residues can provide seedbed mulch for new stands of perennial grasses on sandy soils.

Decisions regarding when to best plant warm-season annuals may depend on how you plan to utilize these forages. Planting dates may be staggered to complement a rotational grazing system. If winter pasture forage supplements are needed; then warm-season forages may be planted into early August. However, target planting dates for rotational grazing should allow at least six weeks of forage growth prior to grazing.

Summer annual species selection will depend on your forage needs. For example, if your goal is producing high forage tonnage, then sorghum-sudangrass hybrids may be your choice for haying or green chop. Whereas, if raising forage for grazing quality is your goal; then sudangrass with thinner stems and more rapid regrowth may be your pick. Sudan also has less risk of prussic acid poisoning than sorghum-sudangrass or forage (cane) sorghum.

For drought tolerance, you may plant pearl millet and Teff along with less prussic acid and nitrate poisoning risk. The main disadvantage of these species are about 30% less tonnage compared to growing sudangrass and/or forage sorghums.

Foxtail millet may be used as a short-season summer annual on sandy soils. However, this species can host wheat curl mites and vector wheat streak mosaic virus into neighboring fields. So, although volunteer wheat is the primary cause for wheat streak disease outbreaks; foxtail millet usage should be limited as your warm-season annual selection especially if planted near grain producing wheat fields.

More educational information including: NebGuide G2183 ‘Summer Annual Forage Grasses” and the free forage & cover crops online selection tool is available on Nebraska Extension at: https://cropwatch.unl.edu and https://beef.unl. edu

Preseason hay equipment maintenance

By Ben Beckman, UNL

Spring is busy getting crops in the ground, but if much needed moisture keeps you from the field, take some time to maintain your haying equipment and prevent costly downtime later.

First, inspect, lubricate, and service all power-driven areas such as belts, bearings, chains, and gears. Set tension on belts and chains. For sicklebar headers, check, sharpen, or replace cutterbar sections and adjust wear plates, hold-down clips, and guards. Make sure your cutterbar has proper knife register. On disc mowers, replace knives and rotate or replace worn turtles over the knives.

Conditioning rollers often are overlooked. Look for uneven wear and adjust the roll gap, roll timing, and roll pressure for your crop.

On round balers, inspect belts, chains, and slats or rollers frequently for wear. Trim frayed edges and repair belts as needed to maintain uniform tension. When not in use, keep belts clean and release belt tension.

Check plunger knife clearance and plunger alignment on square balers and inspect the tying mechanism and adjust as needed. Pick-up teeth on balers and on rakes frequently are broken or bent. Replace defective teeth and adjust height if necessary.

Also, be sure you have replacement parts on hand for frequently broken or replaced items. And most important of all, review your owner’s manual to identify recommended maintenance procedures and proper settings.

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What do you call two monkeys that share an Amazon account? Prime mates.

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SWATHER & DISK FOR SALE

What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? Same middle name.

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Murphy’s law says that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Cole’s law is thinly sliced cabbage.

Helpful tips from mulching to pollinators

By Debbie Post, University of Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Mulching helps our gardens, trees, and flower beds with weed control, conserving moisture, and reducing erosion and water runoff. Organic mulch such as straw, grass clippings, or wood chips are much preferred over materials like plastic or rubber. Use 2-4 inches of mulch material and make sure to leave the base of your tree or plant more open resulting in a concave bowl shape versus a volcano-shaped mound. Too much mulch and you will suffocate your plant as oxygen and water are unable to reach the roots.

Water plays a pivotal role in our yard, garden, and flower beds carrying nutrients from the soil and facilitating photosynthesis - which is how plants turn sunlight into food for growth. Rule of thumb is one to two soakings a week resulting in about an inch of water. The best time to water is early morning, as midday wastes water to evaporation and evening watering can lead to sitting water on leaves which might encourage fungal disease. Turn off your automatic sprinklers if we get rain to avoid wasting water.

Whether it’s helping your soil with retention or drainage or changing its PH balance, a simple soil sample is the place to begin. Contact your local county extension office who can give you instructions for gathering 10-12 inches of dirt from various spots in your test area. For a nominal fee, the participating lab will analyze your soil to let you know what amendments you might need for improvements. You can even speak with an agronomist who will help you interpret the results for your garden produce.

Now more than ever in our fragile world, it is important to bring pollinators to your yard. What is a pollinator? Bats, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, and even those pesky flies, moths, and wasps are all animals and insects that help plants reproduce by transferring pollen. They’re critical in the production of our area crops and essential in creating and preserving biodiversity in our environment. By changing the ways you practice your landscaping and gardening techniques, you can hugely impact our pollinator population. If you want to attract more pollinators to your yard, remove more lawn grass, and choose instead to add native plants and bushes, patio or container boxes with blooming plants. Leave some natural debris such as dead stems and dry leaves, especially for overwintering insects. Decrease your use of pesticides and check out more organic resources for weed control. Use a rake instead of a leaf blower. Appreciate those bugs. Most of them provide free services such as pollination pest control and waste decomposition.

Scouting for army cutworm in alfalfa

By Samantha Daniel, UNL

As warm weather across Nebraska continues, it is important to keep an eye on alfalfa fields for signs of Army Cutworm.

The Army Cutworm, also known as the miller moth in the adult form, is a caterpillar with a wide host range that includes alfalfa. It is 1.5 – 2” long with a greenish brown to greenish-grey body that has three stripes: two darker stripes running laterally along the sides and one lighter stripe along the back.

Because these caterpillars feed at night, feeding damage or other signs of an infestation are usually noticed first. Feeding damage from this insect consists of semi-circular areas eaten from leaf edges or circular holes in leaves. A delay in green-up or higher than average bird activity can also be signs of an infestation.

To scout for Army Cutworm, overturn clots of loose soil or residue near the base of the plants and count the number of larvae in 1 sq. ft. of surface area. The economic or treatment threshold for Army Cutworm in seedling alfalfa is 2 or more larvae per sq. ft. while in established alfalfa, the threshold is 4 larvae per sq. ft.

Established fields can usually better compensate for feeding damage compared to seedling fields thus the difference in the control guidelines. If the number of Army Cutworm in a field is above the economic threshold, an insecticide application may be considered

Help to cover organic certification

Through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category. FSA is now accepting applications, and organic producers and handlers should apply for OCCSP by the October 31, 2024, deadline for eligible expenses incurred from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. FSA will issue payments as applications are received and approved.

“Costs associated with obtaining organic certification can be a barrier for Montana producers wanting to get certified,” said Maureen Wicks, FSA State Executive Director in Montana.

“Through OCCSP assistance, FSA helps Montana organic producers obtain certification and leverage related benefits like premium prices for commodities and access to broader markets and additional technical assistance.”

OCCSP was part of a broader organic announcement made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on May 15, 2024, which also included the Organic Market Development Grant program and Organic Transition Initiative.

Eligible Applicants, Expenses and Categories

OCCSP provides costshare assistance to producers and handlers of organic agricultural commodities for expenses incurred obtaining or maintaining organic certification under USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

Cost share assistance covers expenses including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, inspector travel expenses, user fees, sales assessments and postage. OCCSP pays a maximum of $750 per certification category for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling, and state organic program fees (California only).

How to Apply

To apply, producers and handlers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center and be prepared to provide documentation of organic certification and eligible expenses. OCCSP applications can also be submitted through participating state departments of agriculture. For more information, visit the OCCSP webpage.

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USDA expands Migratory Big Game Pilot

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its partnership to support the voluntary conservation of private working lands and migratory big game populations from the state of Wyoming to also include Idaho and Montana. USDA’s Migratory Big Game Initiative also provides a new package of investments in key conservation programs for fiscal year 2024, which includes funding to support increased staffing capacity and the deployment of streamlined program application processes for agricultural producers and landowners. Producers in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana will be able to apply for conservation programs offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) that meet their unique needs starting this fall.

“We’re pleased to announce the expansion of this initiative,” said NRCS State Conservationist Jackie Byam. “It will help create new and enhanced opportunities through USDA’s conservation programs to keep working lands working and give farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners new opportunities to conserve wildlife and migration corridors.”

“Using lessons learned from a partnership pilot with the state of Wyoming, USDA is scaling up this model across the West as part of President Biden’s commitment to support voluntary, locally led, producer-driven conservation efforts,” said William Bunce, FSA State Executive Director in Wyoming.

Package of Opportunities for Producers

USDA will offer producers a package of opportunities they can choose from to meet their operations’ unique needs. Programs include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP) and will be available across a wide range of lands including grasslands, shrublands, and forested habitats located on tribal and privately owned working lands. “This opportunity is available statewide, but priority areas of Carbon, Hot Springs, Lincoln, Park, Sublette, Sweetwater, Fremont, and Teton counties, which were developed in coordination with state wildlife agencies, will be given preference.”

For fiscal year 2024, NRCS has provided Wyoming, Montana and Idaho with $21.4 million in dedicated funding to kickstart the new Migratory Big Game Initiative. In Wyoming, this includes $4 million for perpetual conservation easements through ACEP, and $5.2 million for on-the-ground restoration and enhancement practices through EQIP.

ACEP helps producers who want to protect sensitive landscapes and prime farmlands from conversion to noncompatible land uses such as residential subdivision through establishment of long-term conservation easements. EQIP focuses on integrating practices on working lands, such as prescribed grazing systems.

These programs will complement the Grassland CRP program, which helps producers and landowners maintain and protect grasslands while still enabling haying and grazing activities to continue.

NRCS accepts applications year-round for EQIP and CSP. Interested producers should contact the NRCS at their local USDA Service Center. FSA will announce signup dates for Grassland CRP in the future.

Climate-Smart Activities

The Migratory Big Game Initiative advances USDA’s efforts in climate-smart agriculture, and it’s funding is bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act. Recently, NRCS expanded the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities that qualify for funding through the Inflation Reduction Act, and several of those are critical to this initiative, including brush management, prescribed burning and herbaceous weed treatment.

Building on the Success in Wyoming

The Wyoming pilot for this initiative was first announced in May 2022. The initiative leverages and compliments other ongoing conservation efforts on working lands such as those conducted under the Working Lands for Wildlife’s (WLFW) Framework for Conservation Action in the Great Plains Grasslands and Sagebrush Biome, unveiled in 2021 by USDA. Both efforts emphasize a commitment to voluntary, incentive-based approaches; identifies and elevates the critical role of private, working lands; and stresses the importance of supporting state, tribal, and landowners to advance their conservation priorities. The initiative also further focuses FSA’s commitment to assisting producers in protecting and maintaining grasslands through grazing and for supporting plant and animal biodiversity within National Priority Zones.

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USDA expands Migratory Big Game Pilot

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B16

Accomplishments so far include:

An $11 million EQIP investment resulted in 97 new contracts that conserved 307,713 acres. Primary practices were obstruction removal, fence and herbaceous weed treatment. These practices were used to remove unnecessary and/or non-wildlife friendly fencing, replace with new wildlife friendly fencing and to treat invasive annual grasses degrading otherwise healthy sagebrush rangelands, primarily cheatgrass.

A $8.3 million ACEP investment provided funding for 7 conservation easements that perpetually maintain 11,182 acres of working lands as open space available to migrating wildlife and prohibit conversion to non-compatible land uses like housing subdivisions.

NRCS hired 2 Rangeland Management Specialists and are currently in the process of hiring a Big Game Coordinator and 2 Area Biologists specifically tasked with helping to deliver the program. FSA hired additional staff in Wyoming to help increase program awareness and producer interest.

Ranchers in Wyoming responded to Grassland CRP opportunities in 2023 by increasing the number of offers in the signup by 30% when compared to the signup in 2022. Twenty-five percent of signup in 2023 accepted offers in Wyoming are in the big game corridor priority area which is up from 10% in signup in 2022.

Grasslands CRP enrollment increased within big game priority areas:

Over 147,000 acres accepted statewide (2023), 25% in priority area (over 37,000 acres)

Over 135,000 acres accepted statewide (2022), 11% in priority area (over 14,000 acre)

Over 186,000 acres accepted statewide (2021), 10% in priority area (over 19,000 acres)

Over 75,000 acres accepted statewide (2020), 2% in priority area (1,700 acres)

Within the priority area, Grassland CRP participants are offered:

A cost share for grazing infrastructure such as interior fence and watering systems

A higher minimum annual rental rate of $18 per acre per year, compared to $13 for participants outside of the priority area

NRCS provided $300,000 to the University of Wyoming (through Dr. Jerod Merkle, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology and Physiology) to provide dedicated technical and science support, which is specifically directed to NRCS Wyoming, Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), and other partners related to this pilot project.

Through a $500,000 grant, FSA is partnering with the University of Wyoming’s Haub School of Natural Resources and Environment to explore the potential for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program to help conserve ungulate migration corridors in the West. Objectives of this project are to evaluate the current delivery of Grassland CRP and identify potential improvements with respect to social and ecological outcomes.

NRCS provided $100,000 through the Conservation Effects Assessment Project Agreement to evaluate wildlife friendly fence effectiveness through Dr. Derek Scasta at the University of Wyoming.

To ensure latest science and experience was incorporated into delivery, NRCS West National Technology Support Center (WNTSC) worked with partners and led creation of a technical note for wildlife friendly fencing. The Technical Note will be released in 2024.

Garden Pests

Rabbits

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Use red pepper, black pepper, cayenne, or paprika as a dust to repel rabbits, as they are always sniffing.

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State of Montana breaks ground on new Combined Labs building

By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service

At a ceremony attended by over 150 people, three Montana agencies broke ground on a new facility that will house three agricultural laboratories conducting research and analysis for Montana’s producers.

The Combined State Laboratories building, which will be located near Marsh Laboratory at the corner of South 19th Avenue and Lincoln Street in Bozeman, will house the Montana Department of Livestock’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Analytical Lab and Montana State University’s Wool Lab. The university land for the facility was approved by the Montana University System’s Board of Regents and support for the project came from the Montana Legislature during its 2021 and 2023 sessions.

Speakers at the groundbreaking included Mike Honeycutt, executive officer for the Montana Department of Livestock; Christy Clark, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture; and Sreekala Bajwa, MSU’s vice president for agriculture, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station; as well as Montana Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras.

“I can literally say this has been decades in the making,” said Honeycutt. “We know there’s lots of hard work that’s been done and many generations that have been involved. No accomplishment comes alone, and it takes lots of people both in front and behind the scenes to make a day like this possible.”

The Montana Department of Livestock’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab is an accredited facility that supports veterinarians, agricultural producers and wildlife managers by monitoring and testing for zoonotic diseases and ensuring the quality and safety of animal products such as milk and eggs. The Montana Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Analytical Lab tests feed and fertilizer samples to ensure correct labeling of ingredients and tests groundwater to prevent seepage of pesticides and fertilizers into Montana groundwater.

“My vision, as well as that of the department, is to have not only a state-of-the-art facility, but also a facility that has the confidence and support of every livestock owner and veterinarian in the state of Montana,” said Gene Curry, chair of Montana’s Board of Livestock. “I want to encourage every producer in our state to use this facility. I ask you to continue to support this lab and make it the envy of the West.”

MSU’s Wool Lab, which has been housed on the MSU campus since 1947, conducts analysis and research on wool fiber and sheep genetics to ensure that Montana wool producers can remain competitive and to maximize wool quality.

“Wool is Montana’s highest value agricultural commodity by weight,” said Bajwa. “The MSU Wool Lab is one of the only two university-associated wool labs left in the nation. Our lab tests around 15,000 wool samples each year from around Montana and beyond, and this new facility is set to grow that capacity significantly so we can meet demand and provide Montana wool producers with the fastest and most accurate service for their operations.”

Construction at the building’s site has already begun, and the facility is slated to open in 2026. The project was designed by LPW Architecture, which is based in Great Falls, and the project’s contractor is Billings-based Swank Enterprises.

Greg Wichman, an agricultural producer from central Montana and a member of the MAES advisory council, credited and thanked the generations of students who have pursued research in the MSU Wool Lab, while John Helle, founder of Dillon-based Duckworth Wool, noted the importance of the facility’s scientists to supporting Montana’s agricultural industry.

“There’s a lot that we can do in wool science, and this is a great opportunity,” Helle said. “I’m really excited and honored to be here to [break ground] on something that’s going to be very, very important for the future of our sheep industry.”

Over many years of advocacy, planning and fundraising, speakers called the facility the result of extraordinary collaboration that will support agriculture in Montana and the region for years and generations to come.

“I want to recognize and acknowledge over a decade of hard work that preceded us,” said Lt. Gov. Juras. “This is a critical investment in our No. 1 industry. We were proud to be a part of it.”

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New genetic test provides rapid confirmation of herbicide-resistant kochia and pigweeds

Herbicide-resistant kochia is problematic for farmers in North Dakota, says Joe Ikley, North Dakota State University Extension weed specialist.

NDSU weed scientists first confirmed resistance to PPOinhibiting (Group 14) herbicides in kochia in 2022. In a collaborative effort, BASF scientists discovered a target-site mutation in kochia that provided resistance to Group 14 herbicides. Once the target-site was identified, the National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC), located on NDSU’s campus, developed a rapid test to detect the mutation from DNA extracted from leaves.

“We are happy to announce that this DNA-based test is now available for public submissions of kochia samples,” shares Ikley.

In addition to testing for Group 14 resistance in kochia, the NAGC offers DNA tests for resistance to Group 14 herbicides in waterhemp and Palmer amaranth, as well as Glyphosate (Group 9) and ALS-inhibitors (Group 2) in kochia, waterhemp and Palmer amaranth. The NAGC can also test for Group 2 resistance in any pigweed species.

Standard turnaround time for results will be 7 days from arrival at NAGC.

Thanks to sponsorships from the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, North Dakota Specialty Crop Block Grant and Minor Crop Utilization Grants, funding is available to test the first 1,000 North Dakota pigweed or kochia samples for no charge.

Each NDSU Extension county office will have testing kits on hand with instructions on how to collect and send samples. Once kits run out at county offices, samples can be submitted following the self-mailing instructions and submission form at https://genotypingcenter.com/product/kochia/.

Free testing is currently limited to four samples per farming operation. For additional tests, as well as samples originating from outside of North Dakota, refer to the NAGC website for charges. Please use the non-North Dakota submission form provided on the website.

To get the most impactful information from these DNA tests, leaves should be collected from plants that survive the herbicide in question. The application will remove susceptible plants and increase confidence of the resistance determination.

Individual sample results will remain confidential. Test results will be sent directly from the NAGC to the e-mail provided on the submission form. The NAGC will aggregate results to provide data at the county-level, but no individual information will be released.

The sampling program using DNA testing began in the Fall of 2023. To date, the NAGC has received 51 kochia samples from 21 counties in North Dakota.

Results found 33% of samples contained a mutation that confers resistance to Group 14 herbicides, 82% of samples contained a mutation that confers resistance to glyphosate and 51% of samples contained mutations that confer resistance to Group 2 herbicides.

“It is important to note that DNA testing can only detect known target-site mutations that confer resistance,” says Ikley. “There could be unknown mutations, or other mechanisms of resistance that these tests cannot detect.”

To collect a sample for testing:

Locate pigweeds or kochia in the field. Proper ID is important before collecting leaf samples.

Collect two leaves near the top of the plant (leaves must be larger than a standard hole-punch to allow for adequate DNA extraction). Place two (2) leaves from a single plant into one (1) zipper bag or small envelope. Do not mix leaves from multiple plants.

With a marker, label the outside of the collection bag with a unique Sample ID. The Sample ID can be in the following format: Year-Month-County-Personal Field ID (Example: 24-05-Cass-SE4). Make sure to also write the Sample ID on the submission form.

Sample additional weeds in fields of your choice by following Steps 1 to 3. Send a maximum of four (4) total plants for testing. Keep samples dry and at room temperature before shipping.

Mail the submission form and individually-packaged samples in a large business envelope to: National Ag Genotyping Center, 1616 Albrecht Boulevard North, Fargo, North Dakota, 58102.

Godzilla ate my lawn, what to do?

By Catherine Wissner, Wyoming Laramie County Extension Horticulturist

Taking care of your lawn should be simple and easy, don’t over-think this easy task. The two most important inputs for lawn care; watering and mowing.

The lawn mower height should be at the maximum setting, that adjustment is located at the wheels and is quick and easy to adjust. This typically, gives you a lawn about 3.5 to 4 inches tall. The latest university based study’s show a higher mowed lawn is more healthy, takes less water and less fertilizer. That little blade of grass needs all the height and surface area possible to photosynthesis and send energy down to the roots. Cutting the grass too short causes the lawn to dry out quickly, stress the grass and over all needs more water.

Watering the lawn should be twice a week, with a good deep soaking. If you have a sprinkler system, set the timer to go around once for 5 minutes then a second time for 15 minutes for that deep watering. The goal is to have grass roots that are deep and can tolerate brief periods of heat or drought. Watering for only a few minutes creates roots that are shallow and cannot withstand drought or heat. This is also true for trees and shrubs, deep watering is better than a brief sip of water.

The first number on a bag of fertilizer represents Nitrogen (N). Nitrogen has a huge affinity for water and not soil. It will run off the property, leach into the ground water or just vaporize, a slow release helps slow all this down. Fertilize with a slow release nitrogen and do it now before it gets too hot, once a season should be adequate.

As too brown or dead spots in the lawn, it could be a fungus, and the lawn will typically grow out of it. You can rake the dead area, and use a surfactant to get the soil to accept water better, skip fertilizer as this can make the problem worse. Fungicides typically don’t work, fungus is next to impossible to kill.

Water deeply, and keep the lawn tall at 4 inches will all make for a deep green resilient lawn that is easy to maintain. Mow less, play more.

Don’t mow or over graze the prairie as this will cause considerable harm.

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What happens if you become disabled as a farmer or rancher?

By Jessica Groskopf, UNL

Estate and transition planning often focuses on what happens to the farm or ranch at the death of a key person. However, a good estate and transition plan should also include contingencies for disability. Planning for a disability is not an easy task because the severity and duration of the disability are unknown. Here are some key items to have in place to protect you and your operation from disability:

A contingency plan for labor. Who will be responsible for taking on the additional work? Short-term or long-term, the work must get done. Does your operation have a contingency plan? All employees should be cross-trained in multiple roles within the operation. The operation should also be financially prepared to hire additional labor or outsource when possible.

An emergency fund. A disability may bring not only medical expenses but also a loss of income. Most financial advisors recommend 3-6 months of expenses saved in a liquid account for emergencies.

A legal entity that protects your farm or ranch assets How is your operation protected from individual medical debt? The reality is that disability is often preceded by a medical emergency. One way to protect a farm or ranch is to organize it as its own legal entity, such as an LLC or S corporation so that creditors cannot seize the assets. If the farm or ranch is a separate legal entity, it is imperative that its bylaws are followed such as separate bank accounts and annual meetings. If a creditor sees that it is not being treated as a separate entity, they may try to seize the assets.

Power of Attorney. Who can make business and financial decisions? A Power of Attorney (POA) allows you to designate a trusted person (an agent) to make financial or business decisions on your behalf while you are alive but unable to make these decisions yourself. This power can be limited to specific decisions or situations, such as mental incapacity. A POA expires at death. Each member of the operation should have a POA in place.

Living Will or Advanced Medical Directive and Power of Attorney for Healthcare. One of the more difficult decisions to make is your wishes for medical care. In a “Living Will” or “Advanced Medical Directive” you will outline what types of medical care you want to receive when you are unable to make them yourself, such as life support. In addition to this document, you should also appoint a Power of Attorney for Healthcare. This person does not have to be the same person who you chose to handle your business affairs. A buy-sell agreement with provisions for disability What mechanisms are available to transfer after disability but before death? If you have legal documents in place that outline conditions for the sale or transfer of assets at death, make sure they also define the terms for disability. For example, a buy-sell agreement may allow a disabled person to sell assets at the time of their disability rather than waiting for death.

Disability Insurance. The reality is that disability insurance for farmers and ranchers may not be cost-effective. However, Social Security may provide disability benefits if you become severely disabled. In order to qualify for Social Security, you must pay Social Security/Self Employment taxes for a certain length of time. Showing little or no profit year after year means that you may not be qualifying for Social Security benefits. See if you qualify for Social Security here https://www.ssa.gov/my account

Changing the legal structure of the farm or ranch business, establishing powers of attorney, and incorporating the possibility of disability into your estate plan require professional legal assistance. Discuss these issues with your attorney and financial advisor in developing your own plan for preparing for the possibility of disability.

If you, or someone you know has become disabled, there are resources available to help you continue to farm or ranch through AgrAbility. AgrAbility’s mission is to enhance quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities, so that they, their families, and their communities continue to succeed in rural America. For this target audience, “success” may be defined by many parameters, including: gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation; access to appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities; evidence-based information related to the treatment and rehabilitation of disabling conditions; and targeted support for family caregivers of AgrAbility customers. For more information about AgrAbility in Nebraska visit https://agrability.unl.edu/

Minnesota goat confirmed to have highly pathogenic avian influenza

This is the first identified case of HPAI in domestic livestock in the U.S.

A juvenile goat in Minnesota recently tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). While HPAI has been detected in predatory mammals that prey on infected birds, this is the first identified case of HPAI in domestic livestock in the U.S. The goat lived on the same premises where a poultry flock tested positive for HPAI in late February. The goat shared the same pasture and sole water source as the poultry flock.

HPAI is a known disease of wild and domestic poultry and waterfowl. There is limited information available about HPAI infection in ruminants, though in some species, animals with immature or compromised immune systems appear to be at greater risk of infection. Only young goats were afflicted in the Minnesota case, not mature goats. This case is being investigated by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“As we aim to protect livestock for our North Dakota producers, the risk of transmission increases during spring,” says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist.

“While we don’t envision this zoonotic transmission to be commonplace, good biosecurity protocols separating livestock from poultry/waterfowl is a good production practice to reduce the potential spread of HPAI to our small ruminants during the spring migration of wild birds,” says Travis Hoffman, NDSU Extension sheep specialist.

“H5N1 HPAI has been detected in wild birds throughout all U.S. migratory flyways, says Dr. Gerald Stokka, NDSU Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist. “Wild birds can be infected without showing symptoms of the infection. While waterfowl are the primary carriers, positive cases are being documented in predatory birds and mammals, and now domestic goats.”

NDSU Extension experts support the biosecurity practices released by University of Minnesota Extension that can reduce the potential for domestic animals to contract HPAI.

Recommended practices include:

Do not allow poultry and livestock species access to ponds, wetlands and other stagnant water sources that are frequented by wild waterfowl such as ducks, geese or swans.

Watch poultry and livestock for signs of illness, including reduced appetite, fever, inability to stand, depression, nasal discharge, diarrhea, coughing and change in behavior.

Consider housing poultry separately from other livestock species and minimize poultry access to pasture areas that are grazed by other livestock species.

Do not allow poultry, waterfowl and wildlife to share water sources and feedstuffs with other livestock species.

Protocols for protecting livestock include:

In the Minnesota goat case, infected goats shared the same water source as infected poultry. Limiting livestock exposure to potentially inflicted-HPAI poultry is the first action of defense.

Current influenza vaccines used in horses are not effective against HPAI. Always consult your veterinarian before administering vaccinations.

Many cattle are vaccinated against Parainfluenza-3 (PI-3), a virus that can cause respiratory issues. Parainfluenza viruses are in a different family from influenza viruses and the PI-3 vaccine does not provide protection against influenza. If you have an unexplained death in one of your animals, consult with your farm veterinarian, contact the North Dakota Board of Animal Health.

“There is no evidence that anyone has contracted the virus from eating a fully cooked bird, either domestic or wild,” says Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist and professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences. “It is always a safe practice to fully cook wild game to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of whether there is a threat of HPAI.”

NDSU Extension HPAI resources are available at ndsu. ag/hpai. UMN Extension HPAI resources are available at z.umn.edu/HPAIgoat.

Avian influenza surveillance and testing in wild birds is being done by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the North Dakota Department of Game and Fish. To learn more about HPAI cases in birds and mammals, please visit the USDA’s APHIS website. Report sick and dead wildlife at https://gf.nd.gov/wildlife/diseases/mortality-report. Direct wild bird avian influenza questions to 701-204-2161.

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Homestead chicken care guide for every beginner

In starting a homestead with chickens, the challenges and uncertainties that can arise may seem overwhelming. From selecting the right chicken breeds to ensuring their health in a homestead environment, becoming a successful chicken keeper requires comprehensive guidance and practical solutions. You’re not alone in these concerns. Many aspiring homesteaders face the daunting task of properly caring for their flock while navigating the intricacies of homesteading and chicken coops.

As you navigate this article uou’ll discover invaluable insights into homestead chicken care, addressing the questions often accompanying this task. We’ll delve into topics such as selecting suitable chicken breeds, creating a well-ventilated and easyto-clean coop design, and implementing effective feeding and health management strategies. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to embark on your homesteading journey with ease and success.

What Is Homesteading?

Embarking on the journey of homesteading is a profound and rewarding endeavor, rooted in the timeless traditions of sustainable living and self-sufficiency. As you anticipate the prospect of raising your own chickens, it’s essential to understand the core principles of homesteading. It goes beyond cultivating a piece of land. can foster a deep connection with the environment, embracing traditional farming methods, and nurturing a sense of independence.

Homesteading embodies a commitment to proper animal care, responsible resource management, and the pursuit of wholesome, organic living. We recognize the significance of this lifestyle and aim to empower you with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive as a homesteader while raising happy and healthy chickens.

Which Chicken Breeds Should I Buy for My Starter Homestead?

compasses a blend of practical knowledge and attentive husbandry. As you embark on this homesteading journey, it’s essential to prioritize the well-being and nutrition of your flock.

A balanced diet rich in essential nutrients is key, ensuring that your chickens receive the necessary protein, calcium, and micronutrients for robust egg production and healthy growth. By incorporating a highquality fortified feed formulated specifically for laying hens or meat birds, you provide the foundation for their overall health and productivity.

Moreover, maintaining a clean and wellventilated coop environment is crucial for the welfare of your chickens. Poultry farm biosecurity promotes stress-free living conditions that contribute to improved egg-laying and meat quality. Regularly inspecting your flock for signs of parasites or illness and promptly addressing any health concerns is vital in safeguarding their well-being.

Understanding the principles of biosecurity and disease prevention empowers you to proactively protect your chickens from potential health hazards, fostering an environment conducive to optimal egg and meat production.

Are There Any Chicken Health Concerns I Should Know About?

Navigating the realm of chicken health involves being attuned to potential concerns and proactive in implementing preventative measures. Common health issues such as respiratory infections, parasites, and nutritional deficiencies can impact the well-being of your flock, affecting both egg production and meat quality. Recognizing the early signs of illness and being vigilant in maintaining optimal hygiene standards within your coop is fundamental in mitigating health challenges.

What Can I Do with My Homesteader’s Harvest?

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Selecting the right chicken breeds lays the foundation for a successful starter homestead. For those seeking heritage breeds that excel in free-range environments, such as Rhode Island Red and New Hampshire chickens, are ideal choices. These heritage breeds are derived from time-honored lineages known for their resilience, adaptability, and suitability for organic and free-range practices. By incorporating heritage breeds into your flock, you embrace the heritage of sustainable agriculture while fostering a deep-rooted connection to the land.

Are There Special Homesteading Chicken Coops I Need?

The foundation of a thriving homestead lies in the design and functionality of your chicken coop. At the heart of every homestead, the chicken coop serves as a sanctuary for your feathered companions, providing shelter, safety, and comfort. When considering the construction of your chicken coop, it’s paramount to prioritize aspects such as proper ventilation, easy cleaning, and sufficient space for the flock to roam freely.

Our comprehensive homestead chicken care guide would be amiss without underscoring the importance of creating a wellventilated and easy-to-clean coop design, ensuring the health and happiness of your chickens. Crafting a homesteading chicken coop tailored to the unique needs of your flock, empowers you to provide a nurturing environment for your chickens to thrive.

How Do I Care for My Chickens for Optimal Production of Eggs and Meat?

Caring for your chickens to ensure optimal production of eggs and meat en-

As you embark on the rewarding journey of starting a homestead with chickens, envision the bountiful yields that await you. Your homesteader’s harvest is not just a collection of eggs and meat. It’s a testament to your dedication to traditional, sustainable, and environmentally friendly farming practices. You’ll be able to enjoy the health benefits of farm fresh eggs, which can be stored without refrigeration if you don’t wash them off right away.

Additionally, you’ll need to learn how to process chickens properly to get the most out of their meat. Knowing where your meat is coming from is an excellent way to dive deep into your homesteading journey.

The fruits of your labor extend beyond mere sustenance, encompassing a sense of connection to the land and the animals under your care and God as the creator of it all. With your homesteader’s harvest, you have the opportunity to embrace selfsufficiency, knowing that the eggs and meat on your table are a product of mindful husbandry, free-range living, and unwavering commitment to ethical farming. Each egg gathered, and each meal prepared from your homestead is a celebration of sustainability, heritage, and the inherent value of conscientious agriculture.

As you contemplate the possibilities of your homesteader’s harvest, consider the impact it holds for your well-being, the local community, and the broader agricultural landscape. You can even decide to sell your egg bounty to your local community. Your dedication to nurturing a thriving flock and CONTINUED ON PAGE B27

Homestead chicken care guide for every beginner

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B26

reaping the rewards of your homestead is an inspiration, a testament to the legacy of traditional farming methods and the connection between people, animals, land and ultimately God. Never forget to thank God the designer and sustainer of it all, allowing it to draw you closer to Him.

As you reflect on the challenges of starting a homestead with chickens, the yearning for a rewarding and sustainable farming experience tugs at your heart. The thought of navigating the complexities of raising

chickens and other fowl and achieving a thriving homesteader’s harvest may stir a mix of determination and uncertainty within you.

Yet, amidst these emotions, you’ve gained profound insights from this homestead chicken care guide. You’ve discovered the beauty of traditional, sustainable farming methods and the significance of heritage breeds in creating a bountiful homesteader’s harvest.

Maximize garden space by growing vertically

From K-State Research and Extension news service

Kansas State University horticulture instructor Cynthia Domenghini says home gardeners can expand garden space by taking it to the next level…literally.

Domenghini said many crops can be grown vertically, including the more traditional tomatoes, pole beans and peas as well as vining crops such as cucumbers, melons, squash and gourds.

“Elevating plants off the ground increases the air flow which can help prevent disease,” Domenghini said. “Bringing the height of the produce up also makes harvesting easier.”

Domenghini recommends edible-pod and snow peas because those crops have longer vines and are therefore more appropriate for growing vertically than English (shelling) peas.

Bush-type vining crops produce short vines and are consequently less suitable for vertical growth. “Be mindful of crops that grow large fruit as they could damage the vine if grown vertically,” Domenghini said.

Supporting your vertical garden with a sturdy structure is also important. Domenghini suggests bamboo poles.

“Create a pup tent or A-frame structure by leaning two cattle panels or pallets together and securing them at the top. Alternatively, a single panel can be tied upright to T-posts for support. Plant vining crops at the base and train them to grow upward,” she said.

Robo

jellyfish

Out of the millions of animals in the world, the jellyfish is among the weirdest. But their odd, alienlike anatomy and elegant movement through water are exactly why they became the basis for an aquatic drone.

Engineers at Virginia Tech build Cyro, a 170-pound robotic jellyfish, with $5 million in funding from the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center and the Office of Naval Research. The navy hopes that this project will one day lead to autonomous undewater obot that are capable of underwater surveillance of both the environment and potential armed threats.

Cyro is equipped with a silicone cover over its metallic frame, which gives it its jellyfish camouflage. It also comes equipped with a rechargeable battery that gives it four hours of life, and a computer system that allows it to be programmed to perform individual missions. So if you bump into a jellyfish while swimming, check to make sure you got stung by a real jellyfish before asking someone to pee on you.

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Heifer percent mature body weight at breeding

By Josie Crouch, MS Animal Science student; Kacie McCarthy, UNL Cow-Calf Specialist; Travis Mulliniks, former UNL Beef Cattle Nutritionist, Range Production Systems

To remain in the herd, it is crucial for a replacement heifer to conceive and maintain pregnancy. However, since females within a herd offset input costs with a live calf born each year, focus should not only be placed on pregnancy rates as a yearling, but subsequent pregnancy rates as a cow.

The traditional recommendations have heifers reaching 65% of their mature body weight by breeding to maximize pregnancy rates. However, multiple studies across various regions have shown heifers developed as low as 48% mature body weight at breeding showed no impact on reproduction.

These studies have been conducted over 3 years or less, which may limit the ability to interpret results. However, developing heifers to a lower percentage of mature body weight at breeding could potentially serve as a management strategy to reduce input costs without sacrificing performance. This study determined how differing heifer percent mature body weights (50, 55, 60, 65, and 70%) at breeding affected heifer performance, calf performance, and subsequent pregnancy rates.

This study used data collected from 2005 through 2019 at the University of Nebraska, Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory using 1,434 March- and May-calving Red Angus x Simmental crossbred heifers and cows.

Conclusions and Implications

During the development period, it is crucial to make management decisions that focus not only on initial performance, but also on how subsequent performance may also be impacted (ex. plane of nutrition, high versus low rate of gain, natural service versus artificial insemination). Producers should consider developing heifers in a way that optimizes reproductive performance and best encompasses the goals of their operation, rather than striving for a specific target weight.

Calculations

The average herd mature body weight from the March- and May-calving herds were calculated by the average body weight of 5, 6, and 7-year-old cows at weaning, with weight being adjusted to a common body condition score of 5. The average weights for March and May cows were 1,107 and 1,072 lbs., respectively.

Table 1: Summary of impacts percent mature body weight (BW) at breeding has on performance.

Percent Pregnancy Pregnancy Pregnancy Calve mature rate (initial)a rate rate first 21 BW (2-yr-old)b (3-, 4-, 5-yr-old)c dd

a Heifers at a greater percent of mature BW at breeding (60-70%) had greater initial pregnancy rates.

b Heifers at a greater percent of mature BW at breeding (60-70%) had greater pregnancy rates as a 2-year-old.

c Heifer mature BW percentage at breeding had no impact on pregnancy rates as a 3, 4, 5-year-old.

d Heifers at a lower percent of mature BW at breeding (50-60%) had a greater percent calve in the first 21d.

To determine heifer actual mature body weight percentages within the breeding groups, heifers’ recorded body weights at breeding were divided by their respective herd average mature body weight. March-calving heifers were at an average of 60% mature body weight at breeding, with a range of 42% to 85%. Heifers in the May-calving breeding ranged from 46% to 92% mature body weight at breeding with an average of 67%.

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A retrospective regression analysis was conducted on percent of estimate mature body weight to determine predicted responses of initial pregnancy rates, subsequent pregnancy rates (2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old cow), and calf production at differing heifer mature body weight percentages. Differences in calving season, year, and when the heifer was born in the calving season were all accounted for in the statistical analysis.

Results

See Table 1 for specific numbers associated with each group of heifers. In general:

A greater percentage of mature body weight at breeding showed higher pregnancy rates as heifers and as 2-yr-olds.

Percent mature body weight of heifers at breeding had no impact on subsequent pregnancy rates after 2 years of age. Heifers at a lower percentage of mature body weight at breeding had a greater percent that calved in the first 21 days of the calving season.

As heifer percent mature body weight increased, subsequent calf birth and weaning body weights increased, by 1.2 lbs and 5 lbs, respectively, per 5% BW increase at breeding.

Branding season is especially fun for cowboys and cowgirls who need to renew their roping skills, as many ranchers prefer to rope and drag calves to the branding fire. Photo by Suzy Benzing

The Blueprint® team has put together the most transparent animal nutrition program on today’s market. Blueprint® products contain 100% organic trace minerals made from the highest quality, most research-proven trace mineral available. These products go beyond just meeting trace mineral requirements – their superior bioavilability supports exceptional animal performance and health. Blueprint is targeted nutrition, without escess, for peak performance.

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Extension aims to reach 500 cattle producers on enhanced biosecurity and foreign disease mitigation

Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe and fast-spreading viral disease that can affect all cloven-hooved animals.

The disease was discovered in the United States in 1870 but eradicated in 1929, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The disease is present in nearly 70% of cloven hooved animals worldwide.

It hasn’t returned to the U.S. – yet.

The goal of a new project led by Oregon State University Extension Service is to create a fast-acting information network among Cooperative Extension agents and veterinarians in the departments of agriculture in three western states – Oregon, California and Idaho – to prepare for foreign diseases such as foot-and-mouth.

Sergio Arispe, OSU Extension livestock and rangeland field faculty in Malheur County and associate professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, has been awarded nearly $75,000 from enhance biosecurity and mitigation of foreign diseases for cattle producers in the three states.

The grant, from the Western Extension Risk Management Education Centerthrough the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture, comes at a good time, Arispe said, considering the recent development of highly pathogenic avian influenza crossing over into the nation’s dairy cattle population.

The project aims to mitigate profit, production and financial risk to cattle producers in the case of a foreign transmitted animal disease, such as foot-and-mouth, by collaborating with state veterinarians and Beef Quality Assurance coordinators and trainers to increase trainings and certifications.

The goal is to reach at least 500 cattle producers across the three states, Arispe said.

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The Beef Quality Assurance program, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, is meant to promote safe and wholesome beef. Major beef packing plants require Best practices taught in the Beef Quality Assurance curriculum inherently mitigate risks and maximize profits for cattle producers.

The project is using a “train the trainer” model for Cooperative Extension employees who can further broadcast the information through their networks to cattle producers before a potential outbreak.

The trainings will include presentations and updates to the current Beef Quality Assurance curriculum. The trained Cooperative Extension agents from these workshops will go on to present at state cattlemen’s

association meetings and work locally with producers.

“The Extension personnel in these three states then go out and amplify that message, through Extension publications, workshops and presentations to cattle producers,” Arispe said. “The local agents have more trust in the community and they have more contacts.”

Arispe said increasing the dissemination of information will help cattle producers be prepared for a foreign animal disease outbreak.

“Foot-and-mouth disease is the most transmissible disease to all cloven hooved animals worldwide,” Arispe said. “Our efforts would be the same for trying to mitigate production risk, market risk and financial risk for footand-mouth disease but it could be for any foreign animal disease that may come. The same approach and the same measures would be appropriate.”

He continued, “So the question at hand is: If there was a foreign animal disease that came to the United States like foot-andmouth disease what would that process look like for cattle producers and what would happen to transport?”

A key aspect to this project is educating producers on the local, state and national protocols if there is a foreign disease, he said.

“At any given time there are about three million animals on our highways, or in our planes or boats,” he said. “There will be at least a 72-hour national standstill declared by the USDA for all cloven-hooved animals if foot-and-mouth disease is ever found in the United States. A lot of producers don’t know that and that’s only the beginning.”

The team will also be available to work with producers to create an enhanced biosecurity plan, which can clear them for transportation in the event they are in a high-risk area of a foreign disease.

This would prevent some of the financial issues a producer would incur if they were unable to transport their livestock offsite.

“Our efforts aim to have enhanced biosecurity plans complete for least 20% of the confined cattle population within each state,” he said.

“This project aims to provide a basic overview and proactive activities and measures that people can take to mitigate production market and financial risks, and the process by which cattle producers can resume business,” Arispe said.

Those who are interested in learning more about the Cooperative Extension Secure Beef Supply programming in their state can contact: Arispe, Dr. Gabriele Maier and Dr. Lais Costa in California and Meranda Small or Mireille Chahine.

Waffle Iron Day

This holiday is always celebrated on June 29th

Waffle Iron Day celebrates this great kitchen gadget that makes tasty waffles. Waffles are cooked between two metal plates. A waffle iron is powered by electricity to heat the plates and create light waffles ready for you to top with syrup, and/ or your favorite fruits.

Waffles are not just for breakfast. They are good for lunch or dinner, too. Belgian waffles are popular for dinner. You can load them up with lots of fruits, whipped cream, nuts, and syrups.

The origin of the waffle: The waffle dates back to the 1300s in Greece. Greeks cooked flat cakes between two metal pans. At the time, they topped it with cheeses and herbs. Sorry, pancake syrup wasn’t around back then.

You do know how to celebrate this day…….don’t you!? If you don’t have a waffle iron, today is a good day to go out and buy one. There are also waffle and mini-waffle makers to choose from. If you are too busy to make waffles yourself, buy some frozen in your grocery store, or order them out at a restaurant.

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Highboy Cover Crop Interseeding Project updates

Cover crops are a recognized method for increasing soil health by reducing soil erosion, increasing soil organic matter and improving soil structure. Cover crops can also safeguard water quality by reducing nitrate leaching.

While cover crops are growing in popularity in Nebraska, there are many challenges that limit widespread adoption. One example is the narrow window for cover crop establishment from harvest to first (hard) frost. To address these challenges, the Highboy Cover Crop Interseeding Project (HiCCIP) was initiated by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2022. This collaborative effort with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and various Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), including the Lower Platte North NRD, Lower Platte South NRD, and the Upper Big Blue NRD, aims to address cover crop barriers and explore their impact on water quality. Information about what we learned in year one can be viewed in this article.

Bruno Lena - Extension Educator; Katie Pekarek - Extension Educator; Chris Proctor - Weed Management Extension Educator; Aaron Nygren - Extension Educator; Jenny Rees - Extension Educator; John Nelson - Extension Educator; Katja Koehler-Cole - Extension Educator; Mailson Freire de Oliveira – Assistant Extension Educator; Nathan Mueller - Extension Educator; Travis J. ProchaskaExtension Educator; Victor Ferreira - Ag Research Technician II, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture started interseeding on August 28, when corn was at R5.5 growth stage. At this stage, corn plants are approaching maturity, and drying leaves allowed more sunlight to reach the soil surface, allowing for better cover crop growth compared to the earlier interseeding dates in 2022.

For the 2023 growing season, on-farm research trials were conducted. Figure 2 shows an example of the experimental layout we used for OFR trials. Experimental layout included replicated check strips with no cover crops, alongside various treatment combinations:

Interseeded × check (no cover crops).

Interseeded × drilled.

Interseeded × drone interseeded. 2x interseeded rate.

Synopsis of Fall 2022 Interseeding Accomplishments

In 2022, a highboy interseeder (Figure 1) was utilized to interseed cover crops across 2,972 acres in 33 corn fields throughout Nebraska. Each field received a broadcast application of either cereal rye or a mix of cover crops, including cereal rye, turnips and rapeseed, at an average rate of 70 lb/ac. Most of the fields were interseeded in August, with select fields being interseeded in early September as corn was observed between the R4 and R6 growth stage. Growers were asked to apply at least one application of 0.5-inch irrigation immediately following field site interseeding to facilitate cover crop germination.

Studies were also conducted in two hailed fields. Observations on cover crop stand count, cover crop biomass and soil nitrate content at 0-1, 1-2, and 2-3 feet will be collected across the treatments in each field. Grain yield data to evaluate yield impact will be collected during the fall of 2024. Fall 2023 Interseeding Preliminary Results

Figure 3 shows preliminary stand counts for 13 fields interseeded during fall 2023. Stand count is presented as a percent (%) of plants emerged, which is the total emerged plants relative to the total number of seed planted. For example, the expected number of cereal rye plants is 34 per square foot at 70 lb/ac, and the counted emerged living plants was 17 plants per square foot, therefore emergence rate is 50% (17÷34). Values ranged from 1% to 84% with an average of 27% emergence rate for the fields interseeded with cereal rye. The emergence rate for the fields interseeded with the cover crop mix ranged from 16% to 77% with an average of 41%.

Our team collected cover crop stand counts at 19 fields in October 2022. For fields with cereal rye only, stand counts ranged from 20% to 60% of the applied rate of 34 seeds/sq ft (70 lb/ac equivalent). In contrast, fields (n=19) broadcasted with a mix observed an average stand count of 52%.

Fall 2023 Interseeding — Changing the Approach

As we moved into spring 2023, our team noted poor cover crop growth performance for many field sites interseeded during fall 2022. Poor performance was likely attributed to the combined effect of a dry 2022 growing season, following a dry fall and winter. No biomass data was collected during spring 2023.

In 2023, building upon the insights gained from the previous year’s demonstrations, we collaborated with 24 growers to interseed cover crops across 26 fields, covering approximately 3,400 acres, with a base rate of 70 lb/ac. We implemented several modifications to enhance the effectiveness of the HiCCIP demonstrations.

Although the cover crop emergence rate observed during fall 2023 was similar to those found during fall 2022, the later interseeding date and stand count assessments in 2023 resulted in a stand count that was not negatively affected as observed in 2022. To demonstrate that, Figure 4 shows a picture taken on Nov. 11, 2023, about 10 days after corn harvest. We observed that the cover crops were well established. During late fall 2022, however, little to no cover crop establishment was found (visual assessment). Moving forward into spring 2024, our team is going to assess cover crop biomass and stand count at the same locations as fall 2023. Additionally, we plan to conduct soil sampling to evaluate any changes in soil nitrogen levels during the cover crop season.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our collaborating farmers, the Lower Platte North, the Lower Platte South, and Upper Big Blue NRDs for providing their fields and/or technical support for this project.

First, we adjusted the interseeding dates based on observations that the early timing of interseeding (fall 2022), when corn was still green and sunlight was mostly intercepted by the canopy, hindered cover crop growth post-germination. In 2023, we

Funding

Funding provided by the Nebraska Department of Environmental and Energy Nonpoint Source Pollution Program and USDA-NIFA.

Where Quality Meets Efficiency

Highboy Cover Crop Interseeding Project

Figure 1. Highboy Interseeder used in this project.

Figure 2. Example of a collaborators’ field showing fall cereal rye establishment, check strips, and on-farm research area.

Figure

Photo by Suzy Benzing

Lawn care

By Kathy Tando, University of Nebraska, Master Gardener

Here comes summer and for most of us that means lawn care. Knowing when to fertilize water or treat for weeds, insect damage or diseases can be daunting. Do any of these things at the wrong time or improperly can cause damage to your lawn or at least not maximize your efforts. Research based information and guidelines are at your fingertips. Enter Panhandle Bluegrass calendar extension in your search engine and get a complete schedule.

Looking for advice on landscape or other gardening information? Caution just because it is on the internet doesn’t mean it’s factual. For researched advice put your topic in the search engine followed by the word “extension.” This will bring University articles to the top of your search. If you don’t find an article for UNL, choose a state close to our growing conditions. Get great researched information not some antidotal questionable guidelines.

Thinking of using landscape cloth for weed control? Consider some drawbacks. Our Nebraska winds bring in topsoil and weed seeds. When the weeds grow on top of the landscape cloth their roots go down into the cloth and become more difficult to remove. Or the winds remove the mulch and you have patches of black cloth showing. Stay tuned and we will explore some better alternatives for weed control.

Okay, so landscape cloth isn’t as great as once thought. So, what can we do to suppress weeds in its place? Consider using non-waxed cardboard under your mulch. Cut the cardboard to suit your space and overlap the edges. It suppresses weed germination and unlike landscape cloth really does disintegrate with time. Layers of newsprint or brown wrapping paper can also work although more fragile to add mulch on top.

In considering options for weed suppression in your landscape beds vs. landscape cloth consider a pre-emergent. As always read the labels because different products are designed for different uses. Also, some products are designed to provide coverage for different time periods. If you do not use the product per the label you are breaking the law and probably wasting your money and perhaps polluting the environment.

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Managing earthworm damage in lawns

By Esther E. McGinnis, Horticulturist, NDSU Extension

April showers bring May flowers. Spring rains also brings the first sightings of earthworms on driveways and sidewalks. While this is good fortune for the hungry robins, homeowners often express dismay at the appearance of numerous earthworm castings in lawns.

Earthworm castings are conical-shaped mounds of soil and excrement that are left at the burrow entrance. During heavy rains , earthworms sense raindrop vibrations and leave the soil. Scientists used to believe that they left their burrows because of a lack of oxygen. However, scientists now theorize they take advantage of the wet above-ground environment to look for new habitat and mates.

Numerous earthworm castings in lawns can be unsightly in spring. I wasn’t always appreciative that these castings might cause anguish to conscientious homeowners. I was focused on the numerous soil ecological benefits of earthworms such as thatch decomposition, water infiltration and soil aeration. However, one annoyed homeowner hammered his point home that his lawn was as bumpy as the Badlands and he was afraid that he might trip and break his ankle.

Yes, homeowners can take steps to manage lawn damage. However, the first step is to make sure that earthworms are the issue. Solitary ground-nesting bees can also cause soil mounds in the spring. These native bees are valuable pollinators and not aggressive unlike the pesky yellowjackets that are prevalent in late summer. Ground-nesting bees should not be eradicated.

Fresh earthworm castings are frequently shiny and darker in appearance than the underlying soil. In contrast bee mounds are usually the same color as the soil or even lighter if the underlying soil is sandy. One clear way to differentiate between ground-nesting bees and earthworms is to look for a hole that is about the size of a pencil eraser. Bees leave a prominent hole to allow them to return to their underground nest. Earthworms do not.

Earthworm management strategies are focused on improving turfgrass health, smoothing out the bumps, and overseeding the lawn. No pesticides or chemicals are labeled for use in managing earthworms.

Castings can be masked by a healthy lawn. Mowing at a taller height of 3 to 3.5 inches, fertilizing the lawn, and proper irrigation practices can help. Frequent, shallow watering is detrimental because it keeps the earthworms at the soil surface. In contrast watering deeply but infrequently will force the earthworms deeper as the surface soil dries. If your lawn is thin, wait until late summer (August 15 to September 15) to core aerate the lawn and overseed with the appropriate turfgrass mix to increase turfgrass density. For this technique to work, the soil cores should be left on the lawn to fill in the low spots. When repeated for multiple years, this technique can help smooth the bumps and increase grass density.

Mechanical processes such powering raking or verticutting can reduce the bumpiness of the soil. Avoid either process during the heat of summer.

Ranchers brand their calves as a proof of ownership. This is done in the spring before cows and calves are put out to summer pasture. Some ranchers use a branding table but many still like to rope and wrestle their calves.

Photo by Suzy Benzing

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Even though alcohol is a liquid, and often makes you feel less thirsty, it makes our body more dehydrated. So having a glass of water either between drinks, or at the same time as an alcoholic drink can make such a difference to your body in keeping your water levels up and your body happy.

Your garden, your health

By Debbie Post, University of Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Don’t go to the gym for your workout, just head to your garden.! You’ll do leg squats and lunges when planting and weeding, not to mention keeping joints supple and lubricated. Carrying bags of soil or mulch will strengthen those upper muscle groups and core strength. Inner equilibrium and sense of balance are challenged as you maneuver in dirt and uneven surfaces. Digging, hoeing, raking, and using push mowers can be physically intense activities that not only burn calories but increase heart rate. Get in the garden, get healthy. Gardening can be easily modified when physical activity is a challenge for you. If you think outside the box. Use kneeling pads, small stools, long-handled utensils, and raised beds to decrease affected joint movements. A tool belt or apron with pockets filled with all your supplies eliminates excess walking, conserving energy. Rakes or shovels can be used as a cane or support when getting up and down. Rolled carts or planters with wheels lessen bending and lifting. Gardening can be accessible to all.

Getting outside in the garden is good for your physical health. People tend to breathe deeper when outside. This diaphragmatic breathing helps clear out the lungs, improves digestion, increases oxygen levels in the blood, and assists with immune response. Studies show that people who garden have lower heart rates and decreased muscle tension than their couch counterparts. Another added benefit of outside gardening is that sunlight lowers blood pressure and increases vitamin D levels. Get in the garden, get healthy.

Did you know that gardening has just as many mental benefits as physical ones? Studies have shown that having one or more green plants can help lead to increased feelings of well being. Research finds that simple garden tasks such as weeding and watering will decrease cortisol levels which is the hormone that is released when a person is stressed. Those higher levels of cortisol are intrinsically linked to depression, anxiety, and the inability to focus and attend to tasks. Take care of some plants for improved mental health.

Garden vegetables have a variety of unique health benefits. Peppers contain capsaicin which has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce heart disease. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C and potassium. Spinach is good for boosting your immune system while broccoli helps to keep blood sugar stable. Carrots provide huge sources of vitamins A and B. Mushrooms are great for reducing many types of cancer risks. Sweet potatoes are high in beta carotene which helps slow the aging process. Adding more vegetables to your diet will help minimize your calorie, fat, and cholesterol intake. Plant a garden, get healthy.

A message from USDA to ant keepers

By April Dawson, Communications Specialist, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA in Animals

Ant keepers enjoy a fun and educational hobby, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also has an interest in it. You might wonder what ant keeping has to do with American agriculture and natural resources. Some invertebrates that people—including ant keepers—import into the U.S. or move between states could threaten our crops, forests, and community landscapes if they escape. USDA can help you import and move them safely. USDA regulates the importation and interstate movement of all ant species because certain species can be serious plant pests. If certain non-native ant species become established in new areas, they could outcompete native ants, harm native plants, reduce biodiversity, damage crops, and cost millions of dollars to citizens, government, and industry to eradicate or control.

Responsible ant keepers, importers, and sellers must prevent the introduction and potential release of any prohibited species. To move ants between States, import them, or sell them interstate, requires a valid PPQ 526 permit for the specific ant species and the State you are moving them to. Learn how to apply for a PPQ 526 permit on our eFile web page. Select “PPQ-526” from the dropdown and click “Get Started.” Don’t take chances. Email USDA Senior Entomologist Carlos Blanco first to ensure you’re not doing anything illegal.

Remember, although ant keeping is an exciting hobby, ant keepers must understand the risks. Let’s continue to protect American agriculture and natural resources together! Visit USDA’s Invertebrate Pets page to learn more.

Keeping mosquitoes in check

By Jacob Klaudt, K-State Research and Extension news service

Recent warming temperatures and wet weather patterns have created ideal conditions for mosquitoes, said Kansas State University entomologist Raymond Cloyd.

“There are a lot of situations (near the home) where standing water is around,” he said. “We need to be aware of mosquitoes.”

Cloyd suggests clearing out the breeding environments used by mosquitoes to help mitigate their numbers near homes.

“The way we approach mosquito management is source reduction, that is, remove all stagnant water from bird baths, old tires, wheelbarrows, or anything that holds water for an extended period of time,” he said.

Other ways to get rid of mosquito breeding grounds, according to the K-State Research and Extension publication, Pests That Affect Human Health: Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus:

Eliminate artificial water-holding containers. If that is not possible, empty buckets, cans, bottles, used tires and other containers at least once a week.

Fill or drain tree holes, stumps and puddles.

Irrigate gardens and lawns carefully to prevent water standing for more than a few days.

Check for water trapped in plastic covers on boats and swimming pools.

Make sure rain gutters are clean and do not hold water.

People can also use a wide variety of repellents to lessen the presence of female mosquitoes during the times they’re most active, according to Cloyd.

“If you’re going to be out at dusk and dawn, spray your body with a repellent such as DEET, Picaridin or IR3535,” he said.

Permethrin acts as another form of female mosquito control that affects them directly, but it must be applied properly to ensure human safety.

“Permethrin is an insecticide, but you don’t spray it on your skin,” Cloyd said. “You spray it just on your clothing. When you come back inside take a shower (after application).”

Mosquito management can also occur during the early phases of the insect’s life cycle using a larvicide in the form of mosquito dunks or bits.

“You can put mosquito dunks and bits in water to kill mosquitos in the larval stage,” Cloyd said. They’re completely harmless to pets and fish; all they kill is mosquito larva. So if you have a pond that’s not agitated or a bird bath you don’t want to change, you can throw in these mosquito dunks or bits. They’ll eat it then they’ll die.”

He added: “Dunks and bits are stomach poisons that contain the active ingredient, Bacillus thuringienesis (subspecies kurstaki, or Btk). Btk is a soil-borne bacterium that only kills mosquito larvae. It will manage mosquito larval populations for one to four weeks after application.”

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Silage feedout

By Ben Beckman, UNL

Loss at the feeding face can drastically affect silage quality, even if care was spent to put up and store a good product. As temperatures warm, let’s review best practices for managing silage feedout.

Once we begin feeding and the pile is exposed to air aerobic microbes and yeast reactivate, working to decompose the stored plant material. While some factors at feedout like packing density, pile shape, and inoculation are beyond our control now, limiting the amount of oxygen introduced to the pile and feeding quickly can help maintain silage condition. If left unchecked, losses of >25% dry matter can be realized. Try to keep the pile covered as much as possible to reduce oxygen exposure. No one wants to be cutting off plastic daily, but limiting the amount removed at a time maintains an anerobic environment longer. Try not to expose more than 3 days’ worth of a pile at a time. Face management helps with this too. Try to maintain a smooth face, scraping from top to bottom to minimize jagged edges and cracks into the pile, exposing more of the surface to air.

Finally, let’s discuss feedout rate. As oxygen seeps into the pile through the face, we want to remove silage faster than it spoils. Temperature plays a role as warm temperatures (>40°F) do not depress microbial growth the way winter temperatures do. Ideally 6-8 inches of the face should be removed daily to stay ahead of this oxygen front. University of Wisconsin research recommends no less than 4 inches of removal daily from piles/bunkers during the summer. Ideally when planning a new bunker or pile, a removal rate of 12 inches per day should be planned for.

Quality silage can drop condition fast if feedout is poorly managed. Limit oxygen exposure by maintaining a smooth face, keeping plastic covering over as much of the pile as possible, and feeding out at rate of 6-8 inches daily.

Grass hay harvest

By Jerry Volesky, UNL

Smooth bromegrass and other cool-season grass hay fields are growing rapidly and seedheads will soon be appearing. When do you typically cut your grass hay? Ideally, cutting your grass hay so the grass nutrient content matches with the nutritional needs of your livestock is best.

Crude protein and energy concentration declines in grass hay as plants become stemmy and mature. With smooth bromegrass for example, research has shown that crude protein content declines rapidly between boot and mature seed stages. Crude protein levels in well fertilized hay harvested at early heading range from 10 –18 percent, but drop rapidly after heading. Decreases in crude protein levels by as much as one-half percent per day after heading have been recorded.

As this happens, the types of livestock that can be fed that hay with little or no supplements become more limited.

For Sandhills subirrigated meadows, haying typically starts in early July. However, if harvest occurs around the third week of June, then that hay will have significantly higher crude protein content. Earlier meadow harvest will have lower initial hay yield, but it will also provide a longer regrowth period and extra growth for fall grazing.

So, a good approach is to plan what type of livestock will receive the grass hay from each field. Young livestock need high nutrient concentrations so cut that hay before or just when heads begin to emerge. If the hay will go to mature dry cows instead, let the grass produce a bit more tonnage and cut it after it is well headed out, but before seeds develop. Matching your hay harvest with your plan of use can pay handsome dividends in lower costs and less supplementing.

Spring branding season serves as a great opportunity for folks to get together after calving wraps up and before the busy farming season begins. Family and friends gather for a hard day’s work followed by good food and fellowship. Photo by Suzy Benzing

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“When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people.”

Consider using reusable grocery bags more often

By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist

I noticed a plastic bag high in the tree outside my home. I wanted to hire a squirrel to get it out of the tree. Squirrels are not very helpful, unfortunately.

As we drove around doing errands, I was tuned into the presence of plastic bags. I saw plastic bags trapped in bushes and against fences and buildings. I saw other trash, too, but that’s another story.

When I arrived home with a few bags of groceries, I was happy I had remembered to bring reusable bags to carry our groceries to the car.

I have too many plastic bags. I have a “bag of bags” in my closet.

I do not think I am the only person that amasses plastic bags.

On average, we each collect 365 plastic bags per year according to information from the Center for Biological Diversity.

At least 500 cities and 20 states have banned plastic bags. What’s the big deal with plastic bags?

Unfortunately, plastic does not break down easily. Some estimate that plastic bags may take 20 years to decompose. Plastic can be a danger to animal and aquatic life that may become trapped in the plastic.

Animals and fish might see plastic as food. Further, animals and fish become food for many of us. Plastic, anyone?

Plastic bags have many uses. We can certainly reuse plastic bags for trash or other things, so that lessens the impact.

Sometimes, I just carry the grocery item out of the store without a bag or in my grocery cart. I am aware of my ample supply of plastic bags at home, which make me feel a bit guilty.

We can bring our plastic bags to the bag-recycling bin at the grocery store if available. Local thrift stores often are pleased to receive plastic bags to pack their items.

We can use reusable bags for all kinds of shopping. Keep in mind that reusable cloth bags could also pose some food safety risks.

Scientists have been thinking about reusable bags for quite some time. In 2013, food scientists collected reusable bags in California and Arizona and tested them for E. coli. In their published report, they noted that 12% of the bags contained this dangerous type of bacteria.

The researchers also tested the number of bacteria that grew after the bags were stored in trunks in hot weather. The number of bacteria multiplied by 10 in just two hours. Since that study and other research, some best practices for reusable bags have been provided to consumers. If you use reusable cloth bags for groceries, be sure to avoid crosscontamination and reduce your risk.

Use food bags for food only. Consider color-coding your reusable grocery bags. Use green bags for produce and red bags for meat and other proteins. You probably want to place the meat in the plastic bags near the meat case to avoid the risk of contaminating other foods in your cart and in your bag. (Then reuse the plastic bags to wrap trash or pick up after pets.)

When you set reusable bags down in your kitchen, think about where you are placing the bags. For example, avoid setting the bags on the surface of the parking lot and then stuffing the bags inside of each other.

Wash cloth reusable bags with hot, soapy water.

We can think about “repurposing” in our kitchens if we have leftover foods after a meal. To avoid wasting food, think of leftovers as planned-overs.

If you have planned-over whole roast chicken: Shred it, add some mayonnaise and chopped celery, and use it to make sandwiches. Add some salsa and use it for chicken tacos. Simmer it with barbecue sauce and make sandwiches. Make some chicken-vegetable soup.

If you have planned-over spaghetti sauce with meat: Use it to make lasagna or homemade pizza, or freeze it for a quick dinner later.

If you have planned-over roast beef: Use it to make soup, stew or stir-fry. Shred it, add some barbecue sauce and serve it on buns.

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A Horse Walks into a Bar... He approaches the bartender and says, “If there is a triangle with three sides labeled x, y, and z, and x and z are perpendicular to each other, which side is the hypotenuse?” The bartender thinks for a moment, then replies, “Y, the long face.”

Tips and more for planting veggies

By Katie Markheim, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

It’s time to plant. Some veggies are friends, some foes. So, what’s the big deal about companion planting?

Root crops (tubers like carrots or potatoes) can break up soil compaction and aerate.

Plant radishes and carrots side by side to save garden space.

Manage weeds and improve soil health by growing multiple successions of crops in the same space such as lettuce, spinach, basil followed by peppers or tomatoes.

Deep rooted crops, like melons & tomatoes, pull water and nutrients from the deeper soil profile.

Plants can physically support one another. For example, corn paired with squash and beans.

Manage insect pests through trap or repellent crops like marigolds.

Even though we has been receiving some rainfall this year, the wind has been just as abundant, so keep an eye on that garden as the soil dries and temperatures rise this growing season.

Veggie plants need about 1 inch of water per week, preferably applied in one application.

Keep the water source close to the ground to keep it from splashing which can spread disease.

Use a water-soluble fertilizer, diluted according to label directions to give transplants a good start.

Use compost or well-aged manure as a side dressing for ongoing fertilization.

FIFRA states that the label must be followed when making a pesticide application. Each product label has specific information regarding use to reduce risk to the applicator, other people, nontargets and the environment. Some products may require additional data collection or training before applications. Others may require site investigation using FieldWatch, DriftWatch, or BeeCheck. Read and follow the label every time you use a pesticide. It’s the law.

Right Plant, Right Place, Right Time. Both the garden and landscape are investments of time and money that can be beautiful, functional, and satisfying living spaces. Considerations when creating your outdoor garden or living space include:

Site preparation

Plant and seed selection by hardiness zone

Planting season

Spacing in the landscape

Planting depths

Watering habits

Staking, protecting, and mulching

These are aspects of integrated pest management and a great way to ensure the growth and longevity of your investment.

A great way to ensure a hearty, healthy and active garden is to select the right cultivars of your favorite plant stock or seed.

Cultivars are plant varieties that have been produced

in cultivation by selective breeding. Vegetable cultivars for home gardens should be adapted to local growing conditions, depending on the region of Nebraska where you’re planting.

Your garden location, experience, likes or dislikes, and intended use of your produce are factors in selecting veggie cultivars for your garden. Choosing which vegetable cultivar can be bewildering because there are so many varieties.

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No one knows certain who created the first batch of fudge candy or when. Recipes for it began to appear in cookbooks in the 1800s. It is likely people were making it much earlier. It possibly had its roots in Scotland in the 1700s.

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We must keep our water levels up to enable our body to regulate its temperature when it needs to. This is normally done through the process of sweating. This is especially important when exercising due to how much water we can lose through sweating.

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Owner/Operator: Matt Vandeberg

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Passenger pigeons were once the most numerous birds in the world. Ormithologist John J. Audubon recorded seeing a single flock in 1808 that he calculated to be 150 miles long, numbering over two billion birds. By 1914 hunting and deforestation had led to the total extinction of the birds.

By Scott Weybright, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism of oil biosynthesis and found a way to genetically engineer a type of test plant to more efficiently produce different kinds of seed oil that it otherwise wouldn’t make.

While the engineering is proof-of-concept, this discovery could lead to improved production of valuable oils used in food and by a range of industries. The study, led by Washington State University researchers, was published in the journal Nature Communications.

“Scientists have been working on producing novel seed oil compositions for decades, but most of the time you only get small amounts of the desired oil,” said Phil Bates, a WSU professor and lead author on the study.

Bates and his co-authors found that Physaria fendleri, a plant related to canola, can naturally change the fatty acid composition in its seed oil after it is already made, something nobody knew any plant could do. They discovered the genetic mechanism Physaria uses to makes those changes, then genetically engineered a related plant called Arabidopsis to make the same fatty acid changes.

The modified Arabidopsis overcame metabolic bottlenecks and produced significant amounts of an oil similar to castor oil that it doesn’t naturally produce.

Plant oils are used in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, industrial, chemical and biofuel industries. Plant oils’ value stems from its fatty acid composition. Around 90% of oil is valuable for industrial uses in crops like castor beans, Bates said. But if the desirable oil-making genes are transferred into another plant, only small amounts of the oil produced is usable by industry. The newly discovered mechanism of oil biosynthesis shows a way to bump that production back up.

“We’ve always thought that when plants accumulate oil during seed development, that’s the end product,” said Bates, a faculty member in WSU’s Institute of Biological Chemistry. “But we found that Physaria, after making oil, removes some of the fatty acids within the oil and replaces that with others.”

Those oils could replace the reliance of growing dangerous crops, like castor. Castor plants are banned in the U.S. because they also produce ricin, a dangerous poison. Castor oil is valuable in industrial lubricants, but expensive because only a few nations can grow the plants, either legally or environmentally.

“We can use this new biosynthetic process as a tool to change oil composition,” Bates said. “We’re at the starting point of putting this into crop plants. We want to eventually produce healthy fatty acids beyond industrial uses.”

Bates and his colleagues are also looking at other plants to see if they do similar remodeling of oils after production.

“We haven’t identified any others yet, but we’ve never looked before,” Bates said. “This is a new discovery that nobody knew plants could do. We want to see if common crop plants, like canola, can do this remodeling as well.”

Other potential uses for this process include food for people and biofuels, especially aviation fuel.

The project was a collaboration between Bates lab and the Smertenko lab both in the Institute of Biological Chemistry at WSU as well as two labs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Funding for work on this paper came from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

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“Hoeing: A manual method of severing roots from stems of newly planted flowers and vegetables.”

A Physaraia plant, which researchers discovered can change the chemical make-up of the oil in its seeds after the oil is already made.

Phil Bates

By Micah Most, Nebraska Extension summer intern

Making silage is an effective way for many producers to best use the resources available to their operation. However, for some, spoilage and shrink can result in significant loss that can greatly increase the cost of silage fed and impact animal performance. Bagging of silage offers flexibility for operations of all sizes to produce silage while potentially reducing spoilage and shrink loss. The intent of this article is to create familiarity with the concept of bagging silage, describe the process, and outline some of the key advantages and disadvantages to this method of silage production. How Does Silage Bagging Work?

In the bagging system, silage is packed into oxygen and light impermeable plastic sleeves for the ensiling process and long-term storage. The target moisture content for forage going into a bag is 30-40% DM, which is the same range for making silage in a bunker or pile. Silage bags come in many diameters and lengths to suit the needs of different operations; 8 ft in diameter and 150 ft long is a common small bag size. While density of silage impacts the capacity of a bag, this size will hold between 100-150 tons (as-fed). Bags that are 10 ft diameter and 300 ft long are also commonly used and will hold between 350 to 450 tons (as-fed). The Silage Bag Capacity Guide from the University of Wisconsin can help you determine potential capacity of various sizes (bag diameter and length) and packing densities.

Packing silage into the bags may be accomplished via pulltype or self-propelled baggers. For operations that plan to bag silage themselves, the pull-type is more affordable. Used models can be found for $20,000 to $40,000. Self-propelled silage baggers are typically owned by custom silage bagging operations or operations that make a lot of silage, since they are often 10 times the cost of pull-type baggers.

In the bagging process, silage is unloaded from a standard silage trailer onto a belt conveyor that carries it into the rotor of the bagger. From there, it is mechanically packed into the bag. Cables along each side of the bag run from the bagger to a backstop to allow for control of packing density. The bagger is moved forward by the operator as the bag fills and the desired density is achieved. Many video examples are available on the internet. When ready for use, silage is fed out of the bag in the same way it is fed from a traditional bunker silo.

What are the Advantages?

The primary advantage of bagging silage is that it reduces exposure to oxygen. This effectively eliminates the uncovered period between packing and covering the pile/bunker with plastic that occurs in a traditional system. In general, this period can result in about 5 to 7% loss (of the total amount of silage produced). For those who don’t have the labor to cover a bunker or pile, this can be an even bigger saving, with losses from surface spoilage ranging from 10 to 20% of the total silage. Those that use piles will see the biggest losses because they have more surface area exposed, and thus a greater advantage in switching to bagging. Beyond the shrink loss (disappearance of silage DM), the spoiled silage layer that remains when silage is not covered is about 22% lower in digestibility than unspoiled silage and appears to negatively affect the rumen environment. The Kansas State University study Effect of Level of Surface Spoiled Silage on the Nutritive Value of Corn Silage-Based Rations (2000) and UNL Beef Systems Specialist Dr. Mary Drewnoski’s Silage Guidelines Market Journal interview (2017) explain that feeding spoiled silage impacts rumen environment and digestibility of other feeds. Proper use of silage bags can help prevent feeding spoiled silage and the resulting disruption of rumen function.

The other major advantage of bags is the small feed-out face, which minimizes feed-out spoilage. For many cowcalf operations and smaller backgrounding operations, the reduction in feed-out losses can be quite large upon converting their systems from silage bunker/piles to silage bags. When well-managed, feed-out losses in bunkers can be 3% or less. To achieve this, however, at least 5 inches need to be removed from the entire face each day in the winter and 8 inches in the summer. If removal rates are less, even with proper removal technique (keeping the face tight), a loss of 10% of the silage or more, depending on outside temperature, can occur. These estimates don’t account for the loss of feeding value for the silage that remains.

What are the Disadvantages?

One of the chief concerns of silage bags is that, while they are impervious to oxygen and light, bags can be dam-

Should you be considering silage bags?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C18

aged. Holes and punctures must be sealed quickly and properly to avoid spoilage. Many bags come with repair kits, and specially designed vinyl repair tapes are widely available-duct tape is unfortunately not acceptable for repairs since it is oxygen permeable. It takes skill and practice to successfully pack a smooth, dense bag, which places significant responsibility on the silage bagger operator to carefully monitor rate of filling. Some companies have created bags with lines that appear when stretched which allow for a quick visual estimate of fill to make this task easier.

Another less obvious complication is the disposal of used silage bags. You can check with your local waste disposal service, landfill, or Natural Resources District to inquire about recycling opportunities like this one in the Lower Republican District. Additionally, in Nebraska, Delta Plastics offers free pickup of used bags provided they are rolled tightly and surpass 40,000 lb. (20 tons) of plastic. It is preferred that the bags are loaded in a box van. Delta Plastics designated pickup locations in the state include Scottsbluff, Bridgeport, Minden, Gibbon, Chapman, and York. Contact Delta Plastics at (800) 277-9172 or recycling@deltaplastics. com for more information.

Summary

Bagging silage can reduce spoilage/shrink loss, especially for those that do not cover their silage bunkers or piles with plastic.

Switching to bags can reduce feed-out losses and improve the feed value of silage. This is especially true for those that do not remove 5 to 8 inches of silage off the face of the bunker or pile each day when feeding.

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North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean is home to the Sentinelese, the last known Stone Age tribe on earth. The tribe has had little contact with the outside world, and they are hostile to outsiders. In 2006, the Sentinelese killed two fisherman whose boat drifted onto their shores and fired arrows at the helicopter sent to retrieve the bodies.

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In 1965 the NFL awarded Atlanta its first pro sports franchise. But the new team had competition in the popular football programs at Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia. To lure fans from both groups, the owners considered combining Tech’s Yellow Jackets with UGA’s Bulldogs, and naming the team the Yellow Dogs. Bonus: “Yellow Dog” was also a term for anti-Union Southern Democrats after the Civil War. The owners ultimately decided to have a fan vote, and Falcons won out.

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Thinking outside the box

The first Earth Day, celebrated by 20 million people in April 1970, not only led to the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency, it also launched an unusual contest.

A Chicago-based cardboard-box company called Container Corporation of America (CCA), a pioneer in manufacturing recycled products, was looking for a simple design to print on all of their recycled boxes. Inspired by the success of Earth Day, Bill Lloyd, the graphic designer at CCA, decided to advertise the contest nationally at America’s high schools and colleges. “As inheritors of the Earth, they should have their say,” he said.

In Lloyd’s grand vision, the winning design would be more than a symbol printed on CCA’s boxes; it would serve as a symbol to promote the nationwide recycling movement. First prize: a $2500 scholarship to the winner’s choice of colleges. More than 500 entries came in from students all over the nation.

The winner: Gary Anderson, a 23-year-old graduate student at USC. He drew his inspiration from 19th-century mathematician August Ferdinand Mobius, who noted that a strip of paper twisted once and joined at the tips formed a continuous one-sided surface. Commonly referred to as a “Mobius strip,” the geometric shape has since shown up in engineering (conveyor belts that last twice as long) and in popular art, such as M.C. Escher’s fantasy-based woodcuts “Mobius Strip I” and “Mobius Strip II (Red Ants).”

It was that combination of practicality and art – along with the recycling-friendly notion that everything eventually returns to itself – that put Anderson’s design at the top of the contest finalists. “I wanted to suggest both the dynamic –things are changing – and the static equilibrium, a permanent kind of thing,” he later recalled. (After the design was chosen as the winner, Bill Lloyd altered it slightly; he darkened the edges and rotated the arrows 60 degrees so the interior of the symbol resembled a pine tree. In Anderson’s version, one of the pointy ends faced down.)

CCA attempted to trademark the recycling symbol, but after they allowed other manufacturers to use it for a small fee, the trademark application was held for further review. Rather than press the matter, Lloyd and the CCA decided that a petty legal battle over such a positive message was a bad idea. So they dropped the case and allowed Anderson’s creation to fall into the public domain. The three arrows have since come to represent the three components of conservation: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.

Although anyone is free to use the recycling symbol as part of an advertising campaign, its use to advertise a commercial product’s recycling properties is strictly regulated by the Federal Trade Commission’s “Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.” There are several variations, but here are the symbol’s two main classifications.

Recycled: If the arrows are surrounded by a solid black circle, then the product is made from previously recycled material. A percentage displayed in the center of the symbol denotes how much of the product was made from recycled material. (If no percentage is denoted, it is 100% recycled.

Recyclable: If the arrows are not surrounded by a circle, then the product is recyclable, but only if the “regulations and/or ordinances of your local community provide for its collections.”

Four decades later, Gary Anderson remains active in the green movement. After earning a Ph.D. in geography and environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1985, the architect-by-trade has spent the bulk of his career as an urban planner with a focus on controlled growth. When asked how it feels to have created one of the most popular symbols in the world, Anderson tries to downplay his accomplishment, but admits that it’s “pretty neat.” #####

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Alfalfa weevil surging in alfalfa fields

By Pin-Chu Lai - Extension Entomologist | Julie Peterson - Extension Entomologist | Jeff Bradshaw - Director of the Doctor of Plant Health Professional Program, UNL

As temperatures warmed up in the past weeks, producers in southeast, south-central and central Nebraska have noticed alfalfa weevil activities in alfalfa fields, with multiple sizes of larvae that may have come from overwintering adults and eggs laid in the previous fall that were able to survive the winter (Figure 1).

Producers growing high quality alfalfa hay should make time to scout alfalfa fields for weevils now and over the next few weeks. Severe alfalfa weevil feedings will make the crop look droughty. Producers are recommended to use the economic thresholds (Table 1) to make decisions on insecticide application.

Alfalfa weevil has become a significant issue for the past few years. Alfalfa weevil feeding on leaves can reduce hay yield and quality. The feeding of weevil larvae can skeletonize or defoliate the first cutting alfalfa, which causes the most significant economic loss. However, both adults and larvae can feed on the regrowth after the first cutting. If regrowth does not begin within four or five days, scout for weevil larvae and adults and treat the field when necessary.

Alfalfa Weevils

Life Cycle

Most alfalfa weevils overwinter as adults, become active as temperatures increase and lay eggs. After summer estivation, some

adults may lay eggs in the stem during fall. If winter is not too severe, eggs will successfully overwinter. These eggs will hatch earlier than those laid in spring.

Overwintering eggs are common within alfalfa fields in Kansas and Oklahoma. While we do not have direct evidence to prove that weevil eggs overwinter in Nebraska, multiple sizes of larvae co-occurring with adults in the early spring when only adult emergence is expected strongly suggests the success of eggs surviving through winter in Nebraska.

The weevil larvae progress through four instars — the first two instars chew holes in the upper leaves, while the third and fourth instars cause the most damage to the crop by feeding between leaf veins, resulting in skeletonization or defoliation.

Scouting and Economic Thresholds

Alfalfa weevil damage consists of small holes and interveinal feeding on the newest leaflets near the stem tips. The larvae are small (1/16- to 3/8-inch long) and pale yellowish-green, becoming a darker green when larger. These legless worms have black heads and a white stripe the length of the back (Figure 1). The alfalfa weevil larvae spend nearly all their time on the plant. They curl into a C-shape when disturbed. Once the alfalfa is high enough to use a sweep net, take a sample to establish whether weevils are present. If they are, randomly select at least five sampling sites from across the entire field. At each site, gently pick or cut at least 10 alfalfa stems at ground level. Shake the larvae off the stems by beating the stems into a deep-sided bucket. Count the larvae and determine the average number of larvae per stem. Make sure to check for small larvae that may be enclosed in new, folded leaflets at the tips of the stems. Measure stem lengths and determine the average stem height. Use these averages to find economic thresholds in Table 1 to determine the appropriate action.

CONTINUED ON PAGE C24

Figure 1. Adult and small- to medium-sized larvae of the alfalfa weevil. Photo by Julie Peterson.

National Catfish Day

Date When Cel -

ebrated: This holiday is always on June 25. Something’s fishy today. It’s a day to enjoy some tasty, fried catfish. Or, enjoy catfish cooked to your favorite recipe......yummy.

Guess who said: “More and more Americans are discovering a uniquely American food delicacy -- farm-raised catfish.”

You should have no doubt what to do today. Enjoy a plateful of catfish, cooked

anyway you want. Chances are, you will eat farm raised catfish, which supplies the vast majority of catfish to the U.S. market. But, wouldn’t it be much more fun to fish in the morning, and catch the catfish you will eat?

The Origin of National Catfish Day: Yes, today is truly a National day!

On June 25, 1987, President Ronald Reagan began a presidential proclamation with the words “More and more Americans are discovering a uniquely American food delicacy — farm-raised catfish.”

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Chlorpyrifos products can be used in 2024 for insect pest management

By Adam Varenhorst, Associate Professor & SDSU Extension Field Crop Entomologist. Additional Authors: Patrick Wagner, Stephen Robertson, Amanda Bachmann, Philip Rozeboom

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (abbreviated as EPA) recently announced that currently registered insecticide products with the active ingredient chlorpyrifos will be legal to use on labeled crops during the 2024 growing season. According to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture; Natural Resources Pesticide Product Search and Kelly Registration Systems, there are currently twenty products with the active ingredient chlorpyrifos that are registered for use in South Dakota. Of those 20 products, 15 are used for control of agricultural, insect pests. These products include 13 liquid and two granular formulations. As a reminder, labels for these products must be followed regarding application rates and the total amount of active ingredient that is allowed per acre during a single season.

As a reminder, the EPA revoked all food tolerances for chlorpyrifos in August 2021 due to an April 2021 order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In November 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a ruling vacating the EPA’s final rule. This was in part because the 2021 decision for food tolerances did not provide an opportunity for public comments or further fact-finding and because a Proposed Interim Decision (abbreviated as PID) issued by the EPA in 2020 (providing chlorpyrifos safety tolerances for 11 crops) was not finalized before

the Nineth Circuits ruling.

The legal use of chlorpyrifos during the 2024 growing season has the potential to be very beneficial for sunflower farmers in South Dakota for the management of pyrethroid-resistant red sunflower seed weevils. Per the current labels, products with the active ingredient chlorpyrifos should not be applied more often than once every seven to 10 days. In addition, you should not apply more than six pints of chlorpyrifos products per acre during a single growing season. No more than three applications of chlorpyrifos products should be made to a single field during a single growing season.

Chlorpyrifos is highly toxic to bees that are directly exposed to the treatment or remaining residuals on flowering plants. Per the labels, “Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to blooming crops or weeds if bees are visiting the treatment area.” This indicates that application timing must occur when pollinators are not actively foraging on sunflowers and will not be exposed to residuals during foraging activities.

The EPA will likely issue a new PID for the 11 crops that were identified in the 2020 PID. Of the 11 identified crops, alfalfa, soybean, and wheat (spring and winter) are important for South Dakota agriculture. Sunflower and corn were not included in the 2020 PID.

Alfalfa weevil surging in alfalfa fields

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C22

Economic thresholds have been developed to aid decision making on alfalfa weevil control (Table 1). These thresholds were derived by North Dakota State University entomologists (Beauzay et al. 2013) from a two-year study conducted at the UNL Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead in 1990 and 1991 (Peterson et al. 1993). These guidelines can fluctuate depending on growing conditions and variety.

Deciding whether to treat or re-sample depends on the average number of weevils per stem, the stem length, treatment costs and the value of the alfalfa. When alfalfa reaches 50% or more bud stage, it may be more profitable to cut the alfalfa early than treat it.

Insecticides

Because natural enemies of alfalfa weevil (e.g., lady beetles and parasitoid wasps) have the potential to keep weevils from reaching economic injury levels, use insecticides only when necessary.

resistance to multiple pyrethroid insecticides across the western United States (including Arizona, California, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming). Although resistance has not been confirmed in Nebraska, some producers have noticed poor control with pyrethroid products, including lambda-cyhalothrin and betacyfluthrin.

It is important to note that because of complications due to overwintering of multiple life-stages of this insect (i.e., adults and eggs), control failures within a region could be the result of insecticide resistance or overwinter survival of eggs, which leads to a continuous early hatching of larvae. Therefore, scouting is necessary, and insecticides should only be applied when weevils exceed the economic thresholds. Pyrethroid insecticides also provide aphid control but can have detrimental effects on beneficial insects.

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Many insecticides are registered to control alfalfa weevil larvae. See the most recent edition of the Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management Management in Nebraska (EC130) for rates and restrictions of commonly used insecticides for alfalfa weevil larval control. They differ in their modes of action and pre-harvest intervals. Previously, highly effective insecticides for alfalfa weevil control included pyrethroids (active ingredient ends in “thrin”), indoxacarb (e.g. Steward), and chlorpyrifos. However, alfalfa weevils have developed

Besides pyrethroids, products containing indoxacarb (e.g., Steward) are effective and more selective. They do not affect most beneficial insects but will not provide aphid control.

Due to the recent reinstatement of food tolerances, existing stocks of products containing chlorpyrifos that are currently labeled for alfalfa in Nebraska can be used, although regulations may change in the near future and should be watched closely. However, chlorpyrifos will have negative impacts on the beneficial insects that keep aphids and other secondary pests under control. #####

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Popeye

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There was a real Olive Oyl, too: Dora Paskel, a shopkeepter in Chester. She was tall and skinny, wore her hair in a bun, and even wore tall, button-up shoes.

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Packing small grain silage when it is too wet

By

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist | Jenny Rees, Nebraska Extension Educator | Gary Lesoing, Former Nebraska Extension Cropping Systems Educator | Erin Laborie, Nebraska Extension Educator | Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Educator | Connor Biehler, Nebraska Extension Educator | Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist | Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension

• Increased early season vigor

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• Convey Technology to help with early season stresses, such as cool soils and excess moisture. It also improves nutrient use efficiency.

• Other essential nutrients target at each specific crop, ie. Boron for cell wall strength; Manganese for efficient photosynthesis.

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• Proactive way of managing the crops nutritional requirement.

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• Speeds up recovery from herbicide hangover - the correct supply of nutrients helps the crop metabolize the herbicide more quickly.

• Contains novel Phosphorus nutrition, providing increased nutrient uptake and movement within the plant.

• Targeted at the reproductive phse of the plant.

• Proactive way of managing the crops utritional requirement

• Contains other essential nutrients targeted for each specific crop, ie. Boron to aid pollen tube growth, Zinc to help produce Auxin, to ensure healthy pollen tube growth.

Small grains are an excellent choice as a double-cropped forage for a spring silage crop. However, making good quality small grain silage takes careful moisture management. Recently, 17 Nebraska producers provided small grain forage samples at harvest and again after fermentation to evaluate changes in nutrient content and the quality. At harvest, 50% of the samples were within the suggested range of target dry matter for small grain silage (30 to 35% DM), 40% were too wet (< 30% DM) and the other 10% were too dry (> 40% DM). The majority (85%) of the producers stated that they had wilted the crop before packing. However, many did not wilt long enough for the forage to dry enough to achieve adequate dry matter content. The likely cause was that the forage on top of the swath began to dry out, while the forage underneath remained wet. The time needed for wilting will depend on the stage of plant maturity and weather conditions. Generally, as the plants mature, they will get drier. Weather conditions such as wind speed, temperature, and the relative humidity can affect the rate of field drying. The combination of these weather variables makes it difficult to determine how long to wilt before chopping and packing. Based on survey data, producers that wilted small grains harvested at boot, heading, or pollination stage for 16 to 24 hours appeared to be more likely to achieve targeted DM content. For later maturities in the milk or soft dough stage, less wilting (0 to 2 hours) seemed to result in desirable results.

So why all the fuss about getting the moisture content right?

Energy (TDN) loss of silage samples ranged from 0 to 17 TDN units from packing to feed out. Samples with greatest TDN loss were too wet at packing. Silage packed too wet had almost 3 times more energy loss than samples packed within the target DM (Table 1). Silage that is packed too wet can have the wrong type of fermentation, in which clostridial bacteria use the nutrients in the forage to grow and produce butyric acid. This reduces the palatability and feed value of the silage. In fact, silage that undergoes clostridial fermentation never becomes preserved and will continue to lose energy content in storage. Thus, it is better to feed the silage as quickly as possible rather than storing it for later use if it was too wet at packing.

Table 1. Impact of moisture at packing of small grain silage on energy (TDN) content of silage after fermentation

Too wet

Within target # of samples 8 10

Avg. DM at packing, %

Can inoculants help?

Fermentation leading to the rapid production of lactic acid results in the least amount of energy lost during fermentation. Of the silage that was packed too wet, TDN loss was 11.2 units for non-inoculated silage vs. 5.9 units for silage that was inoculated. While inoculation appeared to reduce the energy loss, there was still a 10% energy loss of the forage. For silage within the target DM range, there did not appear to be an impact of inoculation on energy loss, likely because loss was already quite low. Reaching the target DM range prior to packing is always best. However, silage inoculants can be useful insurance. There are many different silage inoculants on the market. For small grain silages, the biggest challenge is achieving a rapid drop in pH to preserve the forage. Therefore, using a homolactic acid-based inoculant is recommended.

Garden Pests

Earwigs

Earwigs feed at night and hide during the day under leaves or rubbish. Remove all debris that they can hide under. Fill pots loosely with straw and set these up on canes or poles to entrap them. Shake out the traps daily over a bowl of paraffin or insecticide.

TRACTORS

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2015

WELDER FOR SALE

Tried-and-true methods meet cutting-edge precision agriculture

By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service

Of Montana State University’s seven agricultural research centers, the facility in Havre, the Northern Agricultural Research Center, is the largest by several metrics: acreage, staff and cows.

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When fully staffed, the 7,000-acre center is home to as many as 400 mother cows and about two dozen employees, including four tenure-track faculty and a research scientist. Research programs include two focused on animal science and two focused on crop production. A cropping systems agronomist is charged with intensifying the current wheat, oilseed and pulse systems currently being used in the Golden Triangle area of Montana. NARC is also expanding to include a fifth scientist tasked with conducting research and developing outreach programming focusing on precision agriculture.

Superintendent Darrin Boss, who also serves as the College of Agriculture’s associate dean for research, said the people are what make the center so productive in both research and outreach.

“The support staff at NARC are the most important part, not often seen when the research results are disseminated,” said Boss. “They enable our faculty, graduate students and research support staff to flourish and conduct transformational research that is applicable to our producers.”

Part of the facility, Thackeray Ranch, is a fully operational cattle ranch that studies everything from cattle nutrition and forage quality to precision technology that can tailor feeding and supplementation. Variety trial both on- and off-station test new and old varieties of crops like wheat, barley, pulse crops and oilseeds for yield, quality and resistance to pests and disease.

Sam Wyffels, an assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences, earned his Ph.D. at MSU and spent much of that time as a research assistant at NARC. He still conducts research both in Havre and on the MSU campus in Bozeman. Now in his fifth year as a member of the faculty, he credits the team and facilities at NARC for the productive start to his research, which studies grazing forage for cattle.

“A lot of our lab’s research program is looking at ways of reducing reliance on harvested feeds,” said Wyffels. “Feeding cattle is one of the biggest costs for producers. What kind of management options are there to reduce some of that reliance? The research centers have producer-led advisory councils, so when they meet, there’s always questions of what their needs are. What I’ve always loved about Havre is that it’s applied research that has direct impacts on producers, and even includes active producer involvement.”

a third-generation grain farmer who served on the NARC advisory board for a decade. “They’ve done projects on things like fertilizer rates so they can show producers what to do and what not to do, and it’s nice that they do that because then you don’t have to go out and experiment on your own.”

Cederberg grows spring and winter wheat along with durum on his farm near Turner, about an hour northeast of Havre. In addition to commercial growing, his land has hosted off-station plots overseen by Peggy Lamb, a research scientist at NARC, for more than 40 years. Through such partnerships with producers, each participating farm becomes its miniature research center, providing even more granular information into the performance of crop varieties. On average, Lamb’s on- and off-station variety testing program manages and collects data on over 5,000 plots yearly, benefiting farmers, plant breeders, agricultural commodity groups and the Montana economy.

“It’s nice to have [NARC], because we get to look at all the new grain varieties that come from MSU and how they work in our area,” said Cederberg. “We can compare them to Havre, which is a bit different.”

Cederberg hosts tours of the research plot on his land each year and also attends the NARC annual summer field day. The series of events, held at each of the seven research centers, invites producers and members of the public to share a meal, tour facilities, learn about ongoing projects and offer questions or feedback. The eight-stop field day series this summer will begin with the Havre event on Thursday, June 20 at 3 p.m.

And while the field days are always worthwhile to attend, Cederberg said the faculty and staff at NARC have made local producers feel welcome to call or visit with questions or feedback at any time, not just one day every summer.

“Their goal is just to make farmers more efficient and better farmers, and I think they do the job,” he said. “And they’re always so open. When you come through the door, you’re No. 1. They’ll drop everything to answer your questions and help you out. There’s always advice or help at the other end of a phone call.”

Helping to make operations more efficient has indeed become a focal point of programming at the center. NARC has been conducting field research since 1914 but has modernized with the times. Recently, Boss and colleagues conducted an eight-year study integrating cover crops into a wheatbased cropping system that examined both yield and soil health, as well as the impacts of cattle grazing those alternative forage sources.

2019 Case 850M WT 810 hours, enclosed cab with heat and AC, cloth air ride seat, AM/FM radio, cab sweeps, 5 shank ripper, 124” PAT blade, Leica iCONgrade iCP32 machine control system, like new condition, just serviced, needs nothing, very clean dozer. Located in Spearfish, SD. $139,900 2017 Bobcat S740 2370+- hours, enclosed cab with heat and A/C, joy stick controls with pattern changer, nice solid deal tires, HiFlow auxiliary hydraulics, auxiliary electrics, 3100 lbs operating capacity, 6200 lbs tip load, has been through the shop, all repairs have been done, just serviced, very clean and tight machine. Located in Spearfish, SD. $43,500

Wyffels’ work examines grazing season length and cattle nutrition, with exploration into how forage can be supplemented by other dietary elements to ensure that herds receive all the nutrients they need. MSU’s research centers, and NARC specifically, allow faculty to delve into the questions that are most important to farmers and ranchers within Montana, allowing for further precision through regional specificity, he said.

Havre, for example, is lower in elevation than many areas of the state, with a relatively arid climate and cold winters. Having a research center along the northern tier of the state allows for focused information that producers can implement directly on their operations.

“They’re always asking for input. People make suggestions or ask questions, and they always listen,” said Max Cederberg,

As agricultural producers cope with increases in production costs, they have to find alternatives to reduce inputs, regardless of whether they produce grains or livestock, said Boss. He noted that this research has made a significant impact across Montana, as producers look to use alternative forages and allow the cattle to graze longer into the fall and winter months.

In response to both producer demand and the College of Agriculture’s prioritization of a new precision agriculture program, a new layer of research is evaluating cuttingedge agricultural technologies with a twopronged goal: to potentially implement them in on-station research and to provide guidance and information for producers who may be interested in integrating them. GrowSafe and C-Lock Smartfeed sys-

Great

Lewistown Sales:

“PRICE DROP” on Equipment

AIR CART

Morris 9650 air cart, Loup Elite monitors, 17” dual fan, 10” hydraulic assist auger with extension hopper, full bin, LED lights, 4 course, 4 medium, 1 fine seed plates. stk# 30154.(L)

TRACTORS

New Holland TN95 FA tractor. stk# 26075. $21,900 (L)

New Holland TS130A tractor. stk# 31403. (L) Massey Ferguson GC1720TLB tractor. stk# 19254. $20,723 (G)

John Deere 9520 tractor, new tires, 4 remotes, buddy seat, Trimble GPS, hydraulic steering. stk# 31467. $174,500 (L)

Steiger PT225 tractor. stk# 20554.$25,000 (G) Bobcat CT2025 HST tractor. stk# 29350. $24,000 (L)

New Holland SP310F sprayer, 1200 gallon, WeedIt System, Mono Boom, 120-ft., 5-way nozzles, auto rinse, ISO, Full GPS. stk# 24818. (L) New Holland SF115 sprayer. stk# 28655. $12,000 (G)

BALE PROCESSORS

Haybuster 2650 processor. stk# 30759. $18,000 (G)

Haybuster S2000 square bale processor. stk# 31321. $9900 (G)

Vermeer BPX9010 R&S processor, 1000 PTO, right hand discharge. stk# 29565. (L)

Vermeer BPX9010R processor. stk# 29561.(L)

Vermeer BPX8000 round only. stk# 11189. $17,000 (L)

Bale King 5100 processor, round only, right hand discharge. stk# 29070 $14,900 (G)

CONSTRUCTION

Bobcat E42 Mini Excavator. stk# 29370. $85,250 (G)

Bobcat E35 Mini Excavator, 33 hp. stk# 29371. $82,650 (G)

Bobcat E35 Mini Excavator, 25 hp. stk# 29373. $73,900 (G)

Bobcat T76 Compact Track Loader. stk# 29377. $89,900 (G)

Bobcat T740 Compact Track Loader, Power Bobtach, 7 pin, dual direction bucket positioning, ride control, reverse fan. stk# 29376. $69,900 (G)

Bobcat S740 Skidsteer. stk# 29380. $60,500 (G)

Bobcat 773 skidsteer. stk#31453. $16,500 (G)

JCB 3TS-8T Compact Track Loader. stk# 31427 (L)

TILLAGE

Gates 84-ft. Magnum 5 bar harrow, 26x9/16 teeth with carbides, hydraulic tine adjust., excellent condition. stk# 31435. (G) McFarLane HD30 harrow, 30-ft. charted chain drag harrows. stk# 31634. $7500 (L)

$3600 (G)

Quick Attach Sledge Pounder skidsteer mount. stk# 29228

JCB 48” pallet fork. stk# 31522. $850 (G)

Bobcat 55” utility grapple. stk# 31397. (G)

Bobcat 80” HD bucket with cutting edge. stk# 28303. (G)

Bobcat 80 dozer blade. stk# 31340.$5965 (G)

Bobcat 8B wood chipper, lightly used, skidsteer attachment, two side attachment, hydraulic drive. stk#31613 (G)

High Volume 66” bucket, skid steer attachment. stk# 29035. $650 (G)

SWATHERS

New Holland 260 swather, full GPS, DLX cab, suspended axle/cab, single caster, LED lights, DLX mirrors, 419 header. stk# 25673. COMING SOON (L)

Case IH WD 2303 swather with RD 193 disc header and DH253 draper header. stk# 23735. COMING SOON (L)

Case IH WD 2303 swather with RD193 disc header. stk# 23808. COMING SOON (L)

Vermeer TM1410 swing tongue with floats, 2 remotes, electric, hydraulic kits, 1000 PTO. stk# 29072. (G)

NEW Kirchner 8-ft plow, Cat II, 3-pt. unit with 16” sweeps. stk# 30802. (L) Gysler 46-ft. plow with roller harrow. stk# 28579. $10,950 (L) 9-ft. V-plow. stk# 26357. $700 (G)

RAKES

NEW New Holland 1631 rake, 16 wheel high capacity, single side opening, 60”, rear tandems, rear hydraulic opening. stk# 28671.(G)

Vermeer R2800 28-ft. rake. stk# 30963. (L) H&S MK14 14 wheel rake. stk# 31155. $12,000 (L)

Hesston 12 wheel rake. stk# 30919. $15,000 (L)

HEADERS

MacDon FD140D header. stk# 31005 (G) MacDon D65D header. stk# 25890. $25,000 (G)

MacDon PW8 pickup header, 16-ft. wide. stk# 31025. (G) COMBINES

LAWNMOWERS

Grasshopper 928D riding mower. stk# 30874. $9900 (G) Grasshopper 729BT riding mower. stk# 15503. (G) Grasshopper 725G2 riding mower, 48” powerfold deck, liquid cooled gas engine, front mount. stk# 7186. $5000 (G) John Deere Z345M riding mower, 42” deck. stk# 31174. (G)

Case 7088 combine with 36-ft. Honey Bee header. Stk# 31379 & 31380. (G)

ROUND BALERS

New Holland RB560 ISO with monitor, endless belts, net/twine, 1000 PTO. stk# 22245. (L)

Case IH RB565 baler, ISO, laced belts, x-wide pickup, casters, roller windguard, large flotation tires, net/twine. stk# 22476. (L)

Case IH RB564 round baler, wide pickup, laced belts, non ISO, moisture monitor, net/twine, 1000 PTO. stk#23763. $25,000 (G)

Case IH RB564 net/twine, x-wide pickup, 1000 PTO, laced belts. stk# 30758. $19,000 (L)

Case IH RBX563 baler, net/twine, 1000 PTO, narrow pickup. stk# 31437. $8500 (L)

Case IH RBX562 net/twine, Xwide pickup, small tires, 1000 PTO, laced belts, Bale Command, declutcher no moisture. stk# 31699. (L)

Vermeer 605L round baler, twine only, 540 PTO, bale kicker, hay saver wheels. stk# 21490. $8000 (G)

Vermeer 605N baler, 1000 PTO, net/twine/ clutch. stk#25853. (G)

John Deere 569 net/twine, 1000 PTO, large flotation tires, hydraulic kicker. stk# 30997.(L) John Deere 568 baler, twine, 1000 PTO, roller windguard, large float tires. stk# 31510. $15,500 (G)

Hesston 956A twine only. stk# 9821.$5900 (G)

Hesston 856A stk# 22105 $4900 (G)

MISCELLANEOUS

hex head. stk# 29016 $1800 (G)

Woods BS3044E balespear. stk# 23716. $600 (G) Toro 34225 stand on spreader. stk# 25200. $5000 (G)

AUGER

J & K Log Homes

First cutting alfalfa

By Todd Whitney, UNL

First cutting alfalfa harvest usually begins when accumulated growing degree days reach between 700to 750 GDD’s. For central Nebraska, our Useful to Useable (U2U) crop development model predicts that alfalfa fields will peg harvest stages between May 27 to May 30. So, prepare now for first cutting harvest. Moving forward, if the first cutting is delayed after one-tenth bloom or later; then, potential alfalfa regrowth will be removed with the first cutting; thus, delaying the next hay crop. This cutting timing strategy provides a compromise between maximizing forage production versus retaining nutritional quality declining as alfalfa stems mature.

In fields, where irrigation has not been an option, soils that lack moisture will likely result in disappointing first cutting forage yields. In addition to drought, insect damage may have caused premature leaf loss; thus, requiring early cutting before alfalfa crown regrowth or one-tenth bloom to salvage what remains.

For most parts of the state, recent rainfall and warm weather may have stimulated rapid alfalfa growth; this means those needing dairy quality forage may need to cut hay soon. First cutting alfalfa hay quality declines quicker compared to the second, third, or fourth cuttings.

For those wanting to maximize quantity and replenish hay reserves, delaying harvest just a little longer until almost full bloom will likely result in higher yields. Alfalfa will be more efficient using available soil moisture if cutting is delayed until bloom but likely reduce total season cuttings. If your operation needs more roughage tonnage, delaying cutting for higher yield and lower quality is better. However, if higher protein content is needed, then earlier cutting will produce a higher quality hay. Remember, though, that continually cutting alfalfa at the early pre-bud stage will weaken plants and potentially increase weedy conditions.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C30 tems are two such precision data collection technologies that can collect real-time information on health in cattle to assist in making recommendations for adjustments to supplements or feed.

“There’s a lot of stuff out there from a research standpoint that can really help us capture animal behavior or whatever your research metrics are at a really fine scale that we didn’t have before,” Wyffels said. “But a lot of these products are also available commercially for producers, which means that one of the nice things we can offer is a test bed. We can offer some input on what these technologies are and how to integrate them, help direct some decision making.” Wyffels echoed Cederberg’s appreciation for collaboration across the research centers and local agricultural communities. From the time he arrived in Havre to begin his research in 2019, Wyffels said the connections and communication of needs, ideas and questions has led to better, more productive research, along with strong relationships that extend across the state.

“I think what’s unique about NARC is that you come up with an idea, you pitch that idea and other folks have things they can add to it,” said Wyffels. “You come up with a more collective, larger project than if I stayed within my specific lane without bringing anyone else in. I think it’s the recipe for success.”

For Boss, who has worked at the research center for 30 years and has been the superintendent for 14, now is a particularly exciting time at NARC. Two new faculty members, Hannah Speer and Ricardo Pinto, are taking research in new directions, which Boss said is exactly the mission of the research centers. Speer, who joined the faculty in January, is developing a research program focusing on beef cattle range nutrition, while Pinto, who will begin later this year, will use satellite data to interpret severity of wheat stem sawfly outbreaks, allowing producers to have one more tool in the toolbox.

“During the interview process, producers who aided in the search resonated with both Drs. Speer and Pinto. That kind of trust, engagement and connection in a very short period of time is what it is really all about when you work at a research center in Montana,” said Boss. “Generating solid data that helps the producers of today be successful and pass their operations on to the next generations of Montana producers is paramount across our state.”

NEW 2023 STOCK TRAILERS

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Dad: “What do you want for dinner?”

Son: “I feel like spaghetti.”

Dad: “That’s funny, you don’t look like a spaghetti...”

Managing twins

By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension news service

Anyone who’s ever lived in a house with newborn twins knows they can be a lot of work to take care of. When twin births happen in the beef herd, it often brings about special management considerations, say the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.

Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, K-State assistant professor of animal welfare Eduarda Bortoluzzi and K-State veterinarian Bob Larson discussed steps producers should take in managing twins.

“Twins in beef herds are more common than people might think,” Bortoluzzi said. “But they need to be watched closely in the first 24 hours to make sure both calves get colostrum from the dam.”

Larson added the biggest concern with twin births is that both calves will not get adequate nutrition early on in life.

“I recommend separating the cow and her twins away from the rest of the herd so they can be closely monitored,” Larson said.

If the cow isn’t accepting both calves or she cannot produce enough milk to adequately nourish the twins, then it might be time to consider grafting the calf to another cow that has recently lost her calf or hand-raising one of the twins by bottle-feeding them, Larson said.

“Oftentimes twins are not born the same size and so one of them tends to be more rigorous than the other,” Larson said. He also said producers need to make sure both calves are thriving.

“A calf that is thriving will get up and run around to play, while one that isn’t is slow to get up and just lacks energy,” Larson said.

To make it easier to monitor the twins, Bortoluzzi recommends putting the cows with twins in the same pasture as the first-calf heifers.

“By grouping the cows with twins in the heifer pasture, producers can easily make sure the twins are eating well and maintaining good health,” Bortoluzzi said.

#####

With great reflexes…comes great response ability.

COMBINES

2023 John Deere X9 1100 with Ulitmate cab package, Active Yield, Ultimate suspension, Signature edition, ProDrive XL transmission, Gen 4 4600 command center, DynaFlo cleaning shoe, 31ft. folding unloading auger, extra fine chopper, 650/85R38 tires with duals, VF750/65R26 rear tires. Stock #87665

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2016 John Deere S680 small grain, 2WD, singles, chopper, yield monitor, lateral tilt feederhouse, Performance Plus, extra high capacity air cleaner. Stock #89787

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2012 John Dere S670 with ProDrive, HD hi-torq fixed speed drive, Tri-Stream rotor, 26-ft. unload auger, Advanced PowerCast tailboard, fine cut chopper, power fold grain tank cover. Stock #86871

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2008 John Deere 9770STS with AutoTrac ready, 800R38 singles, chopper with PowerCast tailboard, 22.5-ft. unloading auger, 3 speed transmission, no CM, fixed speed feederhouse, high lift cylinders, premium cab. Stock #87014 $97,000 (14)

2023 John Deere S780 with premium cab package, ProDrive transmission, with HarvestSmart, Kondex extra wear, Tri-Stream rotor, extended wear grain handling, power folding GT covers, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, 750/65R26 tires, 580/85R43 front tires with duals, side hill performance package. Stock #88922

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2021 John Deere S780 with premium cab, Active Yield, Combine Advisor, guidance, ProDrive transmission, regular wear grain handling, power folding GT covers, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, fine cut chopper, 750/65R26 rear tires, 520/85R42 front tires with duals, side hill performance package handling. Stock #88013

2019 John Deere S780 with premium cab with leather, LED lights, guidance, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, ProDrive transmission with Harvest Smart, TriStream rotor, power folding covers, 28.5-ft. unloading, fine cut chopper, 520/85R42 tires with duals, side hill performance package. Stock #85868

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2020 John Deere S780 with premium cab, LED lights and extremity lights, SF6000, Combine Advisor, Active Yield and moisture sensor, ProDrive with HarvestSmart, Tir-Stream Rotor with extended wear package, power folding grain tank covers, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, fine cut chopper with PowerCast tailboard.

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2020 John Deere S780 with no receiver, Contour Master with fore & aft, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, 580/85R42 duals, 750/65R26, TriStream rotor, Advanced PowerCast tailboard, power folding tank covers, 4600 display with AutoTrac activation, small grain windboard in shoe, standard light with extremity, 28.5-ft. unloading auger. Stock #86657

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2019 John Deere S780 with premium cab, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, ProDrive transmission with HarvestSmart, TriStream rotor with extended wear package, power folding GT covers, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, fine cut chopper with Advanced PowerCast tailboard, 12” axle extensions, side hill performance package, large single tires. Stock #84959

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#87942 #88922

4WD, ROW CROP AND UTILITY TRACTORS

Spring is here! Check out our selection of good used tractors for your farming and ranching needs this coming spring and summer!

HAY PRODUCTS

Check out our large selection of round balers, square balers, mower conditioners, and windrowers to meet your haying needs for the upcoming haying season.

ROUND BALERS

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2018 John Deere 9520RX with 520/362 hp, 4WD, cab, 18/6 PowerShift, 30” DuraBuilt 6500 (with poly mid rollers), 5 SCVs, no 3-point, 1000 PTO, premium radio, premium CVIII cab with suspension, no ACS, Hi-Flo hydraulics, Cat 5 drawbar, electric mirrors, premium lighting, 4600 command center with activation, no SF6000. Stock #89082

2021 John Deere 6130R tractor with premium cab, 620R loader, bucket, grapple, 24 speed AutoQuad, MFWD with TLS, 3 electric SCV’s, 540/1000 PTO, 4200 display, front fenders, 460/85R38 rear tires, 340/85R28 front tires, rear wheel weights. Stock #88926 $170,000 (11)

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2019 John Deere 560M round baler with surface wrap only, 1000 PTO, 5-ft. bale, 21.5L-16.1 10 ply tires, MegaWide Plus pickup, bale push bar. Stock #90299

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2015 John Deere 569 round baler with surface wrap only, 1000 PTO, 5-ft. bale, 21.5L-16.1 10 ply tires, MegaWide Plus pickup, bale push bar. Stock #90297

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2008 John Deere 7630 with cab, MFWD, IVT, guidance ready, 540/1000 PTO, singles, deluxe Command View cab and Command ARM with John Deere Active seat, AutoTrac ready, left hand reverser, control and field cruise, deluxe comfort package, 3 deluxe rear remote cylinder control valves with electro-hydraulic controls, 480/80R46 rear tires, JD loader with bucket and grapple. Stock #90104

2005 John Deere 7820 with SGB, MFWD, IVT, 3 SCVs, dual speed PTO, front fenders, rear weights, 480/80R42 rear tires, JD loader with bucket and grapple. Stock #90105

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2022 John Deere 6215R with IVT Command Pro transmission (40K), AutoTrac ready, 680R loader with grapple and loader lights, front suspension, Ultimate cab, cab suspension, Panorama glass roof with premium lights, 4600 display with AutoTrac activation, no receiver, 480/80R50 rear single tires, 420/85R34 front tires, front fenders, 18 front weights, 1800 lbs. rear weights, Cold Start II fuel heater, 3-point Quick Coupler. Stock #88841

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2023 John Deere 6155M with 20/20 CommandQuad+, standard cab and seat, TLS, 114L/Min hydraulic pump, 4 SCVs, electronic joystick, PTO, 520/85R38 rear tires, 420/85R28 front tires, front fenders, MCS Plus, cold start package, 660R loader with bucket and grapple. Stock #90445

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2023 John Deere 6R 145 with 20 speed AQ, front suspension, 4200 display with AutoTrac activation, no receiver, AutoTrac ready, 640 R loader with grapple and lights, cab suspension, Panorama glass roof with premium light package, heated rear window, 3 rear E-SCV 540E/1000/1000E PTO, dual 480/80R42 rear with fender extension (1800 lbs wheel weights) 420/85R28 front with turntable fenders, Cold Start II fuel heater, 3 pt quick coupler. Stock #88833 $219,000 (14)

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2004 John Deere 6715 with standard cab, MFWD, PowrQuad 16/16 with LH reverser, 18.4x38 rear, 14.9x24 front tires, 3 SCVs, rear PTO 540/1000, loader with bucket. Stock #82997 $38,000 (15)

2008 John Deere 6330 with MFWD, 105 hp, 16/16 PowrQuad+ with LHR, 540/1000 PTO, 3-point hitch, vertical exhaust, loader, 2 SCVs, 18.4x34 rear. Stock #90034 $57,500 (14)

1989 John Deere 4455 with cab, MFWD, PowerShift, 540/1000, single tires, 3 hydraulics, 12 front weights, 7117 hours. Stock #90169

$60,000 (12)

1983 John Deere 4250 tractor, 2WD, no loader, QuadRange transmission, 18.438 single rear tires, 2 SCVs, 2 speed PTO. Stock #90083 $36,500 (11) 2009 Case IH Puma 180 with 180 hp, new 480/80R42 singles, fronts are 95%, Case IH L770 self leveling loader, with bucket and grapple, Powershift, suspended cab, 3 SCVs, 540/1000 PTO, Cat 3 3-point, very nice tractor. Stock #89080

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2022 John Deere 560M round baler with 1000 PTO, 21.5-16.1 tires, MegaWide pickup, pushbar, surface wrap and twine, hydraulic pickup lift. Stock #88053

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2022 John Deere 560M round baler with 1000 PTO, large tires, MegaWide pickup, push bar, surface wrap, hydraulic pickup lift, grease bank. Stock #89537

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1995 John Deere 535 round baler with twine only, 540 PTO, push bar, converging wheels, gauge wheels, 11L-14 tires. Stock #84420 $5000 (1)

2014 Massey-Ferguson 2956 round baler with wide pickup, both twine and surface wrap, 540 PTO, 5-ft. wide bale, bale kicker, auto cycle, 21.5L-16.1 tires. Stock #90427

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2018 John Deere 560M round baler with precutter, 1000 PTO, 21.5L-16.1 tires, twine/net, MegaWide pickup, pickup gauge wheels, bale accumulator. Stock #81836

WINDROWERS

2013 John Deere W150 windrower with 16-ft. auger platform, steel conditioner, cab with A/C, button tires. Stock #86133 $89,000 (3)

2016 MacDon M205 windrower with 16-ft. R85 head, steel conditioner, dual direction, 653 header hours. Stock #89817 $105,000 (14)

1994 MacDon 9000 hydrostatic windrower with 14-ft. auger head, steel conditioner, cab. Stock #89077 $23,500 (14)

2016 John Deere W235 windrower with 16ft. rotary 995 head, Impeller conditioner, bar tires - 520/85R38 front, 15.5L-16.1 rear, 1166 hours, auxiliary lighting, no GPS. Stock #87286

$147,500 (11)

2019 John Deere W235 windrower with diamond tread tires, no GPS components, includes premium operator’s station, 500R, 16-ft. rotary head with V-10 steel on steel conditioner. Stock #89575

$145,000 (16)

2015 John Deere W235 windrower with Ultimate cab, less display, SF 6000 receiver included, SF1 activation included, Pivot Pro activation included, bar tires, tool box, flex step, 500R rotary head SN 1E0500RSPFF412499, V10 steel conditioner. Stock #89151 $102,500 (16)

1984 Versatile 4400 windrower with 19-ft. draper header, single delivery, batt reel, gas engine, hydro transmission, cab with cooler. Stock #88162 $6000 (1)

2001 Massey-Ferguson 9452 draper, pull type windrower for grain, PTO drive, batt reel, transport wheels. Stock #90322 $7000 (1)

#87286

#88835

#90169

#88783