Traders Dispatch - March 2023

Treasure County and Rosebud CD annual meeting

Treasure County Conservation District and Rosebud Conservation District would like to invite everyone to an afternoon of family fun as they say thank you to the community, The annual banquet will be March 26 at the Hysham school Multipurpose Room from 2pm to 5 pm. Cost is $10 per family .

Entertainment this year will be a magic show by Keith Raymond. There will be gaimes and prizes for the kids an door prizes for the adults so bring the whole family and join the Conservation Districts for an afternoon of fun!

They will be honoring the Conservationist of the year.

Please contact TCCD administrator Angie Stahl at 406342-5510 or 406-200-4165 or Rosebud CD administrator Bobbi Vannattan at 406-351-8012.

PRODUCTION SALES

& Angus, Online ............ A2

Mar 18, Gnerer Angus, Olive MT A4

Mar 20, Whistling Winds Angus, Inc, Hingham MT ....................................... A5

Mar 23, Rough Country Breeders, Martin Red Angus & Koss Angus, Glasgow MT ............................................................................................................... A9

Mar 24, Sun River Red Angus, Great Falls MT A8

Mar 27, Harrer’s Lost Lake Ranch Black Angus, Great Falls MT ................ A11

Mar 31, Open Gate Ranch, Black, Red, Simmental, SimAngus, Augusta MT

Apr 5, Nissen Angus, Chinook MT A17

Apr 5, Sidwell Ranch & Frank Herefords, Columbus MT ............................ A19

Apr 6, Arntzen Angus Ranch, Hilger MT A21

Apr 12, Pass Creek Angus, Wyola MT

Apr 14, Regency Acres, Sidney MT

Apr 19, Milk River Angus, Chinook MT

Apr 29, Roundup Horse Sale, Roundup MT

Signup for conservation funding

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the 30-day open application window, ending on March 20, for farmers, ranchers, and landowners to sign up for USDA conservation funding.

Andi Neugebauer, Acting NRCS State Conservationist in Wyoming, announces that farmers, ranchers, and landowners interested in any of the following programs need to apply by March 20th, for funding in 2023. Applications are being taken at all USDA Service Centers in Wyoming.

-Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) initiativ

- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) IRA initiative

- EQIP Conservation Incentive Contract

- EQIP Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Project in Albany and Carbon counties

- EQIP WaterSMART – Lovell Irrigation District

“The Farm Bill allows NRCS to support conservation that ensures cost-effective financial assistance for improved soil health, water and air quality and other natural resources benefits,” said Neugebauer. “By getting the applications in early, NRCS staff will have time to assist in planning conservation practice needs.”

All eligible applications received by March 20, will be prioritized, evaluated, and ranked for funding in 2023. Farmers may contact their local USDA Service Center to get started on producer eligibility and planning. Neugebauer reminds farmers who are interested in practices that may require permits, such as manure storage or streambank restoration,

Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center student scholarship

Three scholarships of $1000 each will be awarded.

To be eligible, applicants must: Have attended high school in the Panhandle of Nebraska in one of these following counties:

Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Cherry, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Hooker, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, and Thomas

Be attending any of the Nebraska University Campuses, including Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Majoring in Agronomy, Ag Economics,

Animal Science, Vet Science, Agriculture Technology, or a related degree emphasizing agriculture.

Be a graduating high school senior, or in the first or second year of study.

Applications are available at https:// preec.unl.edu/annual-preec-scholarship Please use the Qualtrics Link to Apply https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ eKh4LaBMXFCdAp0

Applications close at midnight MST, April 1, 2023.

If there are questions, please contact Deidra McCarthy at dmccarthy2@unl.edu or at (308-632-1255)

PRIVATE TREATY

Wednesday, March 29

Kim Woodring, MSU Extension agent for Toole county, presented her Agritourism research at Montana’s Next Generation conference in Shelby as a potential means for producers to diversify their income. Photo by Kari Lewis.

Irish Black and Irish Red Bulls, Cows and

Perennial cool-season invasive grasses workshop

“Kentucky bluegrass, smooth bromegrass and crested wheatgrass have invaded rangelands at unheard of levels, regardless of grazing management practices, since a wet cycle started in 1993,” says Shawn DeKeyser, North Dakota State University Natural Resources Management program leader. These invasive grasses reduce biodiversity of native plants, decrease forage quality for grazing livestock during dry summers, reduce forage production, and reduce habitat for pollinator insect species and many bird species.

The Perennial Cool-Season Invasive Grasses of the Northern Great Plains Workshop was developed for land managers and livestock farmers and ranchers in the region to provide updates on the latest research and management options. The workshop will be held March 15-17 at the Memorial Union on the NDSU campus in Fargo.

The workshop will feature presenters from across the Great Plains in the U.S. and Canada. Speakers will address the ecological drivers of invasion, a diversity of management strategies and frequency of management applications.

The NDSU School of Natural Resource Science, NDSU Extension, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA Agriculture Research Service, North Dakota Wildlife Society and the Society for Range Management are hosting the event. The conference will start at 12:45 p.m. on March 15 and wrap up at noon on March 17. The registration fee for the conference is $50 for general admission and $20 for students if paid by February 28, after which both will increase by $25. To learn more about the workshop and register, visit ndsu.ag/ invasivegrasses.

Signup for conservation funding

to begin planning and seeking permits as soon as possible. Special incentives are also available for beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged and other historically underserved customers at increased payment rates.

Are your cows reaching their potential?

Are you tired of chasing numbers trying to get more out of British based cows?

Let’s visit about how a Limousin continental cross can give you that “HETEROSIS” Free Lunch” that you may need. Increase calving ease, weaning weight, milking ability, and longevity.

Real world honest cattle. Backed with customer service. Semen tested and guaranteed. Delivery, semen, and leasing options available.

Landowners interested in applying for consideration in any of the listed programs should contact their local NRCS office at the USDA Service Center for their county. For more information, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.

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

THE TRADER’S DISPATCH (USPS 019-793)

MT Tractors

Training opportunities for pesticide applicators

Montana State University Extension’s Pesticide Education Program and participating MSU Extension offices will offer multiple training opportunities for pesticide applicators this year. Training opportunities include five initial private applicator trainings in March and April and an urban pesticide education tour in April. Program dates and registration details are listed below.

Initial private applicator trainings

COMING IN

Check

Position: Assistant Feedlot Manager - Experience preferred but can be trained. Management in daily operations.

Position: Commodity/Livestock Clerk -Administration of livestock and commodity inventories, accounting and logistics.

Position: Department Management Trainee - Entry level. Awesome training. Career builder.

Position: Truck Drivers (Multiple): Feed truck, OTR (home nightly) haul commodities to feedlot. Manure hauling.

Position: Equipment Operators: Heavy equipment. Material handling and hauling.

Initial private applicator trainings are seven-hour training opportunities for individuals to learn more about pesticides while qualifying for a Montana private applicator license. A private applicator license allows individuals to apply restricted-use pesticides on land they own, rent or lease to grow an agricultural commodity. Applicators who are recertifying may also attend the entire event for six private applicator credits. Each program covers integrated pest management, pesticides in the environment, pesticide safety and toxicity, pesticide law, calibration of pesticide spray equipment, the private applicator license and reading the pesticide product label.

Information about MSU Extension’s initial private applicator trainings, including locations and agendas, and start and end times for each location, is available at montana.edu/ extension/pesticides/events/index.html. Fees listed are for the event and materials only. If attendees desire a private applicator license, they must also pay a license fee that varies by district.

Private applicator initial trainings

Tuesday, March 21: Lewistown. Lewistown Eagles Club, 124 W. Main St. Registration is encouraged by March 15, and walk-ins are welcome. To register, contact Cody Ream at 406-535-3919 or cody.ream@montana.edu. Cost is $20 with cash or check at the door. Lunch will be provided.

Wednesday, March 22: Billings. MetraPark 4-H Building, 308 Sixth Ave. N. Registration is encouraged by March 15, and walk-ins are welcome. To register, contact Trestin Benson-Feagler at 406-256-2828 or trestinbenson@montana.edu. Cost is $20 with cash or check at the door. Lunch will be provided.

Thursday, March 23: Hardin. Big Horn County Fairgrounds, 118 Sawyer Loop. Registration is encouraged by March 15, and walk-ins are welcome. To register, contact Andrea Berry at 406-665-9770 or andrea.berry2@montana. edu. Cost is $20 with cash or check at the door. Lunch will be provided.

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Position: Livestock TEAM: Pen riding, processing, livestock management. Very competitive pay and benefits. Team environment. Opportunities for personal growth. Work with industry leading consultants and managers supplying beef to high end domestic and international markets and creating profit solutions for Montana cattle producers. Send resumes:

Thursday, April 6: Stanford. Stanford City Hall, 102 Central Ave. Registration is encouraged by April 5, and walk-ins are welcome. To register, contact Katie Hatlelid at 406-566-2277 or Katherine.hatlelid@montana.edu. Free to attend. Lunch will be provided.

Friday, April 14: Havre. 4-H Chuckwagon, 1676 U.S. Highway 2. Registration is encouraged by April 11, and walk-ins are welcome. To register, contact Colleen Pegar at 406-400-2333 or colleen.pegar@montana.edu. Cost is $15. Lunch will be provided.

Urban pesticide training tour

MSU Extension’s Pesticide Education Program offers urban pesticide training opportunities to assist homeowners, gardeners and other urban pesticide applicators with understanding the basics of using pesticides. The program covers selecting the proper pesticide, reading and understanding the pesticide product label, managing pests, calibrating sprayers properly, ensuring pesticide safety and avoiding non-target impacts.

The tour stops are as follows:

Wednesday, April 19: Missoula. 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Missoula County Fairgrounds, Home Arts Building 35, 1101 S. Ave W.

Thursday, April 20: Great Falls. 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Great Falls College MSU, Heritage Hall, 2100 16th Ave. S.

Friday, April 21: Billings. 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., MetraPark 4-H Building, 308 Sixth Ave N.

There is a $15 fee for each stop, and registration is strongly recommended by April 14, as space may be limited. Registration and urban tour details are available at montana.edu/extension/pesticides/events/urban.html or by contacting Amy Bowser, pesticide education technician, at 406-994-5178. These programs will also offer pesticide license credits. For more information about nearby programs or to assess private applicator credits, individuals are invited to contact their MSU Extension agent. A contact list is available at montana.edu/extension/pesticides/pat/patcolist.html. Pesticide education questions may be directed to Cecil Tharp, pesticide education specialist, at 406-994-5067 or ctharp@ montana.edu.

John Deere 7430 MFWD tractor, P/Q, LHR, very nice $72,500

John Deere 5410 MFWD tractor with loader $31,500 John Deere 7710, MFWD tractor, P/S, nice $52,500

If you enjoy reading the Trader’s Dispatch, and have found what you were looking for, please tell an advertiser.

POLLED HEREFORD BULLS

Built in calving ease and performance

Sired by: Churchill Oasis 748E, EPHR Elker Leader 958E and SHF Highway F128

Delivery Available

Dallas Polled Herefords, Box 532, Canyon Creek, MT 59633

8210 Little Prickly Pear Rd. Canyon Creek

Don Dallas - 406-410-0406 Cell OR 406-368-2244 Ranch

Climate-smart agriculture funding applications due

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Montana is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The funding for this current cycle comes through the Inflation Reduction Act and supports agricultural and forest landowners participating in voluntary conservation programs implementing climatesmart practices. To be considered for funding in the current cycle, producers and landowners should apply by March 17, 2023.

“NRCS in Montana focuses our conservation investments to make the most impact on our working lands. The Inflation Reduction Act funding is a once-in-a-generation investment in climate-smart practices that will accelerate that goal while providing opportunities for improved ecologic and economic sustainability for our ag producers and rural communities,” said Tom Watson, NRCS State Conservationist for Montana. “Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners of all sizes, small to large, including historically underserved producers play a critical role in addressing climate change challenges.”

Inflation Reduction Act funding will provide direct climate mitigation benefits and will expand access to financial and technical assistance for producers to advance conservation on their farm, ranch or forest land through practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, forest stand improvement, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, tree planting and more. Conservation funding is available for the following programs and initiatives:

Targeted Implementation Plans: NRCS in Montana targets its EQIP investments in very specific areas to achieve clearly defined natural resource goals as identified by local partners. The Montana Focused Conservation approach harnesses the power of multiple producers in one area undertaking similar conservation projects to achieve a regional or landscapescale result. There are nearly 100 local projects currently available in fiscal year 2023. For more information about projects in your area, visit nrcs.usda.gov/montana and click on What’s Available in My County.

EQIP offers financial and technical assistance to eligible participants to install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. In Montana, historically underserved participants, including limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers and ranchers will receive a higher payment rate for eligible conservation practices applied.

The CSP is for working lands. For farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners already taking steps to improve the condition of the land, CSP can help find new ways to meet resource and operation goals. All of the land in a producer’s agricultural operation must be enrolled to be eligible for CSP. This year, the Conservation Planning Workbook will be a required part of the CSP application package. Request a printed copy of the workbook from your local USDA service center.

ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) provide financial assistance to eligible entities, including land trusts and state and local units of government, for purchasing easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land. In the case of working farms, the program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. Landowners interested in an ACEP-ALE easement must enter into an agreement with an eligible entity to be considered for enrollment into the program. Find a list of entities eligible to hold ACEP-ALE easements in Montana and additional information at www.nrcs.usda.gov/montana by clicking on the ACEP option under State Programs and Initiatives.

NRCS accepts conservation program applications yearround; however, applications for the current funding consideration must be submitted by March 17, 2023. Applications made after the cutoff will be considered in the next funding cycle. Additional information is available on the Montana NRCS website at nrcs.usda.gov/montana. For contact information of your local USDA Service Center, visit nrcs. usda.gov/contact.

Tallest living man

The tallest living man is 39-year-old Sultan Kosen, from Turkey, who is 8 feet, 2.8 inches, who set the record in 2009. His growth is also due to a pituitary issue.

Coach Simon Ochs

We’d appreciate it if you tell an advertiser you read his ad in the Trader’s Dispatch.

SEMEN FOR SALE

Son of Connealy Confidence Plus - Reg. #19333156 heifer bull semen; birth EPD +1.0; excellent semen for cows also; Collected and stored at World West sire Service, Joliet, MT $5 per straw, not including shipping; price negotiable for over 50 straws. Phone (406) 254-0499 or email dsolberg@sevenblackfoot.com

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

2-1987 Peterbilt 357 concrete mixers, McNeilus 12-yard drum mixers. McNeilus Tuck Away Boost-a-load axle, Cat 3306 engine, 9LL transmission. Both are in good condition with good tires. Both trucks are ready to go to work!!

For pricing contact: Chris Hafer 406-490-4418, Chris Hanson 406-490-4422 or Ted 406-563-3031

SUN RIVER RED ANGUS

APPRAISED FOR STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS— ATTITUDE CHECKED

Wyoming Bee College and Garden to Market conference

Beekeepers and gardeners of all ages and skill levels are invited to attend the 2023 Wyoming Bee College and High Plains Garden to Market Conference March 24-25.

Organized by the University of Wyoming Extension and hosted by Laramie County Community College (LCCC), the joint conference offers sessions on beginning and advanced beekeeping, honey and herbs, building geodesic dome greenhouses, growing grapes, canning and more. There will also be vendors and a vendor reception.

On Saturday morning, keynote speaker Dayna BurtnessNguyen will present findings from a pilot study investigating how to create multi-use habitats that feed pollinators.

Participants are welcome to attend both beekeeping and gardening sessions. “This is two conferences on the same day, at the same place, all for one price,” says UW Extension horticulturist Catherine Wissner. “You can jump back and forth on topics and tracks to learn what’s important to you.”

To purchase tickets and view a full schedule of events, visit wyomingbeecollege.org. The cost is $125 to attend Friday’s events and $85 to attend Saturday’s events, or $195 for both days. Aspiring beekeepers and gardeners ages 7-16 can attend for free if accompanied by a paying adult.

Lunches, snacks and beverages are included. Registration closes Tuesday, March 21.

All sessions will take place in the Pathfinder building on LCCC’s Cheyenne campus, located at 1400 East College Drive. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. both days.

For conference attendees from out of town, a discounted rate is available at the Comfort inn located at 201 W. Fox Farm Rd.

Event sponsors include Laramie County Community College, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Southeast Wyoming Beekeepers Association, Laramie County Master Gardeners, Copoco’s Honey, NRCS, Simplicity 307, Dadant and Feeding Laramie Valley.

For more information, visit wyomingbeecollege.org. Contact Catherine Wissner at cwissner@uwyo.edu or (307) 633-4383 with questions.

National Celery Month

Month When Celebrated: Always March March is National Celery Month. It’s a month to celebrate this marshland vegetable. You’re up for a Celery-bration, aren’t you!? Of course you are!

Native to the Mediterranean, Celery is one of the best foods you can eat. It is very, very low in calories, People say it takes more calories to eat celery, than the calories it contains. It is high in fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Celery adds a tasty crunch to salads and tuna fish. It’s great in soups, stuffing, and many other recipes. It is a great snack paired with a variety of dips, or peanut butter. And, what would a Bloody Mary be without a stalk of celery!?

Did You Know? Celery has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Back in 850 B.C., Celery seed was believed to have healing powers. Benefits include: preventing gallstones, aids in indigestion, and helps to lower blood pressure. So, there’s plenty of reasons to eat ample amounts of celery.

How does one celebrate National Celery Month? Dig out your recipe book, and make foods with celery. Give the kids, celery and peanut butter for a bedtime snack. See how many times you can use celery in your meals and snacks this month.

Anaconda, Montana

Attendees of a previous Wyoming Bee College event learn about honey processing.

USDA develops simplified direct loan application

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed a simplified direct loan application to provide improved customer experience for producers applying for loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The simplified direct loan application enables producers to complete a more streamlined application, reduced from 29 to 13 pages. Producers will also have the option to complete an electronic fillable form or prepare a traditional, paper application for submission to their local FSA farm loan office. The paper and electronic versions of the form will be available starting March 1, 2023.

“USDA is committed to improving our farm loan processes to better serve all of our borrowers,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We’re consistently looking for ways to make the application process easier to navigate, so more producers are able to complete it. Our new direct loan application is a critical step forward in our efforts to improve customer service and build equity into not just our programs but also our services.”

Approximately 26,000 producers submit a direct loan application to the FSA annually, but there is a high rate of incomplete or withdrawn applications, due in part to a challenging and lengthy paper-based application process. Coupled with the Loan Assistance Tool released in October 2022, the simplified application will provide all loan applicants access to information regarding the application process and assist them with gathering the correct documents before they begin the process. This new application will help farmers and ranchers submit complete loan applications and reduce the number of incomplete, rejected, or withdrawn applications.

In October 2022, USDA launched the Loan Assistance Tool, an online step-by-step guide that provides materials to help an applicant prepare their farm loan application in one tool. Farmers can access the Loan Assistance Tool by visiting farmers.gov/ farm-loan-assistance-tool and clicking the ‘Get Started’ button. The tool is built to run on any modern browser like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or the Safari browser. A version compatible with mobile devices is expected to be available by the summer. It does not work in Internet Explorer.

The simplified direct loan application and Loan Assistance Tool are the first of multiple farm loan process improvements that will be available to USDA customers on farmers.gov in the future. Other improvements that are anticipated to launch in 2023 include:

An interactive online direct loan application that gives customers a paperless and electronic signature option, along with the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns.

An online direct loan repayment feature that relieves borrowers from the necessity

of calling, mailing, or visiting a local Service Center to pay a loan installment.

USDA provides access to credit to approximately 115,000 producers who cannot obtain sufficient commercial credit through direct and guaranteed farm loans. With the funds and direction Congress provided in Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act, USDA took action in October 2022 to provide relief to qualifying distressed borrowers while working on making transformational changes to loan servicing so that borrowers are provided the flexibility and opportunities needed to address the inherent risks and unpredictability associated with agricultural operations.

Soon, all direct loan borrowers will receive a letter from USDA describing the circumstances under which additional payments will be made to distressed borrowers and how they can work with their FSA local office to discuss these options. Producers can explore all available options on all FSA loan options at fsa.usda.gov or by contacting their local USDA Service Center.

USDA expands eligibility, enhances benefits

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made updates to several conservation, livestock and crop disaster assistance programs to give more farmers, ranchers, and tribes the opportunity to apply for and access programs that support recovery following natural disasters. Specifically, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded eligibility and enhanced available benefits for a suite of its programs. These updates will provide critical assistance to producers who need to rebuild and recover after suffering catastrophic losses of production and infrastructure due to natural disasters.

FSA has updated the following programs: The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP), the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).

“As I meet with producers across the country, I have gained a better understanding of the ways in which our programs work—and the ways in which they can be improved to better support all producers, especially those who are working to rebuild their operations after a disaster,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “This set of updates to our disaster assistance programs reflects FSA’s commitment to listening to producers and responding to their needs wherever we have the authorities to do so. We are confident that these changes will increase the both the accessibility and efficacy of our disaster assistance programs, consistent with our goal to build equity into the fabric of our work at the FSA.”

Conservation Disaster Assistance Updates

FSA updated ECP to:

Allow producers who lease Federally owned or managed lands, including tribal trust land, as well as State land the opportunity to participate.

Provide advance payments, up to 25% of the cost, for all ECP practices before the restoration is carried out, an option that was previously only available for fence repair or replacement. The cost-share payment must be spent within 60 days.

Additionally, Congress also authorized the Federal government to pay 100% of the ECP and EFRP cost for damage associated with the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico. This fire burned over 340,000 acres from April 2022 to June 2022 and was the largest wildfire in recorded history in New Mexico. ECP and EFRP cost-share assistance is typically capped at 75%. This policy change for 100% cost-share applies only to those locations impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

ECP and EFRP provide financial and technical assistance to restore conservation practices like fencing, damaged farmland or forests.

Livestock Disaster Assistance Updates

FSA also expanded eligible livestock under ELAP, LFP and LIP. Specifically, horses maintained on eligible grazing land are eligible for ELAP, LFP and LIP. Many family farms and ranches use their forage to raise horses to augment their other agriculture endeavors. FSA recognizes that animals maintained in a commercial agriculture operation, add value to the operation and could be available for marketing from the farm. FSA regulations have been updated to include these animals as eligible livestock Horses and other animals that are used or intended to be used for racing and wagering

remain ineligible.

Ostriches are also now eligible for LFP and ELAP. FSA is making this change because ostriches satisfy more than 50% of their net energy requirement through the consumption of growing forage grasses and legumes and are therefore considered “grazing animals”.

This change for ostriches is effective for the 2022 program year for both LFP and ELAP. ELAP requires a notice of loss to be filed with FSA within 30 days of when the loss is first apparent. Because this deadline may have passed for 2022, FSA is extending the deadline for filing notices of loss through March 31, 2023.

LIP and ELAP reimburses producers for a portion of the value of livestock, poultry and other animals that died as a result of a qualifying natural disaster event or for loss of grazing acres, feed and forage. LFP provides benefits for grazing losses due to drought and eligible wildfires on federally managed lands.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance

NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. Basic NAP coverage is equivalent to the catastrophic level risk protection plan of insurance coverage, which is based on the amount of loss that exceeds 50% of expected production at 55% of the average market price for the crop.

Previously, to be eligible for NAP coverage, a producer had to submit an application (Form CCC-471) for NAP coverage on or before the application closing date. For 2022, if a producer has a Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification (Form CCC-860) on file with FSA, it will serve as an application for basic coverage for all eligible crops having a 2022 application closing date and all NAP-related service fees for basic coverage will be waived for these producers.

FSA will notify all eligible producers who already have the CCC-860 certification form on file of their eligibility for NAP basic coverage for 2022. To potentially receive NAP assistance, producers who suffered losses due to natural disasters in 2022 should file an acreage report as well as a notice of loss with the FSA at their local Service Center.

Producers who are interested in obtaining NAP coverage for 2023 and subsequent years should also contact their local FSA county office for information on eligibility, coverage options and applying for coverage.

Reporting Losses

Producers impacted by a natural disaster should report losses and damages and file an application with their FSA county office. Timelines for reporting losses and applying for payments differ by program.

For LIP and ELAP, producers will need to file a Notice of Loss for livestock and grazing or feed losses within 30 days and honeybee losses within 15 days. For LFP, producers must provide a completed application for payment and required supporting documentation to their FSA office within 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurred.

For NAP, producers should contact their local FSA office for guidelines on submitting a notice of loss and filing an acreage certification.

More Information

The updates to these programs build on

21

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MFB offers scholarships

The Montana Farm Bureau Foundation and the Montana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee are offering several scholarships for students pursuing higher education.

“Our Montana Farm Bureau Foundation and Women’s Leadership Committee are pleased to once again provide students with some financial assistance as they work toward furthering their education,” said Montana Farm Bureau’s Director of Events and Foundation Development Alena Standley.

Scholarships Available:

The Montana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Scholarships: Two $1,500 scholarships are available through the sponsorship of the MFB Women’s Leadership Committee. The scholarships are available to young men and women. The applicant must be an incoming college freshman and must be from a paid Montana Farm Bureau member family. Applications will be scored on scholastic achievement, future goals, community involvement and school activities. Many county Farm Bureaus offer scholarships and the online form for this application will allow students to apply for any county Farm Bureau scholarship for which they are eligible as well as the state scholarship. Due Date - April 1, 2023.

The 2023 MFB Foundation CYF&R Scholarship: The Montana Farm Bureau Foundation will award one $1,000 scholarship to a current member of the Collegiate Chapter of Young Farmers and Ranchers at MSU Bozeman, UM Western, Miles Community College or Dawson Community College. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist Collegiate Young Farmer and Rancher members in pursuing a degree from an accredited institute of higher education and enrolled at that institution for the Fall 2023 semester. Due Date – April 1, 2023.

The 2023 Bernard Greufe Honor Scholarship: This $1500 scholarship assists Montana high school students in paying for higher education. The applicant must be pursuing a degree from an accredited institute of higher education, although the award is not limited to students seeking a degree or career in agriculture. Due Date - April 1, 2023.

The 2023 Future of Agriculture Honor Scholarship: This $1500 scholarship is administered by the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation through generous donations from Seed Source, Inc., of Toston, MT. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students towards the completion of a degree in a field pertaining to agriculture. A special emphasis will be given to applicants who have shown ingenuity in agricultural production and advancement of small-scale agriculture. Due Date – April 1, 2023.

All students wishing to apply for these scholarships will need to sign in to the Montana Farm Bureau scholarship portal, which is available by visiting mfbf.org/Foundation/ Foundation-Scholarships and mfbf.org/Programs/WomensLeadership-Committee. For more information call 406-7999955 or email alenas@mfbf.org.

USDA expands eligibility

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A10

other Biden-Harris administration efforts to improve disaster assistance programs, including additional flexibility in obtaining Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) basic coverage for socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource and veteran farmers and ranchers.

Previous enhancement to the ELAP provide program benefits to producers of fish raised for food and other aquaculture species as well as cover above normal expenses for transporting livestock to forage and grazing acres and transport feed to livestock impacted by qualifying drought. And earlier updates to the LIP payment rates better reflect the true market value of non-adult beef, beefalo, bison and dairy animals.

FSA announced it would begin accepting applications for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) on January 23, 2023, through June 2, 2023. ERP Phase Two is designed to fill gaps in the delivery of program benefits not covered in ERP Phase One and improves equity in program delivery to underserved producers. PARP will help address gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses.

Additional Resources

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent. For FSA and Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, contact the local USDA Service Center.

Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede to celebrate 100 years

The Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede will celebrate its 100th year July 5, 6, 7, 8, 2023 in Wolf Point, Montana hosted by the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit 2020 Medium Rodeo of the Year Stampede committee, along with the many dedicated Stadium committee and community volunteers.

The weekend festivities will start Wednesday evening July 5th with a Steak Fondue at the Big Sky Corral and the Wild Horse Ranch Rodeo, followed by the Kyle Shobe & The Walk ‘Em Boys concert, located at the Marvin Brookman Stadium.

Grand marshals chosen for the 100th are Clint and Arlyss Long, 40-year Wild Horse Stampede Committee members who served as chairman and secretary for many years.

RAM and Cinch Jeans & Shirts PRCA Rodeo action will be held each evening at 7 PM Thursday July 6th, Friday July 7th, and Saturday July 8th.

Other events and festivities set for the 100th weekend celebration include the “100 Years of the Granddaddy of Montana Rodeo” 2-day parade, carnival, cowboy church, street dance entertainment by Jared Stewart & Jarred Hanson, re-enactors, the famous Catholic Hamburger Stand on Main Street, Stampede Fun Run, TETWP Stampede Roundup Golf Tournament Thursday & Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night, museum pancake breakfast, rodeo event Calcutta each night pre rodeo and Wild Horse Race Calcutta, rodeo specialty act “Haley Proctor” Trick Riding, Kids Stick Horse Rodeo hosted by Miss Rodeo Montana, bouncy house and Art in the Park. Additional events held in conjunction with the 100th Stampede to be announced at a later date.

Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede tickets available after June 21st by calling (406) 653-1770 or stop in at the Main Street ticket booth in Wolf Point. For more information or for possible schedule change contact The Wolf Point Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture at (406)653-2012, wolfpointchamber@gmail.com, www.wolfpointchamber. com

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MDA recognizes Willie’s Distillery for homegrown spirits

Continuing the focus on expanding value-added agriculture opportunities to allow producers to capture more of the value they create, the Montana Department of Agriculture visited Willie’s Distillery in Ennis, Montana to highlight their use of Montana grain, local community impact, and their focus on creating high quality spirits.

“Montana is largely an export state where a large majority of agricultural commodities leave as raw goods. At the department, we want to highlight those businesses that are investing in infrastructure to create a finished, ‘100% Montana’, product and hope that it inspires other businesses to do the same,” Director Clark said.

Willie’s Distillery (Ennis, MT) was established in 2010. Founders Willie and Robin Blazer set out to create a brand and develop products that embody the independent spirit and authenticity of the American West while supporting its local farmers, economy, and residents. By leaning into the character of their small hometown and emphasizing local ingredients, Willie’s Distillery has become considered to create some of the best Spirits in Montana. Additionally, Willie’s has grown to be the third largest local employer in Ennis, MT. Their local impact is undeniable and has become known as, “one big family.”

“I look forward to seeing other ag businesses inspired by stories such as Willie’s, take it into their own hands to innovate,” said Director Clark.

The Montana Department of Agriculture congratulates Willie’s Distillery on their success thus far and wishes them the best in 2023.

Hill County applicator training

MSU Extension Hill County will host an Initial Applicator Training on April 14, 2023 at the 4-H Chuckwagon, 1676 US Hwy 2, Havre, MT, starting at 7:30am – 5pm. This training is geared towards producers that want to obtain a private pesticide applicator license. During the 8-hour training, participants will learn about The Private Applicator License, Pesticide Laws, Reading the Product Label, Calibration of Pesticide Spray Equipment, Integrated Pest Management, Pesticides in the Environment, and Pesticide Safety. Instructors will be various MSU Extension and MDA Educators.

1800 4x4 flatbed, 14,000 lb knuckle boom $12,500

flatbed, 3200 lb. IMT crane, air compressor

Pesci 6000 KG knuckle boom

service crane, 6000 lb

20-ton 24-ft. tilt bed trailers

1999 Haulin 31-ft. flatbed (expands to 34-ft.), telescopic hitch and air brakes. Good for round bales

12-ton 22-ft. tilt bed trailer

There is a $15 fee to attend the class and $36 dollars will be sent in to MDA if you wish to get your license and are in District 3. Recertification points have been applied for in case any applicator who already has their license are welcome to attend. Applicators need 6 credits in the 5-year cycle in order to renew their license.

District 3’s cycle started January 1, 2020 and will end December 31, 2025. Lunch will be provided. Please register for this program by calling Hill County MSU Extension (406-400-2333) or emailing Colleen at colleen.pegar@ montana.edu.

1988 GMC 2-ton truck, excellent flatbed with grain sides, stock racks, heavy duty double acting hoist and heavy duty bale rack that hauls 9 round bales

SIRES

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Equipment, Tractors, Tools, trailers, Atv’s, Guns, antiques, Gold and Silver AUCTION

Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 10 am at RLP Sale Barn, Hamilton, MT

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Low genetic diversity among U.S. honey bees

By Autumn Canaday, ARS

U.S. agriculture owes many thanks to the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), as it plays the crucial role of pollinator within the nation’s food supply. Some of the nation’s food industries rely solely on the honey bee, and it’s estimated that the economic value of its pollination role is worth well over $17 billion each year. With this fact in mind, ARS researchers recently studied the U.S. honey bee’s genetic diversity to ensure that this crucial pollinator insect has sufficient diversity to overcome the growing number of stressors such as parasites, diseases, malnutrition, and climate change.

What they found is alarming: the U.S. honey bee population has low genetic diversity, and this could have a negative impact on future crop pollination and beekeeping sustainability in the country.

The research, recently highlighted in Frontiers, was accomplished by analyzing the genetic diversity of the U.S. honey bee populations through a molecular approach, using two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers (DNA specifically from a mother). Researchers studied approximately 1,063 bees from hobbyist, and commercial beekeepers in 45 U.S. states, the District of Columbia (D.C.), and two US territories (Guam and Puerto Rico). The data showed that the nation’s managed honey bee populations rely intensively on a single honey bee evolutionary lineage. In fact, 94 percent of U.S. honey bees belonged to the North Mediterranean C lineage. Data reflected that the remainder of genetic diversity belongs to the West Mediterranean M lineage (3%) and the African A lineage (3%).

“It’s important that we have a realistic and accurate estimation of the honey bee’s genetic diversity because this indicates the insect’s ability to respond to disease, adaptation to environment, and productivity,” said ARS Research Entomologist Mohamed Alburaki. “Without this pollinator insect, we will witness a drastic decrease in the quantity and quality of our agricultural products such as almonds, apples, melons, cranberries, pumpkins, broccoli and many other fruits and vegetables that we’re used to purchasing. We can’t wait until a domino effect slowly takes place and affects our food supply.”

The lack of genetic diversity creates a

vulnerability for U.S. honey bees to survive in shifting climates that are now wetter or drier than usual. There is also concern that a honey bee’s inability to fight off disease or parasitic infection could negatively impact beekeeping sustainability. The challenge of U.S. honey bees’ weakened immunity has become an economic burden to bee producers and beekeepers. In the past, U.S. beekeepers suffered less honey bee colony losses and treated against varroa mite (a ferocious honey bee parasite) once per year. In 2023, colony losses and winter mortality are at a high peak and varroa mite requires multiple treatments per year to keep it under control.

“As a honey bee researcher, what worries me the most is that 77 percent of our honey bee populations are represented by only two haplotypes, or maternal DNA, while over hundreds of haplotypes exist in the native range of this species in the Old World, or the honey bees’ native land of evolution,” Alburaki said. “Many of these haplotypes have evolved over millions of years in their native lands, and have developed astonishing adaptation traits that we should consider incorporating in our US honey bee stocks before it is too late.”

These complex factors are driving Alburaki and his ARS research team to develop a solution that’s sustainable for the entire nation. The research team is currently evaluating the paternal diversity of the previously analyzed populations to acquire a full and accurate picture of the overall genetic diversity of the U.S. honeybee populations. Researchers are also interested in the possibility of diversifying breeding stations with honey bee queens from various genetic backgrounds.

Alburaki’s research also identified and named 14 novel haplotypes in the three evolutionary lineages. These haplotypes have never been reported before and can provide new insights into the U.S. honey bee’s evolution since its importation to North America in the 1600s. There is hope that the researchers can use this information to locate and enhance the numbers of these rare and novel US haplotypes, which could speed the process of reaching a healthier diversity within the nation’s honey bee population.

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A notoriously cheap golfer was always looking to find a way to save money. So when he went to the caddie station, everyone was surprised. He approached the head caddie and said, “I need a caddie who is good at finding lost balls,” to which the head caddie responded, “Frank has the best eyes on the staff. He seems to find every ball that’s lost.” “Great,” replied the miser, “ask him to find me one so I can start my round.”

Map of North Mediterranean C lineage 93.79 percent of U.S. honey bees belonged to the North Mediterranean C lineage. The percentage of this lineage is displayed for each state.

The Iceman cometh

Surprise encounter

On September 19, 1991, some people hiking in the Alps along the Austrian/Italian border spotted a body sticking out of a glacier. The corpse was brown and dried out and looked like it had been there for a long time. But neither the hikers nor the Austrian officials who recovered it four days later had any idea how long.

When scientists carbon-dated the remains, the “Iceman” (as he was dubbed in the press) turned out to be more than 5,300 years old. It was the world’s oldest fully preserved human body, and the first prehistoric human ever found with “everyday clothing and equipment”–including an axe, dagger, and bow and arrows. Other bodies that have been found were either buried following funerals or sacrificed in religious ceremonies…which means they had ceremonial objects and clothing that didn’t shed much light on what everyday life was like.

Close Call

Because no one realized how old or valuable the Iceman was until five days after he was discovered, no one took any precautions to ensure he wasn’t damaged during removal and shipment to the morgue. In fact, it seems they did just about everything they could to damage him. An Austrian police officer tried to free the Iceman from the ice by using a jackhammer–shredding his garments and gashing his left hip to the bone. He probably would have done more damage, except that he ran out of compressed air for the jackhammer and had to quit.

Next, as word of the unusual discovery spread, locals and gawkers traveled to the site to view the remains. Many pocketed the Iceman’s tools and shreds of garment as souvenirs. And when forensics experts finally removed the body from the ice, they did so using clumsy pickaxes, destroying the archaeological value of the site in the process.

By now the Iceman, clothes from the waist down when initially discovered, was buck naked save for pieces of a boot on his right foot and shards of clothing strewn around the body. Even worse, his private parts were missing, perhaps stolen by one of the visitors to the site. They were never recovered.

Modern problems

When scientist did get around to study him, they found a dark-skinned male between the ages of 25 to 40 who stood 5’2” tall. The Iceman surprised archaeologists with his shaved face, recently cut hair and tattoos; experts thought that humans did not “invent” shaves, haircuts and tattoos until thousands of year later.

He also suffered from some surprisingly modern ailments. A body-scan revealed smoke-blackened lungs–probably from sitting around open fires, but definitely not from smoking–as well as hardening of the arteries and blood vessels. He also had arthritis in the neck, lower back, and hip.

But he didn’t die from any of them.

Cause of death

The fact that the Iceman’s body survived so long may provide a clue about how he died. Most bodies recovered from glaciers have literally been torn to pieces by slowmoving ice. But the Iceman’s wasn’t. He was found in a small protective basin, 10 to 15 feet deep, that sheltered him as glaciers passed overhead. This leads archaeologist to speculate that he sought shelter in the basin when a surprise winter storm hit. “He was in a state of exhaustion perhaps as a consequence or adverse weather conditions,” a team of experts theorized in Science magazine in 1992. “He therefore may have lain down, fallen asleep, and froze to death.” Snow covered the body, the glacier eventually flowed over it…and the body remained completely preserved and undisturbed for the next 53 centuries.

Final resting place

The Iceman now resides in a freezer in Austria’s Innsbruck University, kept at 98% humidity and 21 degrees F, the same condition that preserved him for more than 5000 years. Scientist only examine the body for 20 minutes every two weeks–anything more than that would cause the mummy to deteriorate.

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Sorghum: The unlikely food source for pollinators

By Jessica Ryan, ARS

Sorghum bicolor, a pollen-rich grass species cultivated for grain and forage, which looks similar to corn, can be an important food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects during times when pollen and nectar are scarce.

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oklahoma State University (OSU) Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources found that sorghum, commonly called milo, served as a pollen food source for bees, hoverflies, and earwigs. Sorghum is primarily grown in the Central Plains and Southeast United States.

Additionally, when sorghum is infested with sorghum aphids — which are known to feed on all types of sorghum — large amounts of honeydew are produced as waste. This sugary by-product could be an alternative to nectar for pollinators and predatory insects, including flies, bees, wasps, and ants.

“Sorghum is not listed as a plant recommended to homeowners to feed pollinators despite frequent bee sightings,” said Karen Harris-Shultz, a research geneticist at the ARS Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit in Tifton, Georgia. “However, we found that sorghum had unintended ecological benefits. It can be a potential landscape plant for homeowners and a food source for pollinators during times of pollen and nectar shortage.”

According to Harris-Shultz, people are encouraged to plant nectar-rich crops with different flowering seasons but are rarely recommended to plant wind-pollinated plants, including grasses, for supporting pollinator populations. The study’s findings show promise that grass species like sorghum can be an alternative crop for pollinators during times when other crops are not available for foraging.

According to Wyatt Hoback, a professor of entomology at OSU, pollinators are declining globally, having the potential to jeopardize the human food supply and plant diversity. An alternative crop like sorghum could provide additional food for pollinators and inadvertently benefit predatory insects. “Pollinators need sugar resources to maintain flight and other activities, and they need pollen to have protein for raising offspring,” said Hoback.

A honeybee, southern carpenter bee, and a bumblebee on sorghum. A honeybee (left), southern carpenter bee (middle) and bumblebee (right) collect sorghum pollen. (Photos by Karen Harris-Shultz)

A hoverfly and an earwig on sorghum.A hoverfly (left) and an earwig (right) eat sorghum pollen. (Photos by Karen Harris-Shultz)

Insects on the leaves of a sorghum plantIsects feed on honeydew from sorghum infested with sorghum aphids. (Photo by Karen Harris-Shultz)

Risk management training to farmers, ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced up to $2 million is available for cooperative agreements for risk management education and training programs that support farmers and ranchers, including underserved producers, small-scale farmers, organic operations and climate-smart farm practices.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) makes this funding available to provide the needed resources for organizations – such as universities, county cooperative extension offices, and nonprofit organizations – to develop education tools that help producers learn how to effectively manage long-term risks and challenges.

“Agriculture is an inherently risky line of work, so we are partnering with organizations to provide valuable training, particularly in underserved communities, so that they learn how to effectively manage risks with their businesses,” said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. “We’re committed to broadening the reach of crop insurance and these risk management education partnerships are a testament to our efforts to reach more communities.”

A broad range of risk management training activities are eligible for funding consideration, including training on crop insurance options, record keeping, financial management, noninsurance-based risk management tools and natural disaster preparedness among others. Partners can also train farmers at all levels on risk management options that help secure local food systems.

Proposals are due April 24, 2023. The notice of funding has additional details View Opportunity | GRANTS.GOV. Interested

#####

A man is playing his round with an insubordinate young caddie. After numerous rude comments from the employee, the golfer has had enough. “As soon as we finish up, I’m going to report you to your boss. What do you think about that?” the angry golfer asks. “Oh no,” comes the sarcastic response, “But at the rate you play, by the time we finish, I’ll be ready to retire.”

#####

A man is filling up his car tank with gasoline and accidentally gets some on his hand. He doesn’t notice it, so when he gets into his car he lights a cigarette. His arm instantly catches on fire. The man sticks his arm out the window and begins to wave it around attempting to blow out the flames crawling up his sleeve. A policeman sees the man struggling with his arm on fire and arrests him on the spot for an unlicensed firearm.

organizations must apply through the Results Verification System at http://rvs. umn.edu.

In the past two years, RMA has invested roughly $6.5 million into risk management education and outreach partnerships.

Examples of previous RME education partnership projects include:

Invested $200,000 to assist the Rural South Institute deliver financial and risk management education to minority producers underserved by crop insurance in 18 persistent poverty counties in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

Invested $107,000 with the University of Arizona to improve risk management skills of small to medium-scale Native American livestock producers in Arizona and New Mexico.

More Information

RMA oversees the Federal crop insurance program and promotes a strong farm safety net to sustain and ensure the success of American agriculture. Federal crop insurance helps farmers and ranchers manage risks, such as catastrophic weather conditions and market fluctuations.

POWER

What

Poultry cannibalism: Prevention and treatment

By Phillip J. Clauer, Penn State Extension and Department of Animal Science

Cannibalism in fowl is a costly and vicious habit that poultry producers cannot afford to ignore.

Cannibalism usually occurs when the birds are stressed by a poor management practice. Once becoming stressed, one bird begins picking the feathers, comb, toes or vent of another bird. Once an open wound or blood is visible on the bird, the vicious habit of cannibalism can spread rapidly through the entire flock. If you notice the problem soon after it begins, cannibalism can be held in check. However, if the problem is allowed to get out of hand it can be very costly. Cannibalism will lower the bird’s value due to torn and damaged flesh, poor feathering and can result in high death losses. Once this habit gets out of hand it is difficult to eliminate.

Since there are numerous reasons for outbreaks of cannibalism, it is important that cannibalism control be a part of your management program.

Cannibalism is usually caused by one or more of these conditions

1. Overcrowding

Large breeds of chickens should be allowed:

1/4 sq. ft./bird for first 2 weeks

3/4 sq. ft./bird for 3-8 weeks

1.5 sq. ft./bird from 8 to 16 weeks of age

2 sq. ft./bird from 16 weeks on

Bantam chickens require half the space as large chickens. With gamebirds, double the above recommendations. With pheasants, allow 25 to 30 sq. ft./bird after 12 weeks of age or use pick prevention devices like plastic peepers or blinders.

2. Excessive heat

When the birds become uncomfortably hot they can become extremely cannibalistic. Be sure to adjust the brooding temperature as the young fowl get older. Brood young fowl at 95°F. for the first week and then decrease the temperature 5°F. per week, until you reach 70°F. or the outside temperature. The temperature should be measured at the height of the birds back directly under the heat source. Do not heat the entire brooding facility to the recommended temperature. Not decreasing the brooding temperature is a common mistake that leads to problems like cannibalism.

3. Excessive light

Extremely bright light or excessively long periods of light will cause birds to become hostile toward one another. Never use white light bulbs larger than 40 watts to brood fowl. If larger bulbs are required for heat, use red or infra-red bulbs. When raising birds 12 weeks of age or older, use 15 or 25 watt bulbs above feeding and watering areas. Never light fowl more than 16 hours per day. Constant light can be stressful to the birds.

4. Absence of feed or water or a shortage of feeder and waterer space

If the birds have to fight for food and water, or if the birds are always hungry they will increase pecking. Be sure that birds have free access to water and feed at all times. The pecking order determines which birds get to eat and when. When you have inadequate feeder space birds at the lower end of the pecking order may never be allowed to eat.

5. Unbalanced diets

Extremely high energy and low fiber diets cause the birds to be extra active and aggressive. Feed lacking protein and other nutrients, particularly Methionine, will also cause birds to pick feathers. Make sure you feed a diet balanced appropriately for the age and types of fowl you are raising.

6. Mixing of different types, sizes, and colors of fowl

Mixing different ages and sizes of fowl or fowl with different traits promote pecking by disrupting the flock’s normal pecking order. Never brood different species of fowl together in the same pen. Don’t brood feathered leg fowl, crested fowl or bearded fowl with fowl without these traits. Curiosity can also start pecking. Toe pecking in the first few weeks is often started due to curiosity of the different colors or traits.

7. Abrupt changes in environment or management practices

If you plan to move young birds to a new location, it is best to move some of their feeders and waterers with them in order to help them adapt. When you change over to larger feeders and waterers it is helpful to leave the smaller equipment in the pen for a few days to help during the change.

8. Brightly lit nests or shortage of nesting boxes

Don’t place bright lights near the nesting areas. Also, allow 1 nest for every 5 hens. Vent pecking by layers is also a common problem.

9. Allowing crippled, injured or dead birds to remain in a flock

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Prevent the spread of bacteria from newly hatched poultry

Good biosecurity and hygiene practices can reduce the risk of contamination and illness from hatchlings.

As spring approaches, backyard poultry owners and educators may be preparing for hatching season, which also means taking precautions against the spread of disease.

“Even in a small and controlled environment, biosecurity threats are present,” says Samantha Lahman, North Dakota State University Extension 4-H youth development specialist in animal science. “It is important that those working with poultry are prepared to keep these newly hatched birds and the people in contact with them healthy.”

All people and animals carry populations of germs and other organisms on and in their bodies. Zoonotic organisms are those that pose a health risk to animals and people. Some zoonotic organisms are harmless to animal carriers but can cause disease in humans

According to NDSU Extension veterinarian Dr. Gerald Stokka, bacteria are often responsible for disease in backyard poultry.

“Even birds that look healthy and clean can transmit bacterial organisms like Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter,” cautions Dr. Stokka. “These bacteria are found in the droppings of poultry and can be found on the bodies of birds even when birds show no signs of illness.

The bacteria spreads to bedding, cages, water dishes, feeders, desks and countertops, and to the hands of those handling the birds. While people often associate these bacterial infections with eating raw or undercooked poultry, infections can happen from being in close contact with contaminated equipment, handling poultry and eggs. Infections can cause symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain.

Good biosecurity and hygiene procedures can greatly reduce the risk of contamination and illness. Good practices for hatching small batches of poultry include:

Locate incubators, brooding facilities and young bird pens away from where humans consume food or water.

Once the chicks have hatched, designate one area where birds will be kept and handled. This location should have nonporous surfaces for easy cleaning and adequate ventilation.

Thoroughly clean poultry enclosures on a regular basis. Cleaning should include both dry and wet cleaning. Dry cleaning is the removal of things like dried manure, feathers, bedding and other caked-on material that disinfectants would not sanitize. Wet cleaning should follow dry cleaning using water,

detergents and disinfectants.

To keep both baby chicks and handlers safe, limit the holding and handling of young birds.

Wash hands prior to and immediately after handling birds or being in contact with poultry equipment such as cages, feeders and waterers.

Ensure young people keep their hands away from their faces and mouths when in close proximity to poultry.

Treat any scratches or bites from poultry promptly.

After lessons or chores are completed, check flooring, shoes and surrounding surfaces for debris.

“Taking poultry from egg to chick is a very rewarding experience when done properly,” says Lahman. “As you plan for this exciting experience, make sure you have proper biosecurity procedures in place and everyone involved is educated in proper hygiene practices. With adjustments for safe poultry hatching in place, baby chicks in the spring can continue to be an annual family and classroom tradition.”

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Poultry cannibalism: Prevention and treatment

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A22

Fowl will pick on crippled or dead birds in their pens because of the social order and curiosity. Once pecking starts it can quickly develop into a vicious habit.

10. Slow feathering birds are most prone to cannibalism

Take extra precautions with slow feathering birds. Most cannibalism occurs during father growth in young fowl. Birds with slow feathering have immature tender feathers exposed for longer periods of time leaving them open to damage from pecking. Don’t raise slow feathering birds with other fowl.

11. Introducing new birds to the flock

Anytime you add or remove birds from a flock you disrupt the pecking order of the flock. It is best to introduce any new birds into your pen by splitting the pen with a wire wall for at least a week to help the birds to get to know each other. Also, adding the birds to the perch at night can help. Always supervise new introductions to the flock and intervene if the pecking gets out of control and birds are getting hurt. It may take a week or more for flock to re-establish the new pecking order.

12. Prolapse Pecking

Prolapse can occur in very young or fat laying flocks. Prolapse is when the uterus stretches and tears and takes longer to properly return into the body cavity after the egg is laid. This is most common in young flocks that start laying too soon (prior to 20 weeks of age or in fat layers. When the uterus is exposed for a period of time other birds will see it and pick at it out of curiosity. Once they pick at the uterus it bleeds and the picking quick progresses to cannibalism. If you start seeing blood streaks on the shell surface your flock may be prone to prolapse. Properly managing how you bring your birds into production and proper feeding practices can prevent this problem. Fat birds will need to be put on a low energy diet.

Additional preventive measures include

Allow the birds to use up their energy in an enclosed outside run. This will keep the birds busy and allow them to peck greens, ground and insects instead of other birds. Give the birds a large handful of fresh greens like clover grass or weeds, each day. This increases the fiber in the birds’ diet. A high fiber diet will keep the birds’ gizzard full and keeps the birds more content. Small parts of baled green leafy hay will also give the birds something to pick at.

Use of mechanical devices like plastic peepers or blinders in aggressive birds like gamebirds is advisable. Placing colored or shiny items for the birds to pick at and occupy their time can draw attention away from other birds. Hanging shine cans just above eye level can serve as a toy.

Finally, beak trimming is used in problem flocks. Trim the beak by removing about 1/3 of the tip of the beak providing a square tip. This makes it difficult for the birds to harm each other. However, beak trimming should be done by someone experienced in proper trimming.

Treatment for a cannibalism outbreak

Since cannibalism can be caused by several conditions, you may not be able to determine the exact cause of the problem. However, stress no matter how slight, is usually the main factor.

Try to correct any practices which may have lead to cannibalism.

Darkening the facilities by using red bulbs.

Remove any badly injured birds.

Applying an “anti-peck” ointment on any damaged birds usually stops pecking.

Lower the pen temperature a bit if possible.

Don’t take chances! Make cannibalism control part of your management program and you will save a great deal of time and money.

July 4 deaths

Three presidents, all Founding Fathers—John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe—died on July 4. Presidents Adams and Jefferson also died the same year, 1826; President Monroe died in 1831. Coincidence? You decide.

Generation Tesla

In this 1995 Serbian comic, inventor Nikola Tesla transports himself to another dimension and reanimates a bunch of dead people and gives them all superpowers.

I can’t take my dog to the park because the ducks keep trying to bite him. I guess that’s what I get for buying a pure bread dog.

Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available up to $7.5 million for grants through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 27, 2023.

Planning Projects

Planning Projects initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs. Projects may target areas of food access, education, business and start-up costs for new farmers and the development of plans related to zoning and other needs of urban production.

For example, the Texas Coalition of Rural Landowners used 2022 awarded funds to conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan to establish a cooperative for small-scale agricultural producers serving low food access markets in Harris County, Texas.

Implementation Projects

Implementation Projects accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor and other agricultural practices that serve farmers and communities. Projects may improve local food access, include collaboration with partner organizations, and support infrastructure needs, emerging technologies, and educational endeavors. For example, the Moka Urban Agriculture Initiative used 2022 awarded funds for a project to increase local food access and provide culturally relevant options that create economic opportunities for urban farmers. The project will help to reduce food insecurity, improve health and establish outdoor spaces for food production in Missouri.

Webinar

A pre-recorded webinar on Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

Grants/USDA provides an overview of the grants’ purpose, project types, eligibility and basic requirements for submitting an application.

More Information

OUAIP was established through the 2018 Farm Bill. It is led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and works in partnership with numerous USDA agencies that support urban agriculture and innovative production. The grants are part of a broad USDA investment in urban agriculture. Other efforts include:

Creating and managing a Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture

and Innovative Production to advise the Secretary on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban agriculture.

Reopening the People’s Garden Initiative. People’s Gardens across the country grow fresh, healthy food and support resilient, local food systems; teach people how to garden using sustainable practices; and nurture habitat for pollinators and wildlife and greenspace for neighbors.

Providing cooperative agreements that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans.

Providing technical and financial assistance through conservation programs offered by NRCS.

Organizing 17 Farm Service Agency urban county committees.

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1456; Allis Chalmers D21, pieces or parts; Minneapolis-Moline AT1400 or AT1600; Oliver 4WD’s

Sire Groups

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Q: What do you call a fish with no eyes?

A: A fsh.

Conservation Reserve Program signup for 2023

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Why do hummingbirds hum? Because they don’t know the words.

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Q: How do you fix a broken tuba?

A: With a tuba glue.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin applying for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup starting February 27 through April 7, 2023. CRP is a cornerstone voluntary conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to address climate change and help agricultural communities invest in the longterm well-being of their land and natural resources.

“The Conservation Reserve Program is one of the largest private lands conservation programs in the United States, offering a range of conservation options to farmers, ranchers and landowners,” said Maureen Wicks, FSA State Executive Director in Montana. “CRP has and continues to be a great fit for farmers with less productive or marginal cropland, helping them re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and support wildlife habitat. Under this administration, we have made several updates to the program to increase producer interest and enrollment, strengthen the climate benefits of the program and help ensure underserved producers can find a pathway to entry into CRP.”

Producers and landowners enrolled more than 5 million acres into CRP through signups in 2022, building on the acceptance of more than 3.1 million acres in the largest Grassland CRP signup in history. There are currently 23 million acres enrolled in CRP, with 1.9 million set to expire this year. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is aiming to reach the 27-million-acre cap statutorily set for fiscal year 2023.

General CRP

General CRP helps producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Additionally, General CRP includes a Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to help increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping producers and landowners establish trees and permanent grasses, enhance wildlife habitat, and restore wetlands.

Continuous CRP

Under Continuous CRP, producers and landowners can enroll in CRP throughout the year. Offers are automatically accepted provided the producer and land meet the eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap. The Climate-Smart Practice Incentive is also available in the Continuous signup.

FSA offers several additional enrollment opportunities within Continuous CRP, including the Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers Initiative (CLEAR30), the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative, the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP), and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The CLEAR30 Initiative, which was originally piloted in twelve states in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay watershed, has been expanded nationwide, allowing producers and landowners to enroll in 30-year CRP contracts for water quality practices. Under this administration, FSA also moved SAFE practices back to the Continuous CRP signup, giving producers and landowners more opportunities to participate in the initiative. Through the FWP, producers and landowners can enroll land in CRP as part of their efforts to restore previously farmed wetlands and wetland buffers, to improve both vegetation and water flow.

This administration has also made significant improvements to CREP, which leverages federal and non-federal funds to target specific State, regional or nationally significant conservation concerns. Specifically, USDA made significant improvements to CREP to reduce barriers and make the program more accessible to a broad range of producers and new types of partners. These updates included flexibility for partners to provide matching funds in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or technical assistance, along with an investment in additional staff to work directly with partners. Through CREP, for the first time ever, three Tribal Nations are now partnering with USDA to help conserve, maintain, and improve grassland productivity, reduce soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat.

Grassland CRP

FSA will announce the dates for Grassland CRP signup in the coming weeks. Grassland CRP is a working lands program, helping landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland and pastureland and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as working grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal

2008 Sterling Acterra fuel truck, Cummins diesel engine, Allison automatic, tandem axle full screw, 3600 gallon 5 compartment fuel body, dual metered hose reels, frame mounted storage boxes, 218,755 miles. $38,500

2019 TerraGator TG8400C1619 hours, Airmax Precision 2 bed, capable of spreading two products, 70-ft. stainless steel boom, Raven Viper 4 controller, auto steer, automatic section control, variable rate. Amazing machine....$248,500

Nutrient Applicator, 14-ft. New Leader 4500 Edge G4 Multiplier with 7-ft. Insert. Scale System with Digi-Star 400 Display, Ag Leader Monitor, roll tarp. 1588 hours. $192,500

2016 Case IH

Case FPT diesel engine, Allison 6 speed transmission, Case FX 810 air spreader, 70-ft. boom. Raven Viper 4 controller, auto steer. $138,000

2015 Case IH 4530, 810 Flex Air system, 70-ft. stainless steel boom, micro ingredient bin, electric roll tarp, Raven Viper Pro, Smartrax, 2384 hours $155,000

810 Flex Air Bed, 1825 hours with Raven Viper 4. $228,000

Dry Floater, Flex-Air 810 - VRT dry flow system, 70-ft. boom, Raven Viper Pro, 2922 hours $148,000

2011 Case 3520 3 bin, 3148 hours, Viper Pro, Trimble 750. Very nice truck $109,000

1050/50 R32 front and rear tires, Raven Viper 4, Agri-Cover roll tarp $167,000

2015

TG9300B, Soilection Four Bin dry air flow system, 70-ft. boom, Raven Viper Pro monitor, 4530 hours. Must see truck, amazingly clean. $82,500

Cummins diesel, Allison automatic, New Leader L4000 G4 stainless steel dry spreader box, twin dual spinners, Raven Viper monitor, 3101 hours $125,000

clean out doors, Predator

diesel, hydrostatic, front quick tach bucket, forks, aux hyd, 911 hours $26,000

floater

Case IH Titan 3540

less steel boom, electric roll tarp, Ravin Viper Pro controller, Smart Trax auto steer, 3948 hours $79,000

2012 Vector 300, Cummins, Allison automatic, New Leader L4000 G4 spreader box, twin spinner, all hydraulic, stainless steel insert, Raven Viper Pro monitor, 4561 hours. Free delivery $92,000

2016 Case IH Titan 3540 3 wheel floater, 810 air delivery box, deluxe cab, red leather seat, 6 speed Allison automatic transmission, 8.7L Case IH FLP engine, 1512 hours,

2011 TerraGator 8204, Cat diesel engine, AirMax Precision, 70ft. stainless steel boom, Raven SmarTrax, Viper Pro, 4495 hours. Exceptionally clean truck! $84,000

2016 TerraGator TG8400B, Agco diesel engine, CVT transmission, 2132 hours. New Leader L3220 G4 stainless steel dry spinner box, belt/chain, MultiApplier ready $151,000

2015 Case IH Titan 4530

2013 RoGator 1300, New Leader L4258 G4, Raven monitor, Raven GPS, 3072 hours $88,500

Swinger 2000 loader,

1985 Freightliner, Willmar 16-ton rear auger tender, tires are fair. Working truck and tender $24,500

2018 RBR 380, with

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1996 Freightliner 5 axle tender, Cummins, Rayman 24 ton side discharge $39,500

2016 Merritt Quickveyor tender trailer, 2 hopper,

gas engine power hydraulic pack, electric roll tarp, tall sides, belt conveyors can easily be removed to use the trailer as a hopper bottom for pit unloading. Very nice versatile trailer $46,500

1969 Lubbock NH3 transport trailer, 10,400 gallons, Blackmer pump. 5 to choose from $45,000 each 1967 Fruehauf 8500 gallon lead and 5700 gallon 1969 Beall fuel trailer $34,000

2007 John Deere 724J wheel loader, quick attach with 13,019 hours $117,500

2018 TerraGator TG8400B floater, 1505 hours, AGCO SISU power, diesel CVT transmission, Air Max Precision 2 bed, stainless steel 70-ft. boom, Raven Viper 4, electric roll tarp $236,000 $228,500

2010 Merritt Quickveyor tender trailer, self-contained with gas powered hydraulics, electric roll tarp, 2 hoppers. $36,500

Willmar 16-ton rear auger tender, mounted on 2007 Wilray tandem axle pup, air brakes. Honda powered hydraulic system, roll tarp. $19,000

2007 JCB 406 loader, diesel engine, fresh overhaul, shuttle shift transmission, open cab, 1412 hours $34,500

1989 Kenworth T800 tender truck, 350 Cummins engine, 10 speed Eaton Fuller transmission, steerable pusher axle. 16-ton Wilmar side shooter tender $29,500

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A husband and wife were driving through Louisiana. As they approached Natchitoches, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back and forth, then they stopped for lunch.

At the counter, the husband asked the waitress, “Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are very slowly?”

She leaned over the counter and said, “Burrrgerrr Kiiing.”

Conservation Reserve Program signup for 2023

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A26 populations, and provides important carbon sequestration benefits to deliver lasting climate outcomes.

How to Sign Up

Landowners and producers interested in CRP should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more or to apply for the program before their deadlines.

Producers with expiring CRP acres can use the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), which incentivizes producers who sell or enter a long-term lease with a beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher who plans to sustainably farm or ranch the land.

More Information

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits.

Freedom of Information Day

Date When Celebrated : This holiday is always March 16 Freedom of Information Day celebrates and recognizes a valuable concept in the American Bill of Rights. March 16th is the birth date of James Madison, the 4th president of the United States of America. James Madison is recognized as the "Father of the Constitution", and the chief author of the "Bill of Rights". Freedom of information and individual rights was very important to James Madison. The Freedom of Information Act was passed into law in 1966. It opened up a wealth of information to American citizens. James Madison would be very pleased!

History and Origin of "Freedom of Information Day:

While the word "National" is not included in the title of this day. We have no doubt that this is a national day. It is widely recognized and documented in U.S. Government websites and in other written materials.

If you are going to pay for land selling calves, you have to be a low input, least cost producer focused on profit. That means smaller cows, more of them, producing more pounds per acre, sold at a higher price per pound. Smaller pastures, grazing longer, feeding less. Calving later with more live calves, fewer cull cows, fewer replacements

And if you are all in, it means using your own bulls.

Raising

SELLING: Yearling and 2-year-old bulls

Text 406-974-3461, Lindsay, MT

Economic Outlook Briefings on agricultural policy and economic forecasting

Volatile agricultural markets, inflation, recession and a look at local and statewide economic issues are the focus of the 2023 Economic Briefing series, coming to Eastern Montana in mid-March.

Faculty from the Montana State University Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics will collaborate with economists from the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research to bring an economic briefing with emphasis on agricultural policy issues and forecasts to Sidney in the morning and Miles City in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 14. Breakfast will be provided at the Sidney event, and lunch will be provided at the Miles City event. The cost of the attendance is $30.

“Montana farmers and ranchers have experienced great uncertainty and volatile agricultural

markets in recent years,” said George Haynes, professor and Extension specialist in the agricultural economics and economics department at MSU. “The Russian-Ukraine conflict added to economic uncertainty, and relatively dry conditions this year, following severe drought conditions in 2021, took a toll on Montana agriculture.”

The briefing will touch on factors such as interest rates, inflation, global commodity prices and economic growth and uncertainty. Events locations and times are below:

Sidney – Tuesday, March 14, 7–9 a.m. – MSU Richland County Extension, 1499 N. Central Ave. Miles City – Tuesday, March 14, noon to 2 p.m. – Sleep City Inn & Suites, 1006 S. Haynes Ave.

Keeping bees in the backyard

By Catherine Wissner, University of Wyoming Laramie County Extension

While rewarding, beekeeping has become a whole new level of animal husbandry with best management principals at every turn. No longer a casual hobby of setting up hives, getting bees and collecting honey in the fall.

Back in 2006-2007 numerous beekeepers reported a record 30-90 % loss of bee hives. The worker bees were gone. No, dead bees, just the queen, young brood and honey in the hive. Without worker bees hives are not sustainable. This discovery was called Colony Collapse Disorder. Beekeepers looked to universities for answers, very little research was being done at that time.

Since then, every U.S. university*, most U.S. colleges, and a few beekeepers are doing some level of research on native or honey bees (Apis mellifera). What research discovered with colony collapse disorder, it is not a single problem, but several environmental and management concerns.

Habitat loss is one of the biggest contributing factor facing all bees. Just as people and animals need to eat every day, so do bees. They, need a flower source April through October. Homeowners can fix this very quickly by planting flowering trees, shrubs and perennial flowers with several species of plants blooming from April to October. Not only will this add beauty to the property, it may improve the property value, and provides valuable habitat for insects and birds.

Overuse of insecticides and herbicides have contributed to habitat, native bee and general insect decline. Agriculture and professional pesticide applicators are held to a high standard through testing and licensing, homeowners are not. The label on the container has a wealth of information how to use and what to protect. The label is governed by the Federal Government and is consider a law. Please, read the label before you use any pesticide.

A major parasite of honey bees, the Varroa Mite, has caused huge loses for beekeepers, it was first discovered in 1987 in a Florida apiary, now it is a national issue. Unfortunately, honey bees don’t have resistance to this pest currently there isn’t any known biological controls. Beekeepers must keep a balance of treating their honey bees without killing them, otherwise the Varroa Mite will kill-off the hive.

Several tasks managing honey bees, one, inspecting hives at regular intervals. For hobby/backyard Beekeepers that is every 7 to 10 days. A hive inspection involves, finding the queen, inspecting frames for disease and if honey is being produced. Another, but fun task; feeding bees when there are few flowering plants in the early spring, mid -summer and late fall.

Despite challenges beekeeping is a very rewarding craft. It does require good management, record keeping and staying on top of the latest research. Attending classes and finding beekeeping groups all help. A beekeeping conference in Cheyenne, the Wyoming Bee College, this March, where you can learn the craft of beekeeping or improve your current skills. This year also has a gardening component. You can find more information at www.wyomingbeecollege.org

* The University of Wyoming is doing studies on native bumble bees along with pollinator habitat.

V aquero

Forage Barley

Announces

the release and availability of ‘Vaquero’ forage barley. ‘Vaquero’ is a hooded, spring-planted barley developed specifically to produce forage for livestock.

Vaquero is a nutritious, palatable, and economical forage that can be grown alone or in blends with other species. It is generally harvested as hay or silage.

‘Vaquero’ yields more forage, stands better, and is taller than Stockford.

‘Vaquero’ also produces well when compared to other forage barley varieties.

Highland Specialty Grains, Inc., is the premier breeder of proprietary barley varieties in the western UnitedStates.

For more information contact Brett Despain (509) 855-8277

For more information see the Highland Specialty Grains website: highlandspecialtygrains.com

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Could you benefit from prairie strips?

By Maddy Rohr,

K-State Research and Extension news service

Insects can benefit crops in many ways but can often be hard to attract or keep around agricultural fields. Kansas State University assistant professor in entomology Tania Kim is researching the benefits of prairie strips in Kansas’ climate to better utilize insects in agriculture.

Also known as conservation strips or floral enhancements, prairie strips utilize forbs and grasses to draw insects to benefit the ecosystem around crops, and decrease pesticide use.

Kim said prairie strips can be planted around the border or along contour lines within the fields depending on the slope of the land, or other challenges.

“Iowa State University found numerous benefits of prairie strips including enhancing water quality, reducing soil erosion and increasing carbon sequestration,” Kim said. “They have also looked at the benefits for wildlife, like birds, as well.

While Iowa State is leading a study on research and application, Kim said Michigan State University is also looking at ways to bring pollinators to farm fields and support them in a sustainable way.

Of her own work, Kim said she “wanted to see if prairie strips would benefit drier landscapes in Kansas.”

Kim specifically is interested in the impact prairie strips would have on soybean crops.

“There could be that added benefit of increasing pollination, where wheat and corn don’t necessarily need pollinators. But also, there are several beneficial insects that are brought in that can reduce pests in soybeans.”

Kim said decomposers can also be attracted to the prairie strips, including ground beetles, dung beetles and ants.

“They feed on other insects, but they can also feed on seeds of weeds. There’s that potential for weed control as well,” Kim said.

Prairie strips may include high diversity mixtures of many forbs and perennial grasses.

“You want perennial plants that will flower throughout the season… a mixture so that they provide season-long floral resources for those insects,” Kim said.

While it may be a time investment for the prairie strips to be established, there is potential for increased pest suppression, which means less insecticide being sprayed, Kim added.

“If your crop relies on pollination, I think there’s that added benefit, so you don’t have to bring in honeybees. You can rely on the wild bees,” she said.

Some management is required to maintain plant health and growth.

“Much like our natural prairies, there is mowing that’s going to have to be done, or prescribed burns required on an annual basis,” Kim said.

Deciphering a hay test: TDN

By Brad Schick, UNL

Last time we looked at ADF and NDF and how it is used to measure a hay sample’s fiber content which affects digestibility and forage intake which help predict animal performance. Today, we will look at Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)

Often, the terms TDN and energy are used interchangeably when discussing forages and feeds, but realistically TDN is one measurement of energy.

There are many different components that make up what we call TDN. TDN is a combination of digestible fiber, lipids, and proteins. Acid detergent fiber or ADF, is used to help calculate TDN from the fiber component. The lower the ADF, the higher energy the forage contains in most situations. When supplementation is being considered, especially on a diet that is primarily forage, TDN is one of the most important vales to know from our hay test. In many cases, TDN is overlooked. Diets may be lacking energy as much or more than crude protein because protein often receives more focus in diets.

TDN values will be affected by maturity of the forage, weather conditions in which the forage was grown and harvested, and fertilization or other agronomic practices. For example, Sandhills meadow hay TDN ranges between 50% and 65% on a dry matter basis.

Understanding energy is important for the health and nutrition of livestock. For cows, TDN is the value that typically needs to be used to calculate their needs which changes drastically with different stages of production.

Highland Specialty Grains

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A golfer is playing a new course when he hooks a ball deep into the woods. The caddie suggests that he take a drop, but the man says he thinks they should look for it. “I’ve got eagle eyes,” the golfer tell his caddie. “I bet I can find it.” To which the caddie responds, “You’ll never find it. It landed in what we call ‘Lion Country.’” “Why do they call it Lion Country,” the man asks. “Because,” explains the caddie, “if you find it, you’re lion.”

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February used to be the last month of the year, which is why it has the shortest number of days.

Beef Stroganoff

4-1/2 cups uncooked yolk-free noodles

1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 lb sliced fresh mushrooms

1 large onion, halved and sliced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tbsp reduced-fat butter

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth

2 Tbsp tomato paste

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook the beef, mushrooms, and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking meat into crumbles. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Remove from heat and keep warm.

In the same pan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add broth and tomato paste. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes.

Carefully return beef mixture to the pan. Add the sour cream, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until heated through (do not boil). Drain noodles; serve with beef mixture.

Mom’s Fabulous Chicken

Pot Pie with Biscuit Crust

This chicken pot pie with biscuits is easy to make with leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken from the supermarket for a cozy, comforting dinner. It’s full of fresh vegetables for added flavor but you can use frozen vegetables for even quicker prep.

¼ cup butter

1 small onion, chopped

3 medium celery ribs, chopped

3 medium carrots, chopped

⅔ cup frozen peas

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

¼ teaspoon dried thyme

¼ cup all-purpose flour

2 cups lower-sodium chicken broth

⅔ cup half-and-half cream

salt and ground black pepper to taste

3 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-size pieces

1 (16.3 ounce) can refrigerated flaky-style biscuits (such as Pillsbury Grands®)

1 large egg yolk, beaten

1 tablespoon water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 15 minutes.

Stir in peas, flour, parsley, and thyme and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour coats the vegetables and begins to fry, about 5 minutes.

Whisk in chicken broth and half-and-half, and cook until the sauce is thick and bubbling. Stir in cooked chicken, and season with salt and pepper.

Transfer chicken, vegetables, and sauce into a 7x11-inch baking dish. Arrange biscuits on top of the filling.

Beat egg yolk with water in a small bowl. Brush mixture over the biscuits.

Bake in the preheated oven until the biscuits are golden brown and the pie filling is bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts

These pan-fried Brussel sprouts are so delicious! Don’t be afraid of Brussels sprouts... Yes, they are green, but panfrying them brings out their flavor. Use as a side dish or if you’re like me, an on-the-go breakfast item!

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons crushed garlic

¼ white onion, chopped

1 pound trimmed Brussels sprouts

salt and ground black pepper to taste

1 pinch garlic powder, or to taste

Directions

Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and stir until golden brown and fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add onion and cook until soft, stirring often, about 5 minutes.

Add Brussels sprouts and cook until one side of the sprouts turns golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir to turn sprouts over and cook until evenly golden brown, another 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

The best peas for North Dakota

By Tom Kalb, NDSU Extension horticulturist

There is nothing better than eating fresh peas in the garden. You pop open a pea pod and the green pearls inside are as sweet as candy.

At North Dakota State University, we have worked with hundreds of families to identify the best peas for our state.

The finest pea is Lincoln, an heirloom variety from 1908.

I rarely like heirlooms. There is a reason why an heirloom becomes an heirloom. It’s called progress. For example, I didn’t ride a horse and buggy to work today. I drove a car. It’s called progress!

Nevertheless, a gardener once insisted that we include Lincoln in the North Dakota Home Garden Variety Trials. To my surprise, it won. Since then, Lincoln has won our pea trials every year we have tested it. It’s a champion!

Also called Homesteader, Lincoln grows on short, 30-inch vines that do not need to be trellised. Its yields are abundant, and its peas are sweet and tender. The pods of Lincoln pop open easily. It’s great for freezing. Lincoln is the only shelling pea variety I grow. Green Arrow, Knight, Little Marvel and Wando are other good choices.

Truth be told, I’ve always had issues with growing peas. It goes back to my childhood on the family farm. I had ten brothers and sisters so my parents froze lots of vegetables.

It seemed like our peas would always ripen on the Fourth of July.

We would pick bushels of peas in the morning and then spend the rest of the day shelling them. For every bushel of pods that

was shelled, we ended up with only a bowl of peas. The cows got most of the harvest. That made the cows happy but made no sense to me. We were so busy shelling peas that we often missed going to the fireworks.

I hated shelling peas!

I wasn’t the only one.

A pea revolution spread across America in the 1980s. Snap peas were invented and the pea world changed forever. You could pick a bushel of peas and eat the entire bushel.

Even better, you didn’t have to spend every Fourth of July shelling peas. Our cows became sad, but my siblings and I loved watching the colorful fireworks.

The best snap pea for North Dakota is Sugar Ann. No other variety comes close. The vines are short and do not need a trellis. The yields are early and heavy. The pods are sweet, crunchy and juicy. My kids love them — and they love the fireworks too!

The pea revolution isn’t over yet.

There is a new, award-winning snap pea available. Called Snak Hero, the pods grow 4 inches long, look like beans but have the sweetness of snap peas. The pods are stringless and perfect for snacking. I can’t wait to try it this year.

Lastly, if you like eating salads or stir fries, you must give snow peas a try. Snow peas are harvested when the pods just begin to swell. The variety Oregon Sugar Pod II grows well here. Its yields are prolific and its pods are mild and crisp. If you like big pods, you will be delighted with Oregon Giant. Find a spot for some peas in your garden this spring. Enjoy the sweetness!

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##### Bluetooth” technology is named after a 10th century king, King Harald Bluetooth. Bluetooth united the tribes of Denmark, just like the wireless technology united cell phones and computers.

#####

In the late Middle Ages, books were so valuable that libraries would chain them to bookcases.

Where growers come for value and high yields for spring seed

HAMMER AX

• First CoAXium spring wheat

• Great balance of protein and test weight

• Early maturing medium height

RESOLUTEST ALFALFA

• Unmatched salt tolerance

• Sunken crown to withstand traffic throughout the year

• Dormant variety for outstanding winter hardiness

• Performs well in highly productive & marginal soils

MONTECH 4152 YELLOW FIELD PEA*

• Great dryland yield potential

• Excellent standability

• Ranked #1 in canopy trials

• Few days earlier than 4193

ROYAL CHICKPEAS* Single Use Only

• Developed for dryland

• 38% higher yield than Sierra

• Higher percentage of larger seeds

AVONDALE LENTIL*

• Medium green lentil

• Higher stature than Richlea

• Excellent disease resistance

• Great resistance to lodging

*PVP Title V

Advice

for backyard poultry owners

Backyard poultry is appealing because it offers families the opportunity to raise their own meat and eggs, says Penny Nester, North Dakota State University Extension agent in Bowman County.

Before purchasing poultry, Nester advises families to check on any city or housing ordinances to make sure it is allowed in your community. After ensuring backyard poultry flocks are allowed, beginner poultry owners can start getting ready to select and care for chicks.

“Raising chickens in northern climates can be challenging if you are not aware of the basics for purchasing and raising new chicks that will make up your backyard flock,” says Nester.

Basic considerations include breed selection, brooder and housing setup, nutrition, and health.

North Dakotans who raise chickens typically look for a dual-purpose bird. Birds in this category are adequate egg layers and will develop enough muscle mass to be used for meat production.

“Dual purpose breeds of chickens are better able to handle cold weather climate due to their excess muscle and size,” says Samantha Lahman, NDSU Extension 4-H youth development specialist in animal science. “Some of the most common breeds of dual-purpose chickens are Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Australorps and Wyandottes.”

HAMPTON GREEN FIELD PEA*

• Smooth green pea

• Very good resistance to lodging

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Most dual-purpose breed hens will take at least five to seven months to begin laying and will continue to lay for four to six years, says Lahman. Typically, egg laying production will decrease after the first two years. At peak production, hens will produce between four to six eggs per week depending on time of year, breed and diet.

After selecting a breed, new poultry owners will need to prepare to house and care for their new chicks.

“Raising day-old chicks requires frequent monitoring and adjustment,” says Nester. “If chicks are purchased in winter or early spring, develop a plan for housing that includes a brooder area that will be insulated enough to maintain high temperatures and minimize drafts.”

Newly hatched chicks are sensitive to temperature because they cannot regulate their body heat without feathers. For the first week post hatching, maintain the heating source temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. After seven days, reduce the temperature by five degrees each week until the chicks are one month old. Keep a thermometer in the brooder area to monitor temperature regularly, especially during the first 48 hours of placement.

Additionally, chicks will need constant access to water in a shallow watering container and starter feed. A good rule of thumb is to plan for 40 pounds of starter feed per 100 chicks for the first two weeks.

Chicks generally require 1/2 square foot of housing or brooder space per bird for up to six weeks of age. Depending on the breed, growing pullets will require 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 square feet of confined floor space.

“You must have a plan for managing manure in the living area,” says Mary Keena, NDSU Extension nutrient management specialist. “Manure will consist of wet litter, fecal matter, feathers and spilled feedstuff. A clean brooder area and coop will help prevent the spread of disease and keep the chickens clean.”

Ammonia, a colorless gas with a very distinct, irritating odor, may build up in a brooding area or coop if the area is not kept clean, says Keena. While ammonia is a useful fertilizer for growing plants, it is not safe for humans or animals in high concentrations with low ventilation

Removing manure regularly and replacing it with fresh, dry material will keep the environment clean and safe for both animals and humans. Manure that is removed should be placed on a non-porous surface and can be composted to stabilize nutrients and reduce the total volume.

As chicks grow, they will need housing that provides shelter, protection from predators, ventilation and easy access for cleaning.

NDSU Extension recommends good biosecurity and hygiene procedures to reduce the risk of contamination and illness from zoonotic diseases when working with your flock.

When birds will be handled, hands should be washed prior to handling and immediately following the handling of the birds and/or contact with poultry equipment like cages, nesting boxes, feeders and waterers.

For more information on raising poultry, NDSU Extension provides a “Beginners Guide to Raising Chickens” at ndsu. ag/raisingchickens.

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Crop residue removal:

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2

lbs P2O5, 34 lbs K2O and 3 lbs of S per ton of corn stover removed. A field that yields 150 bu per acre could produce up to 4 tons of stover. Based on current fertilizer prices and tons of corn stover removed, one can calculate the value per acre of nutrients removed. This value does not even include cost of removing the stover and the value of nutrients that may leave the field with runoff water and eroded soils. Residue removal also reduces earthworm population and microbial activities. Crop residues provide food to soil microorganisms that help in soil nutrient cycling.

Crop Residues Improve Water Availability

One of the limiting factors for dryland crop production is the availability of water. The impact of crop residue on soil water retention has been documented. Crop residues improve soil water storage by increasing infiltration thereby reducing runoff loss as well as evaporation loss. Crop residues, especially when left upright, also play a critical role in trapping and keeping more snow in the field. In addition to trapping snow, residues create a more uniform snow distribution resulting in a more uniform water distribution, slower surface water movement, and increased water recharge. On soybean or corn fields that have crop residues removed, snow just blows off the field and accumulates as large drifts on slopes and bottomlands where it stays longer during spring causing delays in field activities

It may be tempting for producers to bale wheat straw and corn stover, especially in years when livestock feed or bedding is in short supply. However, crop growers should weigh all the benefits of leaving crop residue in the field against removing it. This is especially important for growers that farm dryland ground. Sustainable stover removal depends on factors such as soil erodibility, field slope, cultural practice and climatic condition of the area. In high yielding fields that are minimum till or no till, up 45% of the stover can be sustainably removed. However, other studies suggest that residue removal should be only 20-30% of the total stover production.

Aquanus

An Indonesian version of Aquaman, he can breathe underwater and communicate with fish. But he can do something Aquaman can’t–he can shoot rainbows from his belt.

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A lasting impact: microplastics settling into soil

Whether we like it or not, plastic is a major part of our lives. The production and use of plastics has been found to create a problem because “microplastics” are accumulating in our soils.Researcher sets up a soil sample in front of neutron beam Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic debris that are often found in the environment. Less than 5000 micromillimeters in size, they are the result from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste. With limited studies of the impacts on the environment, researchers in Europe wanted to dig deep to learn how microplastics may impact the flow of water through soil.

Andreas Cramer, a researcher from ETH Zurich in Switzerland, and his team believe that high amounts of microplastics in soil cause the soil to repel water. This is because plastics do not wet easily. Overall, their experiments tested soils with various amounts of microplastics to see how water hit the soil surface and flowed through the soil.

The study was published in the Vadose Zone Journal, a publication of the Soil Science Society of America.

The research team found that, in large

quantities, microplastics begin to impact how water flows through soil. Fortunately, it is not likely that an entire area, such as a crop field, will contain this high amount of microplastics.

However, their data also showed how microplastics can concentrate or pool in certain areas, rather than being evenly distributed. This can cause issues in the soil in particular spots that have higher concentrations of the particles.

“If we take the example of an agricultural field, the uneven distribution of microplastics might cause an uneven distribution of water through the depths,” Cramer says. “Consequently, this could eventually impact the root architecture of plants. Spots with higher levels of microplastics in the top layer of soils could impact water availability for shallow rooting plants and, down the line, also nutrient availability.”

He adds that a worst-case scenario would be something like a dry “dead zone” where microbial activity is significantly reduced as well, which can impact the decomposition of organic material.

The scientists’ imaging techniques showed how water infiltration can be locally impeded because water doesn’t flow into regions with high levels of microplastics. Instead, it flows around them, which traps air. This results in an overall decreased water content and a slowing down of water filtering into the soil as well as changes in water configuration, so where water ends up.

“Average levels of microplastics are unlikely to occur in large volumes of soils at the higher levels we studied,” Cramer explains. “However, we expect uneven distribution of microplastics in soils. Consider agricultural mulch film pieces incorporated into the soil. These pieces become brittle over time and fall apart, turning into particles within the pore space creating hotspots of microplastic content. Or if you think about deposition of airborne microplastics. They will be collected in rough areas of the soil surface.”

Cramer says to think of water repellency like when a potted plant with extremely dry soil is finally watered. The water ponds and needs time to soak into the soil. Microplastic could increase this surface water repellency. And while he says more research is needed, this could be important in the context of climate change where extended periods of heat are followed by heavy rainfall events. He wants to investigate possible impacts of microplastics in this process.

Cramer also wants to explore how long microplastics may repel water if they break down over time, as well as if what a microplastic is made of makes a difference. He also says he is working to spread awareness of what microplastics are among fellow scientists and the general public.

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##### There are 145 liquid lakes (and counting) beneath the Antarctic ice. One, Lake Vostok, is under 2.5 miles of ice and is about the size of Lake Ontario.

##### Seven countries claim to own parts of the Antarctic continent: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.

New food allergen now listed on affected foods

By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition

Sesame is now one of nine common allergens that must be listed on food packages.

We were in a restaurant, and I began sneezing continually. I couldn’t stop. I had ordered shrimp scampi.

My eyes were watering and my nose was stuffed. I think the other diners were wondering if I had a communicable disease. I practically ran to the restroom to blow my nose and try to stop my sneezing attack.

Fortunately, I got better. Perhaps someone at a nearby table had sprinkled a lot of pepper on the food. Pepper contains “piperine” that irritates the nose and causes sneezing as your body tries to get rid of it. Maybe the shrimp dish had some ground chili peppers, which contain “capsaicin” that can trigger sneezing.

I took my leftovers home. The next day at work, I had another sneezing attack right after finishing my shrimp dish. About 10 minutes later, I was OK.

What was the trigger to my sneezing? Had I developed a seafood allergy? Was a spice aggravating my sinuses? Did I just make it worse by triggering my immune system?

I am somewhat afraid of shrimp right now. Seafood allergies, like many others, can be deadly, but I have never reacted to it previously. I think a spice is the irritant.

Some allergens cause people’s skin to erupt in hives and sufferers may feel a tingling or itchy sensation around their mouth. Difficulty swallowing, breathing, tongue and lip swelling, and closing of the throat are hallmark signs of food allergy issues. Other people may cough or have digestive upset such as vomiting, diarrhea or cramps. Food allergies are very serious.

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Anaphylaxis is the name of the worst-case scenario reaction to ingesting food allergens. An EpiPen can be lifesaving in the case of anaphylaxis, followed by a trip to the emergency room.

Unfortunately, food allergies cannot be cured. You need to avoid the foods that contain the allergen.

Let’s see what you know about food allergies.

1. At least how many different foods cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals?

A. 90

B. 120

C. 160

2. Name as many of the nine allergens required to be listed on food packages as you can.

3. What is the latest food allergen required on labels if it is present?

4. Which color additive must be listed on labels if it is present?

A. Red No. 5

B. Blue No. 2

C. Yellow No. 5

5. Where must allergens appear if they are present?

A. On the front of the package

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B. Under the ingredient statement

C. On the Nutrition Facts label

6. Are advisory statements such as “produced in a facility that also processes (allergen)” required?

If you suspect you might have allergies or intolerances to foods, visit with a healthcare provider such as an allergist. You will need to approach food selection cautiously and read labels thoroughly, as well as asking questions at restaurants. These are the answers to the questions.

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C. At least 160 foods cause allergic responses.

The nine food allergens are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. The first eight items on this list account for 90% of allergenic responses.

As of 2023, sesame is the latest food allergen required on labels.

C. Yellow No. 5 must be listed by name if it is present.

B. The allergen statement “Contains (allergen)” is found directly under the ingredient statement.

No. Advisory statements that caution about other allergenic foods are not required on food labels. However, they alert people to the potential for cross-contact.

Check out the food allergen handouts and recipes available on the NDSU Extension website, along with the provided links for further information. See ndsu.ag/allergens for details.

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JoAnna Williams recognized with NAAE Outstanding Service Citation

JoAnna Williams was recognized for her dedication to agricultural education and received the 2022 National Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Service Citation presented during the 2022 NAAE Convention, November 29 through December 3, in Las Vegas.

NAAE Outstanding Service Citations are presented to those who have gone above and beyond in professional activities, school activities, and community service. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher sponsors this award program.

Williams served as an agricultural educator for more than 30 years until her retirement from Hysham Public Schools in Hysham, Montana in 2019. For decades, Williams has been an advocate for agricultural educators and students across the entire state. Even after retiring, Williams continues to support surrounding agricul-

tural education programs, and gives her time and energy to district and state FFA events. During her time in the profession, Williams was active in the Montana Association of Agricultural Educators, where she served as the first female president of the organization.

NAAE is the professional organization for agricultural educators with over 8,000 members nationwide. The organization advocates for agricultural education, provides advancement through professional development for agricultural educators, and works to recruit and retain agricultural educators in the profession. NAAE offers a variety of programs and services to support this threepronged mission. The mission of NAAE is “professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service.”

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##### Antarctica isn’t completely covered in ice–98% of the continent is. The ice averages 1.34 miles thick, and is 3 miles at its thickest.

#####

If Antarctica’s ice sheets melted, the world’s oceans would rise about 200 feet.

Starting small to better understand key steps in the carbon cycle

Earth’s carbon cycle works on a global scale. But it can be affected by the tiniest of organisms: soil microbes. These microbes decompose organic matter like plant litter and dead organisms, and create simple carbon compounds. These simple carbon compounds can then be used by other organisms, or turned into gases (like carbon dioxide) and released into the atmosphere.Researcher showing fluorescent substrate solution under UV light

Much like us, soil microbes can be picky about where they live and work. “Just as we may prefer a certain range of temperature and humidity, soil microbes have their preferable conditions too,” says Alyssa Kim, a researcher at Cornell University.

Kim is the lead author of a new study that explores how soil conditions, like moisture level and pore size, can affect soil microbes. Understanding how different soil conditions impact microbial activity can give researchers a better handle on ways to increase soil health and fertility, and help combat climate change. For example, “it can be a critical part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural fields after harvests,” says Kim.

Kim recently presented her work at the 2022 ASA-CSSASSSA annual meeting, held in Baltimore, Maryland.

Kim and her colleagues at Michigan State University compared microbial activity near corn and switchgrass leaf litter. Corn is a vital crop, and farmers in the United States planted nearly 90 million acres in the 2022 growing year. Switchgrass is a promising bioenergy crop with an expanding footprint. “Also, corn and switchgrass have different litter characteristics,” says Kim. “Litter chemistry affects how easily microbes can decompose different litters. The physical characteristics like texture can affect the water and air environment near litters.”

Kim and her colleagues found that corn and switchgrass litters differ in how they change moisture levels in the soil near them. “We found distinct moisture depletion 0.1 to 1.5 millimeter away from switchgrass residues,” says Kim.

To study this moisture distribution, Kim used a method called X-ray and Neutron computed tomography. This method works very similarly to medical CT scans. “It’s a very promising, non-destructive way to study soils and water in them,” says Kim.

It turns out, moisture content is one of the most important factors influencing soil microbial activity. That’s because one way that microbes decompose organic material, like leaf litter, is by releasing chemicals called enzymes. Different enzymes break down different materials. For example, an enzyme called beta-glucosidase can break down plant cell walls. Another enzyme called chitinase can break down the exoskeletons of insects and some fungi. Once the enzymes break down their target materials into simpler chemicals, soil microbes can feast.

“When soil moisture levels are optimal for microbes, they tend to produce more enzymes,” says Kim. That can lead to faster decomposition of leaf litter and the release of larger amounts of carbon dioxide. That’s exactly what Kim and her colleagues observed. Soil moisture levels were higher near corn litter, and decomposing corn litter released more carbon dioxide quicker than switchgrass litter.

Although the study focused on millimeter-scale observations, it has large-scale implications. “Studying these microscale dynamics can help us to understand what is actually happening in our vast corn fields, and also, in promising bioenergy cropping systems like switchgrass,” says Kim.

Kim also tested how soil pore size affects microbial enzyme activity. These pore sizes ranged from 10 to 30 micrometers, slightly smaller than the thickness of a single strand of most human hair. “It is crucial to study soil pore structures because that’s where soil microbes live,” says Kim. Kim used a method called Zymography, to map the activity of different enzymes. “We add some chemicals onto the soil surface. Such chemicals show fluorescence when decomposed, and that is how we detect the location of enzymes.”

Soil pore size affects different enzymes differently. Beta-glucosidase – the enzyme that breaks down plant cell walls – worked more efficiently in soils with smaller pores. On the other hand, chitinase enzyme activity was higher in soils with larger pore sizes. “These contrasting results tell us that what is decomposed in soils can depend on soil pore architecture,” says Kim. “That’s because there are different microbes living in pores of different sizes, producing different enzymes.”

Starting small to better

Soils in farm fields have a mix of large and small pores, which indicates a mix of moisture levels and different microbes. “In the future, I would like to look at soil pores and moisture levels on larger scales and test how differences in moisture distribution affects the decomposition process,” says Kim.

This research was supported by Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (Award DE - SC0018409); National Science Foundation Long-term Ecological Research Program (DEB 1832042) at the Kellogg Biological Station; Michigan State University AgBioResearch; and special thanks to Dr. Sasha Kravchenko and Kravchenko Lab at Michigan State University, as well as Anders Kaestner at Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.

Supreme Sacrifice Day

Date When Celebrated: Always March 18

Supreme Sacrifice Day recognizes the ultimate sacrifice made by some for the good of others. History is filled with examples of people who offered the supreme sacrifice for other people.

We offer these examples:

• Jesus Christ gave the supreme sacrifice when he died on the cross for us.

• Soldiers in battle gave their lives to protect our freedom, our way of life, and to keep us safe.

• Fireman and police officers have given their lives in the line of duty, while saving and/or protecting people.

• More often than you think, a young man or a young women caught up in a love triangle, gave up the chase for the sake of their loved one.

The list goes on and on and on.

Today is a day to reflect and offer thanks and appreciation to those who made the supreme sacrifice for us.

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Alforex varieties: AFX429 Rugged and AFX 439 NEW Resolute, Magnum 7, Magnum 7 wet, L-442RR, HayPro, Ladak, Ladak ‘65, and others

JIM NIELSEN TRUCK & PARTS, INC.

HERE IS A LIST OF NON OPERATIONAL

COMPONENT TRUCKS (Selling As-Is)

2002 Freightliner FL106 (Critelli). $750

(2) 2000 International 4700 trucks. Each. $750

1997 Kenworth T800 good M11 Cummins. $2000

1995 International 9200 16-ft. aluminum dump box. $3500

(3) Mid 90, GMC Top Kick diesel trucks. Each. $1500

1994 Ford L9000 tandem, good L10 Cummins (electric fire). $2000

1994 International 4700 bad engine. $750

(2) 1992 GMC Top Kick Pepsi trucks. Each. $750 1991 GMC Top Kick wrecked (yellow). $500

1991 GMC Top Kick tandem diesel chassis (bad injector). $1750

1990 Ford L9000 tandem chassis (bad motor). $1500

1990 Ford L8000 SA diesel chassis. $750

1989 International 4700 bad engine U-Haul. $500

1986 GMC 7000 SA dump, bad 8.2 Detroit. $1000

1985 GMC 7000 fuel chassis.$1250

1980 Ford L9000 tandem, good 855 Cummins (rolled). $1500

1979 GMC 7000 bad brakes. $1000

1979 International S1600 chassis. $750

For peat moss sake

By Carrie Knutson, NDSU Extension agent, Grand Forks County

1997 Kenworth T800 day cab tractor, 14,000 miles on complete out of frame overhaul, C12 Cat, 430 HP, 13 spd transmission, 404 rear ends, East aluminum closet cab guard, Herd front bumper, all new rubber on aluminum. Exceptionally clean.

(12) School Bus Bodies For Storage

Good glass, no seats, shelves interior....CHEAP

1977 Utility 46-ft, tri-axle straight flatbed, 80% 11-24.5 rubber on steel budds, new brakes, 20 winches & straps

Inventory Available

Peat moss is used as a soil amendment because of its water holding capacity, and at the same time, it promotes water drainage.

Peat moss is a gardener’s go-to product for fixing almost any soil issue. Growing plants in a container? Use a peatbase, soil-less mix. Need to loosen-up your soil? Add peat moss. Want more water holding capacity? Add peat moss. You get the idea. Gardeners, do you ever take a moment to wonder where this miracle product comes from?

Peat moss is appropriately named, as it is decomposed moss. Peat moss forms in wet, low-lying areas such as bogs and wetlands. These peat wetlands are found in cool climates. Main peat-producing areas are located in Russia and Canada. Because of the wet conditions, the peat wetlands lack oxygen. Oxygen and warm temperatures are needed for fast decomposition. Therefore, the cool conditions and low oxygen levels slow the decomposition of plant residues, so it accumulates over hundreds or even thousands of years.

The peat moss gardeners use is typically made from Sphagnum moss species, but other mosses, and even grasses and reeds can form peats. Although, grass and reed peats have a lower quality that makes the peat undesirable for horticultural use.

Side note, peat moss is not the same as Sphagnum moss. Dried Sphagnum moss is long strings of moss that are used to decorate potted plants and silk flower arrangements. Peat moss is used in containers and as a soil amendment because of its water holding capacity, and at the same time, it promotes water drainage, balancing the amount of air and water in the root zone. As I mentioned, it is the main ingredient in many soil-less potting mixes, and it is used as a soil amendment.

The sustainability of peat harvesting and the impacts of removing peat are hot topics. Peat wetlands are an important part of our ecosystems. They are home to rare plants and animals. They clean water and remove carbon dioxide from the air.

There are alternatives you can use if you don’t want to use peat moss. You can use compost to replace peat moss as a soil amendment. Coconut coir can be used in container mixes. Researchers are testing tomato and mushroom waste and biochar, among other things, as a peat moss replacement. In fact, there are already soil-less, peat-less potting mixes on the market. The potting mixes have ingredients like biochar, coconut coir, perlite and plant-based compost.

Whether you use a potting mix or chose to use one of the soil-less peat-less mixes, thank peat moss for all that it does for gardeners and the environment. Happy gardening!

Just because you are traveling a well-marked trail, doesn’t mean whoever made it knew where they were going. –

Gary White, Lexington, and sheep showmanship trophy sponsor presented the Senior Division showmanship trophy to Jaelin Wolfinger, Lexington. #####

No cowboy ever drew his gun faster than the grandpa taking out his wallet to show a photo of his grandchildren. – Peter Darbo

#####

Proverb

Pioneer Mountains elk tests negative for Brucellosis

As part of a multi-year Targeted Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) staff recently captured elk in the Pioneer Mountains northwest of Dillon.

All 149 blood samples collected from captured elk tested negative for brucellosis.

Capture operations were conducted in January along the eastern front of the Pioneer Mountains. A few elk were also captured south of Montana Highway 278 east of Bannack. Thirty elk were outfitted with GPS collars that will be active for one year to help wildlife managers better understand their seasonal ranges, migration routes and potential mixing with other elk herds.

The goal of these operations is to evaluate the presence and understand the movement of brucellosis in Montana’s elk populations. The research also helps wildlife managers and animal health officials understand the overlap between elk and livestock on the landscape.

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that can infect humans, cattle, bison, and elk and can result in abortion or the birth of weak calves. The disease is primarily transmitted through contact with infected birth tissues and fluids.

The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) administers a brucellosis surveillance program for livestock in an area of southwest Montana called the designated surveillance area (DSA). Requirements within the DSA protect the state and national livestock industry from the spread of brucellosis. Livestock within the DSA are at risk of exposure to brucellosis from infected wildlife and are therefore subject to additional brucellosis testing requirements for movement and change of ownership, as well as additional traceability requirements.

Live elk captures in and around the perimeter of the DSA inform decisions on boundary adjustments by the DOL. The Pioneer Mountains are currently outside of the DSA.

Montana’s Targeted Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project is a joint effort between the DOL and FWP, with support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. In addition, this project and capture operation would not be possible without the generous support and permission from the landowners to capture elk on their property.

If She Likes Cowboys

715.352.3599 234260 County Road H

She had on a blouse today

That is hiding lots of beauty and splendor

It was white with lots of long stemmed roses on it

And it just fit her gender

I’ll bet it would be hard

To get to know her, even on bended knees

A lady as pretty as she is

Could have anyone she pleased

She had a smile that could melt

A cold December snow

Time flies by to fast watching her

And you hate to get up to go

I’ll cover lots of miles and many days

Before another one like her I’ll find

I know her better than she thinks

Cuz I’ve all ready loved her in my mind

If she likes cowboys, just to get to know her

And get a pick up parked in her yard

I would buy those fancy boots, big buckle and hat

And touch the brim when I say, Howdy pard.

If she likes rich men, I’d borrow or steal

A nice fancy western suit

And fill my pockets with lots of fives and ones

So I look like I got a lotta loot

But I can’t dance the two step

And not being rich is hard to hide

Maybe she would take me just the way I am

And we could ride around in my old Chevy step side.

From Down Ridgway’s Road

Robert Lee Ridgway

International Beaver Day

This holiday is always celebrated on April 7. It’s a day to learn about and show appreciation for those cute and loveable dam builders.

I addition to being cute and loveable, beavers play a very important role in the environmental eco-system….they build dams. As beavers create a new dam, they are helping to create or restore natural wetlands.

You can find beavers in ponds and small streams in many parts of the United States. They are also found in many other countries in North and South America. It’s fascinating to watch beavers at work. They ceaselessly build dams, dragging fallen branches and

trunks of trees from the shore to the dam building site. They often cut down small trees, using their sharp teeth to cut the trees down. Their work never ends. They are either busy adding wood to an existing dam, or building a new one.

The most enjoyable thing to do on International Beaver Day, is to hike to an active beaver pond and watch them busy at work building a dam. Look around and your will likely see the wetlands that they create, filled with a wide variety of vegetation, birds and other animals.

Selling farm or ranch property and tired of paying capital gains tax??

HELP IS HERE!!!

Save by deferring capital gains tax. For example, a 1031 exchange to sell a farm valued at $2,000,000 can creat a tax savings of approximatley $250,000,000; this tax savings can be used to purchase substantially more replacement property.

Catherine Witmer, Qualified Intermediary for 1031 tax-deferred exchanges Esi1031@gmail.com

EXCHANGE SERVICES INC.

200 Parkhill Drive Whitefish, Montana 59937 406-862-6995

For more information go to www.exchangeservicesinc.com

Also have Kubota 95 hp tractor available. Call for pricing and availability

2021 Sany U35 mini excavator, cab, multiple buckets, hydraulic thumb. Rent Me!

2017 Keestack H4 self contained cone crushing plant, 440 hp, triple deck screen plant, 5700 hours, work orders $375,000

2001 Knight 65 ton stretch lowboy, 25-38-ft., additional 6-ft. deck section available. $117,000

2015 Kenworth T800W Cummins ISX 600 hp, 18 speed, 2 speed auxiliary, 20,000 lb. front axle, tri drive, full lockers, double frame, wet kit Call For Price

Fordson Major diesel, 35 hp tractor $4500

1993 Case 7140 MFWD tractor, 240 hp, 18R42 duals, 2 remotes, 8950 hours $52,500

2014 New Holland 340S 3x4 baler, Intelliview 3 monitor, folding roller chute, 25,000 bales $52,500

1979 Cat 988B loader $29,500

Scoopmobile, bale spears, forks, 4000 lb lift capacity, towable, gas engine. Works good! $6000

2001 Transcraft 48-ft. dropdeck. $20,000 2014 Transcraft 48-ft. flatbed, sliding tandems. $19,500

1979 Cat 627B twin engine scraper $39,500

2014 Cat TL1255 telehandler, 12,000 lb. capacity, 55-ft. reach, enclosed cab. Buy or Rent $89,500

2008 Genie 1056 telehandler, 10,000 lb. capacity, 6-ft. forks, outriggers. Buy or Rent $55,500

2016 McCloskey 36”x80-ft. radial gravel stacker, electric drive, scales. Rental Unit!

1995 Manac 54-ft., 3 axle step deck, beavertail and ramps. $21,500 (4) Grader Snow wings (Cat & JD). Call For Pricing

(3) Dozer winches, CAT D8T and D6T. Call For Pricing

2016 Komatsu D61PX-24 dozer, 6 way blade, wired for grade control, New hydrostatic transmission. $140,000

Delta S3 24-ft. carted harrows. FOR RENT

2010 Kobelco SK140 excavator, zero tail swing, aux. hyd., 4800 hours, extensive work orders $50,000

2001 Western Star Cat 6NZ, 18 speed, 46,000 lb rears, wet kit. $35,000

2014 John Deere 7290R MFWD tractor, 7300 hours, 290 hp. $129,500

2001 Ingersoll-Rand SD122 84” padfoot roller, enclosed cab. $45,000

2005 Komatsu WA380-5 loader $45,000

2005 Liddell 55-ton, hydraulic neck, 24-ft. well $55,000

2008 John Deere 310SJ backhoe, 4x4, cab, extend-a-hoe, 2200 hours Coming in

2012 Trailking 55-ton lowboy, 26-ft. well, self contained, lift axle, fenders $75,000

1987 CMC tandem axle belly dump $9500

2007 Peterbilt 355 water truck, 4500 gallon tank, spray bars.

(1)

2023 Maverick Lite 3 Horse Deluxe Trailer, Double Rear Gate, Upgraded to the 10K GVWR, LED Lighting, Tack room with Saddle

7-ft. x 14-ft., 16k HD, black, LED lighting, hydraulic jack, tarp, aluminum ramps, KTI hydraulic pump, 10 gauge walls, torflex spring suspension, auto locking 2-5/16” ball hitch. Stock #83423 Our Price $12,950

2023 Lamar dump trailer 83” x 16-ft., 14k telescopic dump bumper pull, 7K EZ lube electric brake spring axle(s), front tool box, spreader gate, pair of heavy duty slide in ramps. Stock #16752 Our Price: $14,650 2022 Delco car trailer 83” x 18-ft., 7K GVW, electric brakes, 2-ft. dovetail, slide in ramps, LED lighting, flip up jack, spare tire mount. Stock #22611 Our Price: $5,450

equipment tilt trailer, 83” x 20-ft., 16-ft. gravity plus 4-ft. stationary aluminum deck, torsion axle, 16” aluminum wheels, electric brakes, 12k drop-leg jack. Stock #01088z Our price $19,250

Hydraulic Bale Bed Fits single wheel long bed, 84” x 8-ft. 6”, gooseneck ball, rear receiver hitch, electric over hydraulic, 12V pump and toolbox. Stock #0353 Our Price $8950

2023 Stealth aluminum enclosed snowmobile trailer 7-ft. X 22-ft., 32” x 72” paddle handle & piano hinge side access door, spare 15” aluminum wheel w/ 205/75r15tire. Stock #41750. Our Price $14,950 Sale $13,950

2023 Snow Pro hybrid snowmobile trailer 26” x 58” side access door with paddle handle and piano hinge, box and ramp 12-ft., 3-piece “loop” step with grip tape. Stock #41683. Our Price $7,850 Sale $7000

2023 SnoPro Enclosed Snowmobile Trailer, 101” x 16-ft. ES, 14” x 14” Fuel Door w/Paddle Handle, Fold-Down Aluminum Step, driver side front ramp. Stock #41725. Our Price $16,450 SALE $15,500

2023 Southland dump trailer 83” x 14-ft., 14k gvw, electric brakes, LED lighting, 7K dropleg jack, ramps, tarp, scissors lift, 18” sidewalls plus wood extensions, adjustable 2-5/16” coupler. Stock #84851 . Our Price $9,950 Sale $8950

2023 SnoPro enclosed deckover snowmobile trailer 101” x 22-ft., recessed slide track system: (2)

Lamar Gooseneck

Cargo Pro Utility Trailer,

2022 Crownline

2023 Southland dump trailer,

We’d appreciate it if you tell an advertiser you read his ad in the Trader’s Dispatch.

##### How’d they get airmail?

From 1939-42, there was an underwater post office in the Bahamas.

#####

If an animal has a tail, it’s caudate; if it doesn’t have a tail, it’s anurous.

#####

Weaning practices limit stress to ewes and lambs

Penn State Extension

Phone

Antarctic ice accounts for 70% of the world’s fresh water.

Ewes baaing, lambs crying, and shepherds wishing for quiet: will the noise never cease! These are all signs that weaning is commencing. However, some of that baaing and crying can be minimized if shepherds take a few simple steps to prepare for weaning. And, this can limit the stress to both ewes and lambs in the flock.

Weaning practices should start at least two weeks prior to the actual weaning process. Weaning means separating the ewes from their lambs. Lambs should be started on some sort of solid feed at least two weeks before weaning so that they are adapted to living on their own. In addition, lambs should also be accustomed to drinking water. Solid feed often comes in the form of a high protein grain mix, but could also mean highly palatable and high protein hay.

Weaning can occur in a number of different ways. Some producers like to wean early to take advantage of a lamb’s ability to more efficiently turn grain and hay or pasture into pounds of gain. It is more efficient to feed the lamb directly than to feed a ewe that produces milk that a lamb consumes. Early weaning generally takes place when lambs are 60 days old. Lambs should weigh at least 45 pounds at this time. Most ewes peak in their milk production around three to four weeks after the lambs are born. After that point, milk production decreases rapidly. Therefore, lambs should have plenty of grain and/or hay to eat by that point in time to get them accustomed to eating solid feeds.

Some producers will wean earlier to accommodate situations such as drought or the desire to breed back ewes more quickly. Earlier weaning may take place when lambs are just 30 to 45 days old. This can be challenging for drying off ewes at this time though. Lambs that are raised on milk replacer are often weaned at these early ages.

On the other hand, some producers prefer a natural weaning method where lambs stay on pasture with their mothers until they are four to six months old. This greatly decreases the stress of weaning for both the ewes and lambs, but can also mean lower weight gains in lambs.

When weaning, producers should prepare the ewes several days prior to the planned weaning date. Start by removing any grain from the diet of the ewes. And, switch to a low quality hay. This abrupt drop in protein and energy levels will cause the ewe to decrease milk production. Some producers will also limit water for 24 hours after weaning, but ewes that are weaned from 60 day old lambs or older don’t necessarily need water withheld unless they are heavy milkers. Be careful of limiting water during hot weather!

CONTINUED ON PAGE B17

Legume frost seeding in pastures

By Brad Schick, UNL

Are you looking to increase production from pastures or hay fields? Interseeding legumes might just work in your operation.

Nitrogen is one of the key ingredients for productive pastures. A way to get more nitrogen in a pasture is to plant legumes. Alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, clovers, and other legumes all fix atmospheric nitrogen and can reduce nitrogen costs. These legumes are also very high in forage quality.

Not all pastures are good candidates for adding legumes, however. First, legumes need adequate phosphorus and a pH usually above 6 while some prefer a pH closer to 7. Next, good seed placement is needed. When interseeding with a no-till drill is not an option due to frozen ground or topography, frost seeding is an option to consider. Frost seeding uses broadcasting seed in winter to allow the natural freezing and thawing of the ground to plant the seed for you, resulting in good seed to soil contact. Frost seeding success can vary and while more invasive, drilling is almost always a better option if the pasture would allow it. Because frost seeding requires seed to be close to the soil surface after broadcasting, snow-free or very little snow is preferred.

Lastly, heavy flash grazing several times in the spring will reduce the competition from existing grasses and help promote the legume seedlings. Once the grass is 3 to 4 inches taller than the seedlings, graze quickly until the grasses are grazed down to the height of the legume seedlings.

Legumes can help reduce fertilizer cost and create higher quality pastures and hay. Frost seeding is an economical approach that might work to establish legumes in your operation.

cab/ heat, straight, tight.........$17,000

(406) 253-1001

Weaning practices limit stress to ewes and lambs

Lambs should have all their vaccinations at least two weeks prior to weaning. They should receive their first C, D and T vaccination shot at about five weeks of age if their mother received a booster four to six weeks before lambing. Lambs born to mothers that did not receive a booster vaccination during pregnancy should receive their first vaccination shot at two to three weeks of age. A booster vaccination should be given to the lambs three to four weeks later. Deworming, castration and tagging should also be completed well ahead of weaning as all these practices cause additional stress to the lambs at weaning. If unable to perform these tasks prior to weaning, producers should wait until several weeks after weaning when lambs are well adjusted to living without their mothers. Watch lambs closely for any signs of health problems for several weeks after weaning. This includes health problems such as pneumonia, scours, and coccidiosis.

To decrease stress to the lambs, move the ewes to another location rather than move the lambs. The lambs should remain in the pen where they were raised because they are familiar with the surroundings and know where to find feed and water. This results in less decrease in feed and water consumption and thus less weight loss in the lambs in the first few days after weaning.

Ewes should remain on the low quality hay until their udders begin to shrink and dry off. For the first few days after weaning, be sure to look for any signs of exceptional swelling or redness. This can be a sign that mastitis is present and will need to be treated. If a ewe is very uncomfortable, some milk can be removed from the udder to lessen the pressure. Never remove all the milk as this will continue to stimulate milk production. Be sure to consult with your local veterinarian for treatment protocols.

Some simple steps prior to weaning can greatly reduce the stress for both ewes and lambs. And, this can result is less hearing aggravation for the shepherd and better weight gains in the lambs.

For more information on weaning management, contact Melanie at the Penn State Extension office in Bedford County at 814-623-4800 or by email at meh7@psu.edu

Cut Bank Tire

Planning summer grazing

By Jerry Volesky, UNL

Last year’s drought conditions across the state left most pastures heavily used and short. It is known that the combination of drought and heavy grazing can lead to reduced pasture production this year even if we get near normal rainfall. Now is the time to be planning spring and summer grazing. While most areas have received some good snowfall this winter, there always some uncertainty as to how much spring and summer precipitation we will get. So, the key first step is to develop or adjust a good drought plan for your operation. For native grass pastures, some reduction in stocking rate may be necessary. Slightly delaying turnout this spring will allow those grasses to accumulate some growth and help in the recovery process. Another management tip for pastures that were grazed first and into July in the 2022 season; is to defer grazing of those pastures until later in the summer. Seeded annual forages are another option that can be used to supplement any grazing needs. For spring or cool-season annual forages, the planting period is typically late March to early April. This would include things like oats, field peas, or other spring cereal grains. With that planting date, these would provide grazing beginning in late May through early July. For the summer annual forages, the planting period is typically late May and on into the summer months. This would include things like forage sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, pearl millet, and foxtail millet. Additionally, other species or legumes that are typical of some cover crop mixes could be part of the package as well. With a late-May or early-June planting of a summer annual, grazing should be available in July. Planning ahead can help make your forage season run smoothly.

Spring Vernal Equinox

Date When: March 20

Ah, Spring! A time when “a young man’s thoughts turn to thoughts of love”...and outdoors and fishing and gardening and........ And, let’s not leave out the ladies. Spring brings out these thoughts and more, for both ladies and gentlemen. So, let’s go and enjoy what many believe to be the best season of them all!

The Spring Vernal Equinox brings days and nights in equal proportions. It is simply the day when there is exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nighttime. But, did you know that this is only true on the Equator? For the rest of us, the timing is a little sooner, or later, depending upon where we live on the planet. We won’t go any deeper than that, as this a fun site, not a science course.

The other thing to note is that the Spring Equinox is just a calendar date. From a standpoint of weather in your area, real spring arrives sooner or later depending upon where you live in the Northern Hemisphere.

and

Photo by Kari Lewis.

grams. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.

“It’s that time of year for produces to consider all of their risk management opCONTINUED ON PAGE B22

IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

2-Used WadeRain wheellines, new in 2000. 5” pipe, 5-ft. wheels, 40-ft. pipe. Well maintained. Includes: inlet or center feed, hose, end plug and valve opener so irrigation ready. As is, you dismantle and haul.

1720-ft. long $9000

1560-ft. long $8600

2-Nelson P200 Big Guns on carts for 6” ringlock pipe. Includes cart $1500 ea. Approximately 1/3 mile A&M 6” ringlock Series 55 aluminum pipe. 6” x 30-ft. pipe. As is, pipe stacked, ready to go $135 ea pipe Phone (406) 600-4146, Bozeman, Montana

Call for Trailer Parts 1-888-423-2605 or 406-323-2605

Hillsboro Pickup Flatbeds In Stock

Contact us at or www.musselshellvalley.com or www.caseih.com/dealers/musselshellvalley

axle, 30” fronts and 46” rear duals, fully serviced and only 2983 hours MVE Price $120,496 2006 CASE IH MXM190 PRO Nice MFWD tractor with PowerShift/Powershuttle transmission, 4 remotes, 540/1000 PTO with 3 shafts, heavy duty 3-point, heavy duty drawbar, good rubber, front weight bracket with 12 weights, full service, only 5483 hours MVE Price $63,764 2000 JOHN DEERE 566 ROUND BALER 5x6 baler with mesh and twine wrap. Well maintained

Pondera County 4-H Shooters competed in a state tournament in Bozeman on March 4. The group attending included, from left to right, Mason Henke, Zoey Troup, Kendra Farkell, Reagan Aaberg, Jaidyn Farkell, Rylie Aaberg and Onika Hunsuker. In the back is coach Ramsey Offerdahl and to the far left is coach Joel Farkell.

unit with lots of life left $11,856

The Little Dealer With “TO TREAT EVERY CUSTOMER LIKE WE LIKE TO BE TREATED.” The BIG Promise.

2019 CASE IH RB565 ROUND BALER Clean, one owner baler with mesh and twine, 1000 RPM, endless belts, wide pick-up and 21.5Lx16.1 tires. Been through the shop and is ready to go to work. Good Buy at $50,387

Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began October 17, and producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two pro-

ITEMS FOR SALE

1998 Thor Wanderer Lite travel trailer, 4-season, 22-ft. overall length, 5th wheel with tandem axle, awning, a/c, gas and electric frig, stove, good tires, middle bathroom and shower, rear dinette, clean, good hunting or camping trailer, 1/2-ton towable, never lived in $6000

Farmers can make 2023 crop year elections, enroll in ARC and PLC programs

12-ft. utility trailer with heavy poly 1250 gallon tank, pintle hitch, new 2” gas power pump. Great for ranch use. Room for fuel and lube unit $2900

8-ton triple axle equipment trailer, 20ft. with beavertail and ramps. Good tires with electric brakes. Great for skid steer, etc. Clean $6900 10-ton shop built triple axle trailer, all steel drive over fenders, 24-ft. extra low wood ramp, great for PC excavator, etc, air over hydraulic brakes self contained, 8.25x15 tires, pintle hitch, easily hauled by pickup etc. $8500 Pump for firetruck, low hours, with front bumper, nice $2000

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B20 tions, including safety-net coverage elections through Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We recognize that market prices have generally been very good, but if the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, frequent catastrophic weather events and the Ukraine war have taught us anything, it’s that we must prepare for the unexpected. It’s through programs like ARC and PLC that FSA can provide producers the economic support and security they need to manage market volatility and disasters.”

ARC and PLC payments for a given crop year are paid out the following fall to allow actual county yields and the Market Year Average prices to be finalized. This month, FSA processed payments to producers enrolled in 2021 ARC-CO, ARC-IC and PLC for covered commodities that triggered for the crop year.

8) Budd 8-hole wheels with good 235-16 tires from equipment trailer $950

Phone 406-777-1435

406-487-2216

email: sales@shortlineag.com

website: www.shortlineag.com

Box 1177 •Scobey,Montana 59263

2023 Elections and Enrollment

Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County (ARC-CO) or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARCIndividual (ARC-IC), which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2023 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Also, if a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm and makes an election change for 2023, they must sign a new contract.

If producers do not submit their election by the March 15, 2023 deadline, their election remains the same as their 2022 election for crops on the farm. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the farm.

Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.

Web-Based Decision Tools

In partnership with USDA, the University of Illinois and Texas A&M University offer web-based decision tools to assist producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations. Tools include:

Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, a tool available through the University of Illinois allows producers to estimate payments for farms and counties for ARC-CO and PLC.

ARC and PLC Decision Tool, a tool available through Texas A&M that allows producers to obtain basic information regarding the decision and factors that should be taken into consideration such as future commodity prices and historic yields to estimate payments for 2022.

2021 Payments and Contracts

For ARC-CO, producers can view the 2021 ARC-CO Benchmark Yields and Revenues online database, for payment rates applicable to their county and each covered commodity. For PLC, payments have triggered for rapeseed and peanuts.

For ARC-IC, producers should contact their local FSA office for additional information pertaining to 2021 payment information, which relies on producer-specific yields for the crop and farm to determine benchmark yields and actual year yields when calculating revenues.

By the Numbers

In 2021, producers signed nearly 1.8 million ARC or PLC contracts, and 251 million out of 273 million base acres were enrolled in the programs. For the 2022 crop year signed contracts surpassed 1.8 million, to be paid in the fall of 2023, if a payment triggers.

Since ARC and PLC were first authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and reauthorized by the 2018 Farm Bill, these safety-net programs have paid out more than $34.9 billion to producers of covered commodities.

Crop Insurance Considerations

ARC and PLC are part of a broader safety net provided by USDA, which also includes crop insurance and marketing assistance loans.

Producers are reminded that ARC and PLC elections and enrollments can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products. Producers on farms with a PLC election have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider; however, producers on farms where ARC is the election are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres for that crop on that farm.

Unlike SCO, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by an ARC election. Producers may add ECO regardless of the farm program election.

Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan (STAX) on their planted cotton acres for that farm.

Winter weather requires major shift in cattle management

Winter weather has come with a vengeance, so cattle producers need to pay close attention to their animals, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension livestock specialists say.

“Winter weather is here and storms are in the forecast,” says Zac Carlson, NDSU Extension beef cattle specialist. “This storm may bring heavy snow, cold temperatures and raging winds. Cattle feel the effects of extreme weather, and producers need to make sure the provided feed is meeting the energy and protein needs of the cow herd.”

Carlson recommends, “When doing feeding chores, make sure you are paying close attention to the body condition and fat cover on the cow herd. Cows that are too thin will suffer the most as fat is the insulation factor for the cow. Snowfall cover on the backs of

cows will not melt quickly on cows with good insulation.”

Substantial snowfall is forecast and drifting can make open area access to feed and water difficult. Farmers and ranchers need to move cattle to areas that provide some protection from the wind as soon as possible. Waterers need attention. Ice build-up around automatic waterers is common and injuries can occur if they are competing for limited water space.

The November storm brought some needed moisture. However, the snow is compacted, and there will not be sufficient water available to meet the needs for cattle, especially cows on high roughage, high dry matter rations. The specialists recommend spreading feed out, so all cattle have access

Winter weather requires major shift

CONTINUED

and providing extra feed during this time.

If cows are being maintained on relatively poor-quality feeds or temperatures get too extreme, altering the amount of feed will not meet the increased energy requirements for the cattle. Feeds of higher nutrient quality (more energy dense) must be included to achieve the needed level of nutrition during cold spells.

“This is not the time to be feeding low quality forages (low protein),” says Dr. Gerald Stokka, NDSU Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist. “With lack of sufficient water or lack of watering space and cold weather, cattle will try to eat more and impactions (digestive blockage) can occur.”

If farmers and ranchers are grazing cover

crop or some type of grazing system, snow depth can severely restrict the animals’ ability to consume enough forage to meet their needs. These animals will need to be supplied with extra harvested forage.

Some feeds can be dangerous if hungry cattle are allowed full access. For example, grains and high-quality alfalfa can cause digestive disturbances or bloat if cattle consume too much.

“Consider supplying enough feed for several days to cattle in cases when additional snowfall and drifting are forecast and could restrict cattle’s access to feed for a period of time,” says Stokka.

In feedlot settings, cattle may back off feed for a day or several days, so farmers

CONTINUED ON PAGE B24

for filling drills

Winter weather requires major shift

CONTINUED

and ranchers must make sure to get them eating pre-storm rations. Limit feeding or feeding smaller amounts several times a day can avoid digestive disturbances in feedlot cattle. Another option is to reduce dietary energy for a period of time by adding more roughage, then following that with a gradual transition back to highenergy finishing rations.

“Take steps to ensure cattle are out of the wind,” says Stokka. “If natural windbreaks (trees, draws, etc.) are available, take advantage of them for feeding sites. If no natural windbreaks exist, producers will need to take steps to make permanent or portable windbreaks to protect cattle from the wind. Portable panels are good options when maintaining cattle in rela-

tively open country.”

Bedding may not always be necessary for wintering cow herds, but in cases where cattle are wet, it is a must. Bedding helps keep cattle dry and provides insulation from the cold ground. It also can provide a reprieve for cattle that have been standing or walking for several days after storms.

Extension specialists also recommend ranchers watch their cattle closely for health conditions that arise from exposure to winter weather. Hypothermia and frostbite may be apparent immediately, but cattle can be at risk for pneumonia and other conditions for several weeks after severe events. Farmers and ranchers

CONTINUED ON PAGE B26

Golfer’s Day

This holiday is always observed on April 10.

Some avid golfers might suggest any and every day is Golfer’s Day. But this April 10 holiday is officially dedicated to golfers. The only question is, does this day honor the golfer, the sport, or the weather? Well, it’s a little of each. Golfer’s Day, also called “Golf Day”, is an opportunity to be thankful that someone invented this addicting, yet relaxing hobby.

Also referred to as “Golf Day”, there is only one proper way to enjoy this day. And, that’s out on the golf course. When Golfer’s Day falls on a weekday, it is even more special. That means you now have an excuse to take a day off of work and go play a round …or two. Regardless of your score today, you know that even a bad day on the greens is better than a good day at work.

How to Participate in Golfer’s Day

This whole day and night are dedicated to the sport and those duffers who participate in it.

Play a round of golf.

Buy some new clubs, a bag or some balls and tees. Hit some balls at a driving range.

Practice your putting.

Tonight, catch up on your golf magazines.

Deciphering a hay test: ADF and NDF

By Brad Schick, UNL

Understanding a hay test can be difficult. Today, we will look at fiber tests, Acid Detergent Fiber or ADF and Neutral Detergent Fiber or NDF.

Both ADF and NDF are part of the detergent analysis system used to analyze forages. NDF provides us with a measure of the forage sample’s cell wall, basically the total fiber. This includes the cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and silica portions of the forage which are the primary structural components for all plants. ADF, on the other hand, measures only the least digestible parts of the plant; cellulose, lignin, and silica.

NDF measurements correspond with voluntary intake and rumen fill, how much and how fast an animal can eat. They also are a measure of how much energy is available to the animal. Usually, a low NDF reading means more energy available to the animal. The more mature a plant becomes, the more structural components it accumulates resulting in higher NDF readings and poorer quality feed. NDF levels can vary from 80% in straw to less than 40% in early blooming alfalfa.

ADF is directly related to the digestibility of the feed, measuring the indigestible portion of the plant. As ADF increases, digestibility decreases. This means that high ADF forages are low in energy. Alfalfa at early bloom has an ADF of 30-35% while a late bloom alfalfa has an ADF usually above 40%. Straw will have an ADF nearer to 50%.

ADF and NDF measure the sample’s fiber content, affecting digestibility and forage intake which help predict animal performance. Understanding these values set us up for next week’s discussion as we look at a measure of energy, TDN.

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Potential impacts of a drought on the calving season

By Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management

Drought can have far-reaching implications, more so than just reduced grazing capacity for cattle production. Photo credit Troy Walz.

Listen to a discussion of the content in this article on this episode of the BeefWatch podcast. You can subscribe to new episodes in iTunes or paste http://feeds.feedburner.com/ unlbeefwatch into your podcast app.

Drought across the Great Plains has greatly reduced the supply of grass available this grazing season. While many cows went to market to save grass for a core herd, those cows that remain may have had access to limited, dry pastures. Grass in many areas appeared dormant as early as July. Therefore, not only was quantity limiting, but quality may have been limiting as well.

Normally, in a year with adequate rainfall, cows are able to replenish liver stores of vitamins and minerals that they may need to use during the winter. Additionally, they may be able to improve body condition either during summer grazing or at least in the fall after weaning if they have an opportunity to graze forages that were deferred during the growing season. In a drought, and especially the second year of a drought, reserve forages are likely unavailable and summer grazing may have been limited. This could result in bred cows in a body condition score (BCS) of 4 or less on a 1-9 scale, when a 5 or 6 would be optimal, and liver stores of minerals and vitamins lower than normal.

There are several potential problems for thin cows in this drought scenario. One concern is that if cows are forced to use body reserves throughout the winter, due to harsh weather and/or limited feed reserves, they are in danger of becoming weak, possibly too weak to be mobile. Additionally, as a thin cow uses reserves to maintain herself rather than put those reserves into the development of the fetus, she is at risk of giving birth to a small weak calf that will struggle in the adverse weather conditions generally associated with spring calving.

Colostrum is the first meal a newborn calf receives. This is a very important meal because it is rich in immunoglobulins, vitamin A, protein, and fat, all of which are instrumental in building immunity and giving the calf a nutrient dense meal important for a healthy start. These nutrients all drop to a fraction of the values found in colostrum within 48 hours of milk production, so it really is extremely important that the colostrum be high quality and the calf be strong enough to stand and consume it shortly after birth. Research has shown cows in a BCS 4 have decreased immunoglobulin concentration compared to cows in a BCS 5 or 6. Vitamin A, readily available in green grass, is stored in the liver and can be pulled from the liver to produce colostrum, which starts about 5 weeks prior to calving. Vitamin A is also very important for immunity

in the calf. However, not all the needed Vitamin A comes from the liver, the diet must provide Vitamin A as well. Therefore, if the grass was low in Vitamin A due to drought conditions, and the cows are currently on low quality harvested feeds, the colostrum is at risk of being low in Vitamin A.

Cows who are a BCS 4 at calving, and faced with the nutrient demands of lactation may struggle to rebreed. This is especially true of first and second calf heifers who still have to allocate nutrients for growth. If cows have access to green grass shortly after calving and before the breeding season begins, they have a better chance of rebreeding early enough to maintain a 365-day calving interval. However, harvested feed reserves may be limited, and if drought conditions persist, cows may need additional feed resources to rebreed.

Drought can have far-reaching implications, more so than just reduced grazing capacity for cattle production. Producers who have questions about strategically utilizing feed resources to achieve optimal cow performance should contact their local University of Nebraska beef extension team member.

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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

######

Paddy and Murphy are havin’ a pint in the pub, when some scuba divers come on the TV. Paddy says, “Murphy, why is it them deep sea divers always sit on the side of the boat with them air tanks on their backs, and fall backwards out of the boat?”

Murphy thinks for a minute then says, “That’s easy. It’s ‘cos if they fell forwards, they’d still be in the boat!”

#####

Q. What’s a shark’s favorite sandwich?

A. Peanut butter and jellyfish!

High quality hay after calving

By Ben Beckman, UNL

Good cow nutrition is crucial following calving to get cows rebred. Today, let’s look at the reason for using our top tier hay after calves hit the ground.

Because cows experience a lot of stress after calving, they need good feed. Not only is the cow producing milk for her calf, she is also preparing her reproductive system to rebreed. As a result, nutrient demands are high. Energy requirements increase about 30 percent and protein needs nearly double after calving. Underfeeding reduces the amount of milk a cow provides her calf, and it can delay or even prevent rebreeding. If it gets cold, wet, or icy again, nutrient demands can sky-rocket.

Even if they can get to them, winter grass, corn stalks, and other crop residues are low quality right now as these feeds have weathered and are well picked over. It is critical that the hay or silage you feed will provide the extra nutrients your cows need.

Because of this, not just any hay or silage will do. Your cow needs 10 to 12 percent crude protein and 60 to 65 percent TDN in her total diet. If she is grazing poor quality feeds or eating grass hay, your other forages and supplements must make up any deficiencies.

Make sure your forage has adequate nutrients; if you haven’t done so yet, get it tested now for protein and energy content. Compare this to the nutrient requirements of your cows. Then feed your cows a ration that will meet their requirements. Use supplements if needed. But don’t overfeed, either. That is wasteful and expensive.

Calving and the months after are a stressful time for cows. If we underfeed, it can delay rebreeding and slow down calf growth. Use your best quality forages with any needed supplements to provide adequate nutrition. By meeting nutrient requirements, your cows will milk well, rebreed on time, and produce healthy calves year after year.

Extraterrestrial Abductions Day

Date When Celebrated: This holiday is always March 20

Extraterrestrial Abductions Day is today. Alien UFO’s may be everywhere, looking to abduct humans. If you are not careful, perhaps they will find you! Keep one eye on the sky. If you see a UFO, be ready to duck, dodge, and hide. Of course, there are more than a few people out there, who are looking to be abducted by aliens. Their goal is to travel to an alien planet.

Celebrate today by reading and watching science fiction stories about UFOs and Extraterrestrials. And, make sure to keep out of sight of extraterrestrials.

Most lovable alien: “ET”

Favorite alien: “My Favorite Martian”

Origin of “Extraterrestrial Abductions Day”

From what we have gathered, we believe the creator has been abducted by aliens, and is rumored to be living on a planet in a galaxy far, far away. The suspects are believed to have fled the area in a very high speed vehicle.

Winter weather requires major shift

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B24 should talk with their veterinarian to establish treatment plans for any anticipated or observed illness.

Farmers and ranchers need to protect themselves from the weather as well. Make sure the cattle are fed and have protection from the wind before the storm breaks or the temperatures plummet. Take a few moments to make sure you are dressed appropriately before heading out the door. Communicate with neighbors and offer assistance if needed.

For assistance with ration formulation, feeding recommendations or other winter management concerns, contact your county NDSU Extension office at https://www.ndsu. edu/agriculture/extension/county-extension-offices.

Strengthening sorghum against a worldwide fungal threat

By Jan Suszkiw, ARS

A gene discovered by a team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Purdue University scientists could help fortify the defenses of sorghum to anthracnose, a disease of the cereal grain crop that can inflict yield losses of up to 50 percent.

The discovery, to be reported in an upcoming issue of The Plant Journal, opens the door to breeding disease-resistant sorghum cultivars that are less reliant on fungicides to protect them, reducing growers’ production costs and safeguarding grain yields and quality, among other benefits.

Sorghum is the fifth-most widely grown cereal grain crop worldwide, providing consumers not only with a source of food containing 12 essential nutrients, but also forage for livestock and material for biobased energy. However, unchecked with fungicides or other measures, anthracnose will attack all parts of a susceptible cultivar, often forming reddish lesions on leaves and the stem as well as causing damage to the plant’s panicles and grain heads.

Genetic-based disease resistance is the most effective and sustainable approach to combating anthracnose in sorghum. However, how this resistance actually works in the plant is poorly understood, according to Matthew Helm, a research molecular biologist at ARS’s Crop Production and Pest Control Research Unit in West Lafayette, Indiana. That knowledge gap is worrisome because of the genetic variability among different races (or types) of the anthracnose fungus and their potential to overcome a cultivar’s resistance genes over time. Additionally, anthracnose resistance can be temperature-dependent, potentially leaving a sorghum crop vulnerable to infection if temperatures soar above a certain threshold.

Fortunately, Helm and a team of Purdue University scientists led by Demeke Mewa have begun to close this gap. They identified a disease-resistance gene that orchestrates a series of defense responses to early infection by the anthracnose fungus, preventing its spread to the rest of the plant and grain heads.

Sorghum stalks and some products produced from sorghum grain. ARS and Purdue University scientists identified a gene that could help sorghum withstand the fungus that causes anthracnose disease.

Additionally, sorghum plants carrying the resistance gene, known as “ANTHRACNOSE RESISTANCE GENE 2” (ARG2), successfully withstood the fungus even when greenhouse temperatures were increased to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). This temperature stability could be a potential boon for sorghum production regions of the world where growing season temperatures can reach those levels.

The team also determined that ARG2 helps make (“encodes for”) a protein that is concentrated in the plasma membrane of resistant sorghum cells. There, it acts as a kind of intruder alert that’s triggered by certain proteins used by the anthracnose fungus to infect the plant.

“These results significantly advance our understanding of how sorghum detects fungal pathogens and opens the door for engineering new disease resistances against plant pathogens of cereal grains,” the team writes in an abstract summarizing their findings in The Plant Journal paper.

ARG2 and its protein don’t protect sorghum from all races of anthracnose. However, combining ARG2 with other similar genes could help broaden that protection— either through conventional plant breeding methods or biotechnological ones. With ARG2’s discovery, scientists now have a key to unlocking a fuller understanding of how the mechanisms of anthracnose resistance work and making the best use of them as a disease defense that growers worldwide can count on.

Winter hay worries

By Ben Beckman, UNL

Grass tetany and nitrate poisoning are issues that we typically associate with animals grazing. However, both issues can be a problem in winter when animal diets are limited by what they are fed. Is your herd safe from possible hay worries?

Tetany occurs when an animal’s diet doesn’t have enough magnesium to meet nutritional needs. Complications with milk production and increased magnesium demand can make this imbalance even worse during lactation.

Grass, alfalfa, and cereal grains harvested for hay can all be low in magnesium. Getting a hay test with mineral analysis can easily show if this is an issue we need to worry about. If tests come back showing less than 0.15% magnesium, the hay is deficient. Other mineral interactions that can worsen tetany are low calcium (<0.40%) and high in potassium (>2.5%).

If your test comes back with issues, consider switching over to a high calcium and magnesium mineral. Most options use magnesium oxide, which is bitter tasting and can reduce animal consumption. Consider mixing with a protein or energy supplement or mixing with distillers grain or soybean meal to improve consumption if it’s not at target levels (for a 10-13% Magnesium mix, this is 4 oz. per head).

Another concern to keep an eye on is nitrates. Forages high in nitrate that were harvested for hay will not see a significant reduction in nitrate levels after curing. Any hay that we suspect being high in nitrate should be tested and if high, fed as a reduced portion of the diet to prevent an issue with toxicity.

Tetany and nitrates in the winter aren’t problems that often jump right to a producer’s mind, but they can be a serious issue, especially when an animal’s diet is limited to what they are fed. Properly testing hay and adjusting mineral and diets to minimize risk can keep your winter hay worries at bay.

Ides of March

Date When Celebrated : March 15

The Ides of March is the first day of the Roman New Year. It also marks the first day of spring in the Roman calendar.

On this day in history, Julius Caesar was warned by soothsayers to "beware of the Ides of March". Apparently, he did not heed the warning strongly enough as he was stabbed by Marcus Brutus on the Ides of March in 44 BC.

Straight from the Mouth of Julius Cesar: I came, I saw, I conquered.

The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would ever look.

In the end, it is impossible not to become what others believe you are.

Experience is the teacher of all things.

It is better to create than to learn. Creating is the essence of life.

Terri Uden, Johnsons Lake, Nebraska, and Dawson County Fair supporter presented the Grand Champion Breeding Heifer trophy to Jacie Wolfinger, Lexington, Nebraska, at the Dawson County Fair.

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North Dakota pastureland values rise in 2022

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North Dakota pastureland values were up sharply statewide with an overall increase of approximately 11.5%, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension agricultural finance specialist. The state average price per acre increased from $972 per acre in 2021 to $1,080 per acre in 2022, according to county-level data compiled from the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands annual survey posted online at https://www.land.nd.gov/resources/northdakota-county-rents-prices-annual-survey.

Due to insufficient data, rental rates for the northeast, northern Red River Valley and southern Red River Valley are not reported here.

All regions except for the south-central region increased well over 10%. The largest increase occurred in the northwest region at 16.7%, while the southeast increased nearly 15.5%. The east-central and southwest regions both increased between 12% and 13% while the north-central increased just over 10%.

“The only reported region that did not see a large increase was the south-central region, increasing nearly 1%,” says Parman. “However, in previous years it was the only region to post consistent gains while other areas have been somewhat up and down.”

The costliest pastureland in North Dakota remains in the southeast at $1,559 per acre followed by the south-central region at $1,137 per acre. The east-central was $1,119 per acre in 2022 followed by the southwest region at $1,033 per acre. The northwest and north-central regions remain under $1,000 per acre at $751 and $890 per

acre, respectively.

Pastureland cash rents were unchanged statewide remaining at $21 per acre in 2022 which was the same as 2021. However, there were areas of the state that did experience increases while others showed decreases. Regions of North Dakota that saw increases in pastureland cash rents include the north-central, southwest and east-central regions. The north-central region increased 4.5%, the southwest increased 6.3% and the east-central increased 2.6%.

The remaining regions showed decreases including the northwest, south-central and southeast regions. The northwest decreased 5.4%, the south-central decreased 0.85%, and the southeast decreased 3.6%. The combination of increases and decreases in regional rental rates canceled each other out such that the statewide rate remained at $21 per acre.

“While it is common for rental rates and pastureland values to move by different amounts within the data, such that values may increase by double digits while rental rate increases are in the lower single digits, it is less common for values to increase so remarkably while rents remain unchanged (or possibly decline),” says Parman.

“This situation is likely due to the drought that North Dakota experienced in 2021, with some areas continuing to be impacted in 2022,” says Parman. “Land purchases are a longer-term investment and recent precipitation amounts have less of an impact in the short run, while rental rates may indeed be impacted by available standing or predicted forage amounts.”

Helene Keiser, Gothenburg, Nebraska, shows off her champion British Heifer which earned her a trophy and purple ribbon at the 4-H Beef Show during the Dawson County Fair.

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2019 Apache AS1240 self-propelled sprayer, 100-ft. steel booms, 1200 gallon poly tank, Viper 4 monitor, Smartax, AccuBoom, XRT AutoBoon, 3” side fill $249,900

2014 New Holland SP.240F front boom self-propelled, 1200 gallon poly tank, 100-ft. booms, IntelliView IV monitor, fence row nozzles, UltraGlide boom level, luxury cab, low hours $182,500

2016 Apache AS1220 self-propelled sprayer, 1200 gallon tank, 100-ft. steel booms, Raven Hawkeye nozzle control, AutoBoom AutoGlide, Smartrax Autosteer, Rave Viper 4 monitor $154,900

2007 Apache 1010 self-propelled sprayer, 1000 gallon poly tank, 60/90 foot steel boom, autorate, auto boom. PRICE REDUCED $69,900

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2010 MacDon D60 45-ft. draper header with pickup reel, transport $49,900

2006 New Holland HS18 sickle header, 18-ft., rubber conditioner. $5995

2003 New Holland HS18 sickle header, 18-ft., rubber conditioner. $5795

2022 New Holland CR8.90 combine, full automation, duals, variable speed rock drum, full guidance, electric folding hopper, Sunnybrook concaves Just In tensions, moisture sensor, 30-ft. New Holland 971 header with pickup reel, New Holland 970 pickup header, and Rake-Up attachment $12,500

1995 Case IH 2188 combine with MacDon 960 36-ft header and 1010 15-ft pickup header. $19,995

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MFB captures prestigious awards at national convention

Montana Farm Bureau has captured the prestigious Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state Farm Bureau can be awarded for program and membership achievement. MFBF President Cyndi Johnson received the award during the American Farm Bureau Federation 104th Annual Convention which ran through January 11.

MFBF also captured four Awards of Excellence, which are presented to state Farm Bureaus that demonstrated outstanding achievements in four program areas: Advocacy, Coalitions & Partnerships, Engagement & Outreach and Leadership & Business Development.

“Montana Farm Bureau Federation is extremely proud of the efforts of our volunteer members across the state who’ve participated in advocacy, coalitions and partnerships, leadership development and engagement and outreach,” said Johnson. “These extensive efforts resulted in Awards of Excellence in all four categories and, coupled with achieving quota in our membership group, it was a real honor to accept the Pinnacle Award for the second year in a row. Our dedicated staff and willing volunteers create and shepherd great projects and programs for Montana’s rural and agricultural communities.”

Montana Farm Bureau President Cyndi Johnson receives the Pinnace Award from American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall.

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• 5” Concrete Monolithic Slab with radiant heat

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• R36 insulation in the roof, R25 insulation in the walls

• Includes all labor to pour slab, complete heated floor, and erect the building 509-380-9533

Feeding pellets for broiler performance improvements

By John Boney, Vernon E. Norris Faculty Fellow of Poultry Nutrition

Pelleting technology became available in the 1930’s and is now used in the manufacturing of nearly all commercial broiler feeds. Although the process of pelleting is costly, the benefits to animal performance outweighs the expense. When mash feed is steam conditioned and pressed through a pellet die, chemical and irreversible reactions occur, impacting broiler performance. Broilers fed crumbled pellets with a particle size like that of mash, show improved performance metrics when compared to mash fed broilers. However, the larger benefit of feeding intact pellets is increased feed density. Observations from scientists in the early 1960’s show that broilers spent significantly less time consuming pelleted feed when compared to broilers consuming mash feed. These scientists also reported that broilers consumed similar amounts of feed, regardless of feed form (pellets vs mash). Therefore, less energy is required to consume pelleted feed, likely conserving energy for productive purposes. Much research has been conducted since the 1960’s to quantify energy savings when feeding pellets. In 2004, scientists questioned if a minimum percentage of pellets had to be present in the feed pan to generate broiler performance benefits. Their work demonstrated that a minimum of 40% pellets must be present in the feed pan to improve body weight (BW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Additionally, these scientists reported that when broilers consumed 100% pellets, energy could be spared as much as 187 kcal MEn/ kg of feed, confirming the energy conservation philosophy from the early 1960’s.

Pellets-to-Fines Ratio

The study of pellet quality and how the ratio of pelletsto-fines affects broiler performance followed. In 2011, Lilly et al. reported a 0.4-point FCR improvement for each 10-percentage-point increase in intact pellets. These authors also reported increased feed intake (FI) and live weight gain (LWG) when comparing high quality pellet consumption vs ground pellet consumption, unlike the observations from the 1960’s. Genetic selection criteria for modern broilers, which includes FI and LWG parameters, likely contributed to feed intake differences between studies. In 2016, Lemons and Moritz reported a 2.6-point FCR improvement when broilers were fed 70% pellets:30% fines compared to 40% pellets:60% fines during a 38-day grow out. Additionally, FI increased by 116 grams per bird and LWG improved by 22 grams per bird during this trail. Glover et al. studied modest improvements in pellet quality (70% pellets vs 50% pellets) and reported a 6-point FCR improvement during the finisher period when broilers consumed 70% pellets. Considering the volume of feed consumed during a finisher period, these finisher period findings may encourage companies to invest in pellet quality improvements.

How to Improve Pellet Quality

Improving the integrity of pelleted feed requires a strategic plan that considers nutritional consequences of manufacturing process manipulations and a monetary investment. The overall goal is for increased percentages of pellets in the feed pan while maintaining nutrient availability, throughout the barn. There are various strategies that can improve pellet quality, but diet formulation is at the forefront. Utilizing feedstuffs that contribute to meeting both nutrient requirements and improved pellet quality is important. Pellet binders may be included in the formulation to fill interstitial space within the pellet and increase starch gelatinization. However, most pellet binders are considered non-nutritive and do not contribute to meeting nutrient requirements.

After considering feedstuffs and the diet formulation, various feed manufacturing techniques can be utilized to improve pellet quality. Increasing feed retention time in the pellet die, where feed is exposed to moisture, temperature, and pressure, may increase pellet quality. This can be achieved by using a thicker pellet die or decreasing the production rate (i.e. less feed tonnage per hour). Another technique that can be used to increase pellet durability is increasing steam conditioning temperature. This technique can also reduce energy expenditure by decreasing the pellet mill motor amperage. Steam conditioning time can also affect pellet quality. When the added steam is given more time to penetrate mash feed, pellet durability increases. Increasing pellet die retention time, steam conditioning temperature, and steam conditioning time are all suitable options for increasing pellet quality; however, it is important to understand the potential nutritional consequences. More specifically, reduced exogenous enzyme efficacy, vitamin oxidation, and protein denaturation may occur.

Feeding pellets for broiler performance improvements

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C6

Finally, the process of adding the oil/fat source to the feed can affect feed manufacturing parameters and pellet quality. Adding all the oil to mash feed at the mixer can reduce friction at the roll/pellet die interface, increasing feed throughput (production rate) and maintaining nutrient availability. However, pellet quality is jeopardized from reduced retention time in the pellet die and reduced starch gelatinization. A common practice is to include 0.5-1% of the formulated oil to the mixer, prior to pelleting. This helps protect heat-sensitive nutrients by providing lubrication, assists with meeting throughput goals, and improves pellet quality. A post-pellet liquid application system will uniformly distribute the remaining oil.

The moral of the story

Broiler performance can be improved when animals are provided pelleted feed. When feed manufacturing techniques are applied to create pellets of high integrity, performance improvements may be enhanced. Each feed mill is unique in design and equipment selection, and animals will respond to feed manufacturing technique manipulation differently. Therefore, each mill should create a strategic plan that monitors pellet quality,

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HDL-1100

TWICE THE COVERAGE, TWICE THE PERFORMANCE THE TOTAL TILLAGE TOOL

McFarlane’s 16-Bar Spike Tooth Forward-Fold Harrow is more than a harrow. It’s a total tillage tool. It’s a tool that provides superior performance for field finishing, field preparation and chemical incorporation.

The 16-Bar Forward-Fold gives you double coverage, and double performance.

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Forward-Fold thoroughly breaks and stirs the soil, significantly reducing field preparation time. Depending on soil conditions, some operators use the McFarlane 16-Bar Forward-Fold alone for spring field prepar

The 16-Bar Forward-Fold Harrow is the ideal tool for shallow chemical incorporation. It provides superior coverage taking chemicals to the 1"-to-2" depth recommended by many manufacturers. The result is better incorporation and better performance from your herbicides.

The 16-Bar Forward-Fold Harrow, built for durability and ease of operation, combines McFarlane’s long standing tradition of rugged dependability with features designed to provide maximum coverage and performance.

Single

The 16-Bar Forward-Fold Harrow, built for durability and ease of operation, combines McFarlane’s long standing tradition of rugged dependability with features designed to provide maximum coverage and performance.

Single hydralic circuit

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Heavy-duty 1 piece frame fabricated out of square tubular steel

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Following nearly three months of abundant precipitation across much of Montana, weather patterns changed in early January, producing relatively dry conditions for the month. January precipitation totals were lowest along the Rocky Mountain Front, northeastern Montana, and western Montana. Most of southwest Montana received slightly less than normal January precipitation. “The storm which brought two to three feet of mountain snow in many locations during the last week of January really saved us. Without that storm, basin-wide snowpack percentages across much of Montana might have looked similar to last year at this time,” said Eric Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water Supply Specialist. The exceptions were the Bighorn, Powder, and Tongue River basins and part of central Montana, which received above normal January precipitation.

Snowpack percentages dropped since last month in those basins that received below normal January precipitation. River basins west of the Continental Divide saw a 2030% decrease in their snowpack percent-

ages, while Rocky Mountain Front basins saw a 30-35% decrease since January 1. “The good news is above normal snowfall during November and December provided enough of a buffer that the snowpack is still in good condition in most locations,” said Larson. Snowpack percentages are near to above normal east of the Continental Divide, except for the Rocky Mountain Front which is currently about 80-90%. West of the divide snowpack percentages are generally worse along the Idaho border at about 80-85%. They are slightly better in the Flathead and Upper Clark Fork River basins at about 90-95% of normal.

“There is still time remaining to recover from any snowpack deficits, but basins that are well below normal will ideally start recovering soon in order to reach normal snowpack conditions by the end of the snow year,” said Larson. River basins in northwest Montana have the largest deficit to recover from. High elevation SNOTEL stations in the Flathead, Kootenai, Lower Clark Fork, and Bitterroot River basins are about five to seven inches of snow water equivalent less than normal for February

1. While that could be recovered in a couple large storms, there are only two to three months remaining to make that recovery. SNOTEL stations in the southern Madison and Gallatin River basins have a surplus of about two to four inches of snow water equivalent for February 1, which will act as a small buffer in the event of below normal precipitation ahead.

Currently the outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center indicates near-to-below normal temperature and near-to-above normal precipitation is likely over the next couple weeks across Montana. Additionally, the one-month outlook indicates below normal temperatures are likely in western Montana and above normal precipitation is likely across all of Montana. With two to three months remaining in the typical snowpack accumulation season, some uncertainty remains in terms of what spring snowmelt will provide for water supply.

A full report of conditions on February 1 can be found in the monthly Water Supply Outlook Report available on the Montana Snow Survey website. In addition, realtime snow survey data can be found at nrcs.usda.gov/ montana. Click on Montana Snow Survey Program.

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Not all protein sources are the same

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C10 as the percentage of RDP increased, while dry matter feed intake tended to increase, while feed efficiency did not change.

Overall, smaller calves (<660 lb) require a greater percentage of crude protein, with a greater percentage of the crude protein in the diet being RUP. As these calves grow to weights >660 lb, they require a lesser percentage of dietary crude protein. Additionally, as cattle get larger and deposit more fat, they require less RUP, so a greater percentage of the crude protein can be supplied as RDP. As a result, these protein needs could be met with cheaper feed ingredients, such as urea, during the finishing period.

If you are interested in more information about the protein needs of growing cattle, check out this other article. If you have questions about this topic, you can find my contact information on the MSU Extension website and if you have any general beef related questions, you can reach out to any of the members of the MSU Extension beef team.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu. edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu. edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Hug a Newsman Day

This holiday is always held on April 4. Hug a Newsman Day gives you the opportunity to give a great, big hug to your local newsperson. C’mon, admit it. You’ve watched your cute newsman day in and day out. You’ve always told your self if you ever see him, you would give him a great, big hug. Well, today is your opportunity.

Any questions on how to celebrate this day?

Important Note: This day is also a day to hug a news “woman”. They wouldn’t want to be left out of this very special day.

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A: Because she ran away from the ball.

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How to stimulate early pasture growth and cut livestock feed cost

Every year producers wait for spring forage growth on their pastures. And every year they wish the grass would come earlier than it usually does.

What can be done to stimulate earlier growth?

How can resources be used more efficiently?

These two questions come from the reality that, in parts of Oregon, pasture forage for grazing livestock is lacking early in the growing season. And livestock producers must provide more costly harvested forages as supplemental feed during this time.

To increase forage production, fertilizer is traditionally applied in the spring. The application of fertilizer at the traditional time, which is the middle part of the spring growing season, increases the already accelerated growth rate and does not help with

the early lack of feed. The time of the year and the time during the growing season that fertilizer is applied can make a difference in the amount of growth that occurs.

Research in several countries, including the United States, has shown that there is an advantage to an early nitrogen application in a pasture. Forage researchers developed a method called T-Sum 200 to determine the date of that first application to a pasture.

The fertilizer was put on when pasture plants start to grow in mid- to late-winter. A supply of nitrogen early in the growing cycle of a plant can stimulate more pounds of feed during the first part of the grazing season (see Figure 1). It can also be beneficial if an intensive grazing system is used, due to the more frequent, but controlled “harvest” of grass or clover plants by livestock.

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Researchers from Oregon State University studied the feasibility of early nitrogen (N) application for Oregon pastures and found it useful and cost effective in providing early season forage. These same researchers also studied the fate of this early applied N and found the N was taken up by the pasture plants and not leached into the groundwater.

Cautions

The most important caution about using the T-Sum 200 method is that it will not fit every ranch or farm. To minimize loss of nitrogen, fertilizer should not be applied to very wet soils, especially ones with some standing water.

And use caution on sandy soils due to the potential for nitrogen loss early in the growing season. Additionally, producers should not turn livestock out onto pastures until the soils are firm as this can cause longterm damage from hoof action on softened ground. Use lighter weight animals for early grazing opportunities.

Steps to get the most benefit from TSum 200:

Identify a pasture that would work for early grazing.

Make sure there are enough animals to use the feed produced. Apply nitrogen at 200 heat units.

Move livestock in when sufficient forage is available. Be sure to pay attention to the grazing impact in order to avoid damage to pastures with soft soil.

More information on fertilization and the T-Sum 200 method can be found in the OSU publication Nutrient Management for Pastures: Western Oregon and Western Washington.

Calculating T-Sum 200 for early nitrogen applications to pastures

Use these instructions to time the early season application of nitrogen where prudent to do so.

T-Sum 200 is an accumulation of heat units (in degrees C) for consecutive days beginning January 1, until a total of 200 is reached.

Research shows that certain plants such as cool-season grasses initiate growth at or near this time. A heat unit, or growing degree day (GDD), is the average of the high and low temperature for the day, in degrees Celsius.

If the temperature is below 0°C the heat unit is 0. The formula for calculating a TSum heat unit is: (maximum °C + minimum °C) ÷ 2. For example, if the high for January 1 is 7°C and the low is -1°C, the number of heat units for that day is 3.5 (7 + 0 ÷ 2 = 3.5).

T-Sum calculations are available online from the Oregon IPM Center at Oregon State University.

Select the Station tab and find a location near you.

Select the Model tab to specify the following:

Model Category — all models.

Model — degree-day calculator (general purpose).

Calculation method — single sine, lower 0°C, upper 100°C.

Start date: January 1.

End date: February 7.

Forecast type: NMME extended seasonal forecast.

Celsius: Celsius.

Select the Output tab (top of page). Select Graph (top of page) if you want to see that.

You can see degree day accumulation on a regional map or estimate T-Sum for a specific weather station using an online degree day model.

Some online degree day calculators use degrees F. In this case, T-Sum 200 occurs when 360 degrees F have accumulated (1°C = 1.8°F).

Remember: Only use early N application on fields that have fairly good drainage. Do not apply to standing water. Use forage when fields are ready to receive livestock. Use light-weight cattle or small ruminants as they do not compact soils as easily as heavy cattle and horses.

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USDA previews crop and revenue loss assistance for agricultural producers

Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans for additional emergency relief and pandemic assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is preparing to roll out the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two as well as the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP), which are two programs to help offset crop and revenue losses for producers. USDA is sharing early information to help producers gather documents and train front-line staff on the new approach.

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“We have worked diligently to help agricultural producers bounce back from devastating natural disasters as well as the coronavirus pandemic through an extensive suite of programs,” said Vilsack. “No matter how well we design these targeted efforts, we often find that some producers fall through the cracks or were harmed more severely than their neighbors. These new programs apply a holistic approach to emergency assistance – an approach not focused on any one disaster event or commodity but rather one focused on filling gaps in assistance for agricultural producers who have, over the past few years, suffered losses from natural disasters and the pandemic.”

ERP Phase Two will assist eligible agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses, measured through decreases in revenue, due to wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture and qualifying droughts occurring in calendar years 2020 and 2021.

PARP will assist eligible producers of agricultural commodities who experienced revenue decreases in calendar year 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PARP will help address gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses.

Emergency Relief Program Phase Two

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Parting Out

ERP is authorized under the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, which includes $10 billion in assistance to agricultural producers impacted by wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, winter storms and other eligible disasters experienced during calendar years 2020 and 2021.

Phase Two builds on ERP Phase One, which was rolled out in May 2022 and has since paid more than $7.1 billion to producers who incurred eligible crop losses that were covered by federal crop insurance or Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

ERP Phase Two includes producers who suffered eligible losses but may not have received program benefits in Phase One. To be eligible for Phase Two, producers must have suffered a loss in allowable gross revenue as defined in forthcoming program regulations in 2020 or 2021 due to necessary expenses related to losses of eligible crops from a qualifying natural disaster event.

Eligible crops include both traditional insurable commodities and specialty crops that are produced in the United States as part of a farming operation and are intended to be commercially marketed. Like other emergency relief and pandemic assistance programs, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) continues to look for ways to simplify the process for both staff and producers while reducing the paperwork burden. The design of ERP Phase Two is part of that effort.

In general, ERP Phase Two payments are expected to be based on the difference in certain farm revenue between a typical year of revenue as will be specified in program regulations for the producer and the disaster year. ERP Phase Two assistance is targeted to the remaining needs of producers impacted by qualifying natural disaster events, while avoiding windfalls or duplicative payments. Details will be available when the rule is published later this year.

Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program

PARP is authorized and funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

To be eligible for PARP, an agricultural producer must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a certain threshold decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to 2018 or 2019. Exact details on the calculations and eligibility will be available when the forthcoming rule is published.

How Producers Can Prepare

ERP Phase Two and PARP will use revenue information that is readily available from most tax records. FSA encourages producers to have their tax documents from the past

pilot controls on backhoe, powershift transmission, cab with heat/AC, 4x4. 5500 hours. $53,900

USDA previews Crop and Revenue Loss Assistance for Agricultural Producers

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C14 few years and supporting materials ready, as explained further below. Producers will need similar documentation to what was needed for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Phase Two, where a producer could use 2018 or 2019 as the benchmark year relative to the disaster year.

In the coming weeks, USDA will provide additional information on how to apply for assistance through ERP Phase Two and PARP. In the meantime, producers are encouraged to begin gathering supporting documentation including:

Schedule F (Form 1040); and Profit or Loss from Farming or similar tax documents for tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 for ERP and for calendar years 2018, 2019 and 2020 for PARP.

Producers should also have, or be prepared to have, the following forms on file for both ERP and PARP program participation:

Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet (as applicable to the program participant);

Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity;

Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable); and

Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.

Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center.

In addition to the forms listed above, underserved producers are encouraged to register their status with FSA, using Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, as certain existing permanent and ad-hoc disaster programs provide increased benefits or reduced fees and premiums.

1992

1997 Ford F450 mechanics truck, 7.3 Powerstroke diesel, automatic, 3200 lb. auto crane, service body/flatbed, air/heat, 126,000 miles Call

Call

2008 Sterling AT9500 truck tractor, 60 Series Detroit diesel, 550 hp., 13 speed, full locking rear ends, 46,000 lb. rears, double frame, 121,000

1992 GMC 7500 topkick bucket truck with chipper dump body, Altec LR11-55 boom, 60-ft reach, Cat diesel, Allison automatic, rust free, 75,000 miles. Call

1995

WG dump truck, single axle, M11 Cummins diesel, 330 HP, 9 speed manual transmission, 12-ft dump body - never been used, super low miles, absolutely like new prestine condition. Straight from the Los Angeles city bomb squad. Call

andbeyond,withanextensiveselectionofreliable usedtrucksandequipmentsince1998!

Volvo

1999 Vermeer V5750 trencher, 6 way blade, backhoe, new chain with combination teeth, diesel, one owner, 784 hours. Call

Dorsey 45-ft. flatbed trailer, air ride suspension, set up for donkey forklift, closed tandem, stake pockets, pristine rust free condition Call

actual miles, pristine condition. None Nicer! Call

1997 John Deere 772CH motor grader, 14-ft. mold board, 6x6 rear ripper, front push block, powershift transmission, clean, one owner/ ex government machine with 7,700 hours Call

2003 Freightliner FL70 mechanics/service truck, Cat diesel, Allison automatic, PTO driven, 160 CFM air compressor, IMT 1007 Crane, enclosed service body, low miles Call

2000 IHC 2574 Truck Tractor, C10 Caterpillar (305 hp), 4560P Allison transmission, 5th wheel, ex government truck with only 36,000 original miles Call

2009 Vermeer BC100 wood chipper, 12” self feed, 4 cylinder diesel, ex municipal machine with only 571 hours Call

1986 Great Dane GCD-2 trailer dolly, 25,000 lb. GVWR, spring suspension, 95% brakes Call

2001 Freightliner Fl80 flatbed with stake racks, 22-ft. bed, rear lift gate, Cat diesel, Allison automatic, air ride suspension, 156,000 miles, rust free truck. Call

1991 Sullair 185 towable air compressor John Deere diesel, dual hose reels and hose, 185 CFM, 2100 hours Call

2005 Yale GDP120MJ forklift, 12,000 lb. capacity, 197” lift, 3 stage mast, diesel, 4200 hours Call

2013 Ingersoll Rand/Doosan P425/375 air compressor, dual pressure , 425 CFM, Cummins diesel, cold weather package, air dryer, 2400 hours Call

2001 Bobcat 773 skid steer, loader, hi flow hydraulics, hydraulic quick attach, Kubota diesel, 1700# capacity, one owner. 2400 hours Call

1990 Clark GPS15 shop forklift, 3000# capacity, 122” lift, dual stage, propane motor. 3300 hours Call

2019 Evcore carousel/pipe spool trailer, turntable with adjustable center hub and fairleads, 3500# GVWR, 5 hole wheels, light package. Call

2004 Belshe DT235-2AP flatbed tandem dual equipment trailer, 25-ft. long, 23,500 lb. GVWR, air brakes, flip over ramps Call

1990 Case W14C front end loader, auxiliary 3rd valve hydraulic, 4 + 1 bucket, working air conditioning and heat, 5.9 Cummins diesel, new tires, one owner/ ex government machine very clean Call

2008 International 7500 boom truck, diesel, Allison automatic, Terex Commander 7000 boom, remote control, outriggers, 18-ft. flatbed with stake racks, 102,000 miles, absolutely like new condition Call

2003 International 7400 snowplow dump truck, DT570 diesel (pre-emissions), 10 speed manual, 11-ft. dual direction front plow, passenger side wing plow, 11-ft. dump bed, plumbed for sander, complete Call

1998 Dodge W2500 4x4 regular cab, utility truck, 5.9 Cummins diesel, automatic, 8-ft. service body, one owner, 156,000 miles, clean/straight truck Call

2005 John Deere 544J front end loader, auxiliary 3rd valve hydraulic, JRB quick attach, ride control, 10,000 hours, one owner, ex municipal machine with new documented motor Call

2008 Ford F550 4x4 service truck, crew cab, diesel, hydraulic wet kit with tool circuit, high end service body, west coast clean, very nice Call

1988 Ford FT900 tandem axle dump truck, 7.8 diesel, 653 Allison automatic, 14-ft. dump bed, rear pintle hitch, rust free, affordable, tandem axle dump truck,76,000 miles

1986 Case W14 front end wheel loader, general purpose bucket, full cab, heat, removable rear backhoe, auxiliary 3rd valve hydraulics, ex-government machine, 1100 hours Call

1995 International Paystar 5000 snowplow truck, 4x4, M11 Cummmins diesel, 13 speed transmission, locking rear end, heavy spec plow truck, 11-ft. dual direction plow, side wing plow, stainless steel live floor sander, everything big, complete Call

2003 International 7400 cab & chassis 4x4, DT466 diesel, 9 speed manual, heavy specs, rust free only 67,000 miles Call

1986 Case W11B mini front end loader, 3.9 Cummins diesel, Powershift transmission, GP bucket, 629 hours, one owner, (full factory cab available), clean Call

1999 Volvo L70C front end loader, auxiliary 3rd valve hydraulic, quick attach, GP bucket, 100% tires, one owner/ex municipal machine, 8,000 hours, zero hours on documented engine rebuild, Clean/ tight machine Call

2007 Mauldin MG 618 motor grader, 19,000 lb. machine weight, 133 HP, diesel, articulated, full cab, air/heat, 10-ft. mold board, only 940 hours. Like new Call

1998 Onan 125 kw generator, 120/240/480 volt, 1-3 phase, 8.3 Cummins diesel, only 940 hours Call

1989 Ford 4610 LCG tractor, low profile series, 63 hp, 540 PTO, 3 point hitch, 8 speed transmission, open station with canopy, 2,200 hours Call

1994 Fruehauf PSD-T-2-40W stepdeck trailer, 40-ft. bed, 11-ft. upper, 29-ft. lower, 102” wide, steel composition, air ride suspension, rust free, clean/straight ex-municipal trailer Call

1997 Alloy ATCFF-20 flatbed pup trailer, 20-ft. bed, steel composition, stake pockets, winches, clean, rust free trailer Call

2007 Case 621D front end wheel loader, auxiliary 3rd valve hydraulics, 4 + 1 bucket, 5.9 Cummins diesel, ZF transmission. Air conditioning/Heat, one owner, ex city machine with only 2,200 original hours Call

2006 Sullivan D185Q towable air compressor, John Deere diesel, 185 CFM, 125 PSI, extended tongue, ex municipal machine, hose real, hose, and air wand included, 303 actual hours Call

1994 Bobcat 853 skid steer, 1700 lb. capacity, 6500 lb. machine weight, 58 hp, high flow hydarulics, only 567 original hours, one owner Call

Balewagons & Retrievers

Montanans share common love toward grizzly bears

By Raequel Roberts, UM News Service

For an animal whose population barely tops 2,000, Montana’s grizzly bears hold an outsized presence in the psyche and politics of the Treasure State.

Small wonder, then, that Montanans, though likely never to have seen a grizzly, hold strong opinions about the legendary bruins – opinions they readily shared for a study by the University of Montana and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, which was just published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice.

“We got about a 40% response rate from the 5,350 surveys we sent across the state, which was huge,” said study author Holly Nesbitt, a Ph.D. student in UM’s Human Dimensions Lab of the W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation. “We received responses from every corner of Montana, allowing us to make estimates about how all Montanans feel about grizzly bear management, which is pretty important to the state.”

And, it turns out, timely.

Haying Equipment

This month, FWP wraps up public comment on its draft management plan for Montana’s growing grizzly population, a plan that could have enormous implications should the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delist grizzly bears and turn bear management over to the state. Grizzly bears have been under federal oversight since 1975, when they were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The survey results will be factored into the FWP’s final recommendations to the state.

And what do Montanans think about the official state animal?

“It was surprising. We found overwhelming support for grizzly bears,” said Alex Metcalf, a co-author of the study and associate professor of human dimensions at UM. “We found 80% to 90% of respondents think bears have a right to exist – that they make Montana special and that we need to learn to live with them. But also, that over 80% want to see some form of grizzly hunting allowed.

“Those are crazy numbers,” he added. “You can’t get 80% to 90% of people to agree on anything.”

But beyond documenting these current sentiments, the study’s analysis allowed Nesbitt and her co-authors to identify what factors helped shape those attitudes.

“We often hear about a rural-urban divide, or that direct, negative experiences with grizzlies cause people to hate bears,” Nesbitt explained. “However, when we controlled for multiple possible factors, we

see these old assumptions don’t hold up and that other, more important factors emerge.”.

For example, the researchers found that hunters, and those who believed hunting should be used to control grizzly bear conflict, were most likely to believe that grizzly populations were too high. And rather than direct experience, it was “vicarious experience” or hearing about others’ property damage that led folks to believe there were too many grizzlies in the state. On the other hand, those who most trusted FWP and held positive attitudes toward grizzlies were most likely to say grizzly populations were too low.

Delving into these sometimes-tricky interactions between humans and the natural world is at the heart of research conducted by UM’s Human Dimensions Lab, which conducts studies on such wide-ranging subjects as climate data and its relevance for ranchers, as well as community responses to environmental restoration projects.

Emotions play a key role in many of the results they see and never more so than for grizzlies, said study co-author Libby Metcalf, the Joel Meier Distinguished Professor of Wildland Management and associate dean of the UM forestry college.

“It’s important to remember that people have emotions attached to these animals,” Libby Metcalf said. “You can’t divorce management of the species from that emotional component.”

These results, Nesbitt added, hold true regardless of respondent’s education, location in the state, gender and profession – ranchers included – and start to define a happy medium or middle ground.

“We call it the ‘Goldilocks Zone,’ where those who said there are too few or too many bears tended to be less satisfied with management of the population,” Nesbitt said. “This wasn’t terribly surprising to us, but it’s a good reminder that when people have a comfort level with the way grizzly bears are being managed, the better they can tolerate bears on the landscape.

“So, the trick facing Montana is to find that sweet spot where grizzly populations are ‘just right’ – where bear populations are healthy and the people of Montana are happy in their coexistence with those grizzlies,” she added.

Alex Metcalf agreed: “We hope these results will help bolster people’s satisfaction with grizzlies in parallel with conservation efforts because ultimately successful grizzly bear recovery will depend on Montanans’ continued support.”

A highway billboard in Missoula reminds motorists that grizzly bears are a reality of life in the Treasure State.

NDSU projects crop profits for 2023

The North Dakota State University Extension projected crop budgets for 2023 are available for the state’s farmers, says Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension farm management specialist.

The 2023 projected profits vary by region and crop.

“The budgets are guides for large multi-county regions,” says Haugen. “Returns and costs can vary considerably between producers within a region. Also, the budgets estimate returns to labor and management with no consideration of price and yield variability or risk. A perfect comparison of crops is not achieved because different levels of labor, management and risk exist.”

“Generally, most crops in all regions project a profit for the year,” says Haugen. “With the increase in all commodity prices, the bottom line looks good. With higher gross income there is a negative note, expenses are higher overall. Fertilizer prices and pesticide prices are far above average.”

“Generally, for most crops, the projected total costs per acre have increased,” adds Haugen. “Fertilizer costs per acre have decreased somewhat but are still near the high levels of 2022. Pesticide costs are flat to higher for most crops in most regions. Seed costs are somewhat flat. With our high inflation rate, fuel, repairs and ownership expenses have had increases. Cropland rents for most regions are up.”

“Specialty crops may show a positive return, but usually have limited contracts and acreages, and also may have higher risk,” says Haugen.

The NDSU Extension-developed budgets are available online at ndsu.ag/projectedbudgets or by searching online for NDSU Crop Budgets.

NDSU Extension also offers an updated Crop Compare Program for 2023, which is a spreadsheet designed to compare cropping alternatives.

The program uses the direct costs and yields from the 2023 projected crop budgets for nine regions of North Dakota, but farmers are encouraged to enter the expected yields and input costs for their farm.

The user designates a reference crop and enters its expected market price. Depending on the region, a broad selection of nine to 18 crops are compared. The program provides the prices for competing crops that would be necessary to provide the same return over variable costs as the reference crop.

“Producers can compare these ‘break-even’ prices to expected market prices to see which crop is most likely to compete with the reference crop,” says Haugen. “The program provides a tool for farmers to check changing scenarios until final planting decisions are made.”

The program includes an underlying assumption that fixed costs, such as machinery ownership, land, and the owner’s labor and management, do not vary among crop choices, and therefore do not need to be included in the analysis.

“In practice, there may be differences in fixed costs that should be considered,” says Haugen.

“For example, there may be additional labor, management and risk associated with a competing crop,” Haugen adds. “If all the labor and management is provided by the owner-operator, it would be considered a fixed cost and could be excluded. However, the farmer should add some cost if he or she would only want to produce the crop when an adequate reward would be received for the extra time and management required relative to the reference crop.”

A similar rationale could be used if a competing crop is considered higher risk.

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Projects launched to help combat stress for farmers and ranchers

By Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service

Survey results have shown Montana State University researchers that farmers and ranchers throughout Montana and the West experience, on average, a medium level of stress, which could impact their sleep, physical health, mental health and/or relationships, according to Michelle Grocke, health and wellness specialist with MSU Extension and assistant professor in the MSU Department of Health and Human Development.

Agricultural stress can be caused by a range of issues, she said, including commodity prices, weather, crop yield, debt, passing a farm or ranch to the next generation, family issues, injuries and illness. She added that it can lead to mental illness, increased risk of suicide and other health issues.

Grocke and her collaborators have launched several projects to help combat this stress. These efforts include a website that provides resources, a program that provides mini-grants for people across the Western U.S. who want to improve the mental wellness of those in their agricultural communities and a project that provides free telehealth counseling services to any Montanan working in agriculture.

“MSU Extension is trying to reach people where they’re at and make information accessible to them,” Grocke said. “If we want to help Montanans – especially if they’re not going to be the ones knocking on our door asking (for help) – it seems like a really good place to focus our energy and time.”

In 2019, a group of individuals and organizations from across Montana, led by MSU Extension and first funded by the Montana Healthcare Foundation, collaborated to provide resources and solutions for farmers and ranchers under stress. The team, known as the Montana Farm/Ranch Stress Prevention Advisory Council, created a website that hosts resources for farmers, ranchers and community members to better understand the causes of stress and how to manage it. The website is called the Montana Farm and Ranch Stress Resource Clearinghouse, and it includes stress management information and links to telehealth counseling services across Montana. Since its launch in the summer of 2020, more than 14,000 people have visited it, Grocke said. The website can be found at montana.edu/extension/wellness/ stress-management/mt_farm_stress_clearing_house/.

“We’re trying to add a lot of videos and podcasts and be more creative in how we’re getting content out to Montanans,” Grocke said.

In addition, a USDA-backed Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Project, or WRASAP, has funded research and provided mini-grants for people across the West who want to improve mental wellness in agricultural communities.

The $7.1 million WRASAP grant, of which Grocke is one of the leaders, is a collaboration among individuals and organizations from 13 Western states and four territories. The goals of the grant include conducting research to learn more about causes of stress and desired assistance, creating and providing stress management outreach and education to farmers and ranchers based on those research findings, creating a collaborative network of individuals working toward a shared goal, and providing direct services to farmers and ranchers, including a hotline where individuals can call and talk about their issues and get connected to counseling as appropriate.

A portion of the grant funded research reports on each state and territory, as well as one region-wide written report, Grocke noted. Those reports can be found at farmstress.us/ wrasap-baseline-data-collection/.

“There is a still a lot of work to be done, but this work is helping highlight the issue of stress,” Grocke said.

Now, the WRASAP group is using the research to create outreach and educational programs, including online, selfpaced classes, webinars and podcasts, as well as opportunities for training, mental health first aid and suicide prevention training known as QPR.

“There are also hundreds of thousands of dollars available in mini-grants for individuals wanting to improve the mental wellness of their community, either though professional development for themselves or if they would like to start their own outreach project,” Grocke said. For more information on how to apply, visit farmstress.us.

Finally, a new program is providing free telehealth counseling services to any Montanan working in agriculture. The program is part of a collaboration between the Montana

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COMBINES

Deere S790 473 hp, 2WD, 671 engine hours, 496 separator hours, Pro Drive transmission with Harvest Smart, advanced PowerCast tailboard, TriStream rotor, fixed speed feederhouse, power folding GT extensions, small wire concaves, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, 1100/45R46 front tires, 710/60R30 rear tires, GPS monitor, display, and Premium Activation. Stock #72735

Projects to help combat stress

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C20

State Department of Agriculture, MSU Extension and Northern Ag Broadcasting, along with Frontier Psychiatry. The program is called Beyond the Weather, and it is funded by a portion of a roughly $500,000 grant from the USDA’s Farm Stress Assistance Network that was awarded to the State Department of Agriculture. The grant provides six sessions of free counseling to each person.

Grocke said the program received about 200 calls in its first three months, and she noted that the counselors providing the telehealth counseling services are well-versed in what it’s like to work in agriculture.

“The nice thing is that they’re tailoring the therapy,” Grocke said. “They wouldn’t suggest things like people taking a vacation during calving season. They’re not talking about work-life balance. That’s why a lot of folks who work in agriculture are reluctant to go to counseling – the counselor needs to have that sort of innate understanding.”

Montanans who are working in agriculture who would like to participate in telehealth counseling may call 406200-8471, extension 7, Grocke said. More information is available at frontier.care/beyondtheweather.html.

Grocke said that regardless of where a person lives in Montana, agriculture is the state’s backbone.

“It’s part of our economy, livelihood, families and culture,” she said. “And it can be really stressful; There are so many stressors beyond people’s control.”

Tricia Seifert, dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Development, praised Grocke’s approach to the work.

“Dr. Grocke and the team approach this work in the collaborative spirit that is what maintains community across rural Montana,” Seifert said. “It is neighbor helping neighbor.”

Cody Stone, executive director of MSU Extension, said MSU Extension aims to improve lives and communities across Montana by focusing on locally identified, statewide needs, and farmers’ and ranchers’ mental health is an important area of this focus.

“Dr. Grocke’s programs and scholarship are exceptional and critically important to MSU Extension’s efforts to address this issue,” Stone said.

2018 John Deere S790 with 857 engine/647 separator hours, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, dual tilt fixed speed feederhouse, leather seat, Premium cab, LED lights, complete GPS system with Premium Activation, regular wear TriStream rotor, advanced PowerCast tailboard, 28.5-ft. unload auger, axle spacers, extended warranty until 12/2023 or 1750 hours. Stock #79419

$407,000 (1)

2020 John Deere S780 473 hp, 2WD, Pro Drive transmission, advanced PowerCast tailboard, TriStream rotor, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, Combine Advisor, Premium Activation with Gen 4 monitor and SF6000 receiver, 520-85R 42 tires with duals, and 750/65R26 rear tires. Stock #81411 $450,000 (12)

2020 John Deere S780 no receiver or extended monitor, 4600 display with AutoTrac Activation, Contour Master with fore & aft, 580/85R42 duals, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, power folding grain tank, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, advanced tailboard, TriStream rotor (standard wear), LED lights, cloth seat, premium radio, sidehill performance kit, small grain cleaning shoe. Stock #80883 $427,500 (14)

2019 John Deere S780 580 duals, Active Yield, Combine Advisor, dual display with Premium Activation, 6000 receiver (SF1), manual folding tops, Premium Residue, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, Contour Master with fore/aft, LED lights, small grain wind board, side hill performance kit. Stock #73426 $417,500 (11)

2018 John Deere S780 with Premium cab, Command Center with 4600 display, Active Terrain, Active Yield, Pro Drive transmission with HarvestSmart, fixed speed, power folding covers, 28.5ft. unloading auger. Stock #79048

$337,500 (3)

2012 John Deere S680 with Yield Monitor, Contour Master, (lateral tilt feederhouse), premium cab with premium radio, AutoTrac, complete with Harvest Monitor, GreenStar 3, 2630 display (mounted on armrest) ProDrive transmission with Harvest Smart feedrate control, heavy duty tilt cylinder, general purpose chaffer and sieve, regular wear (thick skin) 26-ft. (7.9M) unloading auger, fine cut chopper, Advanced PowerCast powered tailboard. Stock #82437 $148,000 (12)

2019 John Deere S780, extended wear package, premium cab, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, Pro Drive transmission with HarvestSmart, TriStream rotor with extended wear package, power folding covers, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, fine cut chopper, side hill performance package. Stock #79043

$339,000 (1)

2012 John Deere S680, 2WD, 520/85R42 duals, lateral tilt, fixed speed feederhouse (without fore/aft), ProDrive, PowerCast tailboard, TriStream rotor (extended wear), small wire concaves, power fold grain tank covers, 26-ft. auger, basic radio, air seat, standard lighting and extremity lights, SF 3000 7” CommandARM, AT activation. Stock #82461 $147,500 (1)

2017 John Deere S680, ProDrive transmission, fixed speed drive, heavy duty dual tilt cylinders, premium cab and radio, premium LED light package, Active Terrain adjust, TriStream Rotor, power folding grain tank covers, 26-ft. unload auger, advanced PowerCase tailboard, IF900/60R32 drive tires, 750/65R26 rear tires. Stock #82387 $282,500 (2)

2008 John Deere 9770STS level land, HiTorq variable speed feederhouse, deluxe header control with header height sensing, general purpose chaffer, 22-ft. unload auger, 900/60R32 drive tires, 28L-26 rear tires. Stock #81779 $78,000 (3)

2010 John Deere 9670STS 2WD, 800/70R38 singles, Contour Master, fixed speed, small wire concaves, chopper/spreader, 26-ft. auger, deluxe header controls. Stock #82916 $92,500 (12)

2011 Gleaner S77, 9250 30-ft. flex header, 2017 Duo Lift high speed header trailer, 370 hp, 1995 engine hours, 1385 separator hours. Stock #83833 $127,500 (15)

2006 Case IH 2388 with 2487 engine hours, 1929 separator hours, 30.5L-32 drive tires, chaff spreader, grain tank extension. Stock #80831 $49,000 (2)

#79419

#82461

View our FULL inventory at www.FrontlineAgSolutions.com

Now is the best time to upgrade your equipment. Don’t wait until you’re in the thick of the busy season to realize that your equipment isn’t going to get the job done! Call or stop in today!

4WD, ROW CROP AND UTILITY TRACTORS

Spring is just around the corner. Take a look at our selection of 4WD, loader, utility and row crop tractors that we have available! Anything to match your operation and budget!

2014 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, 129 hp. Stock #82997 $59,900 (4)

#82884

2008 Case IH Steiger 535 Quadtrac with 535 hp, Cummins QSX15 6-cylinder engine, 3-point hitch, rear tracks in good condition, 4 rear hydraulic remotes, clean cab. Stock #82884 $257,500 (1)

2020 John Deere 5075E utility tractor, MFWD, 12F/12R Power Reverser, cab, dual mid valve, PTO, loader prep package, standard cab, 16.9x29 rear tires.

Stock #82966 $55,000 (4)

2021 John Deere 5090E utility tractor with MFWD, cab, 24/12 Power Reverser, 18.4x30 rear tires, PTO, 3 SCVs, dual mid SCV, deluxe cornerpost exhaust, loader prep package. Stock #82968 $68,000 (4)

1980 Ford 7600 with 96/84 hp, 2WD, cab, no loader, 2 rear remotes, 3-point hitch, 540/1000 PTO, total hours unknown.

Stock #82757 $8000 (1)

2018 John Deere 6155M, 20 speed PowerQuad, fixed MFWD, 3 hydraulics, 540/1000, 3-point, Clevis hitch, 480/80R42, 380/85R30, Cold Start II package, closed center pump 114L/min, standard cab, air seat, CB ready, beltline lights, rotary beacon, L/R rear mirrors. Stock #83887 $155,000 (14)

2021 John Deere 6175M row crop tractor, MFWD, 20/20 Powergard transmission, AutoTrak ready, 3 SCVs, 540/1000 PTO, 480/80R46 rear tires, 420/85R30 front tires, light package, loader ready. Stock #82603 $172,000 (15)

SELF PROPELLED SPREADERS & SPRAYERS

Several used John Deere and competitive self-propelled sprayers and applicators in stock! Variety of boom and widths available. Several units are ready to roll with turnkey GPS!

2021 John Deere 6195R with 50 KM/hr AutoPowr IVT transmission, AutoTrac ready premium cab, panorama top window, triple link front suspension, 5 SCVs, 540/540E/1000 PTO, Cat 3N/3, 3-point hitch with Quik coupler, 480/80R50 rear tires w/duals, 480/70R34 front tire and front fenders, power beyond, loader ready, front and rear weights. Stock #83446

$225,000 (15)

2020 John Deere 8320R 320 hp row crop tractor with IVT transmission, 6 SCVs, 85 GPM hydraulic pump, 4600 Processor-Starfire 6000 receiver, front and rear weights, 3-point hitch with Quik Coupler, 1000 PTO, 480/80R50 rear tires with duals, 420/85R34 front tires with duals. Stock #78854 $339,000 (4)

2021 John Deere 8R370 row crop tractor with Signature Edition, IVT with independent link suspension air seat with cab suspension, 84 gpm hydraulic pump, 6 SCVs, 1000 PTO, Cat 4 3-point Quik Coupler, 520/85R46 rear duals, 480/70R34 front duals, front fenders, weights - front and rear. Includes 4600 display with 3.0 AutoTrac Activation (no SF6000 receiver). Stock #83132 $457,500 (1)

2012 John Deere 8360RT 360 hp, row crop track tractor with 16” tracks, (very good condition), IVT, 4 SCVs, 3-point, 1000 PTO, 60 gpm hydraulic pump, deluxe cab, work lights, 22 front weights, 80” track spacing, no GPS included. Has rebuilt transmission, hydraulic pump, and engine harness completed this winter. Stock #79965 $139,000 (4)

1966 International 1206 with 8 speed Synchro, duals, loader with grapple/ bucket, PTO, 2 SCVs. Stock #82874 $15,000 (1)

#83239

1997 John Deere 8400 tractor, 250 hp, MFWD, rear duals, 4 rear SCVs, 20 front weights, 1000 PTO, 7067 hours. Stock #83239 $84,000 (11)

2013 Massey-Ferguson 7624 Classic with cab, self-leveling loader with bucket and grapple, MFWD with suspension, IVT, rear 540/1000 PTO, 4 SCVs, rear fenders, duals, rear weights. Stock #81856 $120,000 (15)

#81715

2013 Case IH Puma 200 row crop tractor, 200 hp, CVT transmission, front fenders, 3 mid mount SCVs, 3-point hitch, rear SCVs, PTO, loader ready, but no loader, hood guard. Stock #81715 $110,000 (11)

1992 Cat Challenger 65B tractor, 2 track, 10 speed power shift transmission, 4 SCVs, 7754 hours, 285 hp, 30” tracks. Stock #82840 $23,500 (11)

DRILLS & SEEDERS

Check out our selection of good used seeding tools for spring.

#82879

2020 John Deere R4060 with 120-ft. steel boom, 20” nozzle spacing, automatic solution control, JD ExactApply, hi flow pump with dual flow meter, boom air purge, full boom breakaway, SS tank.

Stock #82879 $393,000 (1)

2006 John Deere 4930 120-ft. SS boom, 15” nozzle spacing, 7 boom sections, 5 nozzle bodies, 5 sensor boom track, hydraulic tread adjust, eductor, 3” fill dual flow meters, L/R end nozzles, radar, Xenon lights, fenders, 380/105R50 tires - 10% to 20%, AutoTrac ready, brown display only for sprayer functions, would need GS2, GS3 or Gen4 with AutoTrac and section control and a receiver. Stock #83830 $67,500 (14)

2003 John Deere 4710, 90-ft. boom, 20” spacing, poly boom pipe, 800 gallon poly tank, 5 boom sections, 3 tip nozzle bodies, manual air ride, hydraulic tread adj., fenders, 420/80R46=20%, Trimble CFX750 w/Field IQ, ATU Style steering wheel kit. Stock #77704 $54,000 (14)

Apache AS1220 with 120-ft. booms, 20” spacing, boom leveling, Raven Viper 4 rate controller, VF380/90R46 tires. Stock #81278 $118,900 (1)

2007 Terragator 8204 fertilizer spreader, stainless boom, section control, AirMax 1000 box, 6 cylinder Cat engine, 330 hp, 11/3 Terrashift transmission. Stock #83180 $69,000 (11)

2012 Terragator TG8400 spreader, 70-ft. boom, CVT transmission, single box, section control, electric roll tarp, Raven GPS, foam marker. Stock #79261 $110,000 (11)

2016 Case IH Patriot 3240 with 90-ft. boom, Aim Command, 5 nozzle body, end cap valves for clean out, Raven integrated AutoSteer, display, receiver, auto boom height (3 sensors) with touchdown wheels, foam marker, 380/85R46 tires, cloth interior with Buddy seat, radar, no eductor, no front fill. Stock #83993 $155,000 (14)

2003 Case IH SPX3150 with 90-ft. boom, 750 gallons, 20” spacing, 2 nozzles, hydraulic tread adjust, Starfire 3000, 2600 display, AutoTrac and swath control, 320 tires. Stock #84262 $50,000 (15)

2022 John Deere 412R with 120-ft. 20” steel boom, no Exact Apply, 5 sensor boom track Pro 2, boom air purge, 1200 gallon stainless tank with eductor and 3” fill, no front fill, automatic solution control, fence row nozzles, ultimate cab and ultimate lighting, 4600 display with premium activation (AutoTrac and section control), VF380/90R46 Skinny standard 650 floats included. Stock #83404 $495,000 (14) Check

1998 RoGator RG854 self-propelled sprayer, 5100 hours, 800 gallon stainless tank, 90-ft. booms, 20” spacing, poly plumbing, hydraulic tread adjust, less foam marking system, less eductor, Trimble FMX Guidance System. Stock #82579 $31,000 (11)

2011 John Deere 1890, 60-ft. 10” disc drill, narrow solid gauge wheel, smooth firming wheel, 430 tow between cart with mechanical drive, 12” conveyor, John Deere All Run Blockage. Stock #75416 $145,000 (12)

2013 John Deere 1830 61-ft. drill, 12.5” spacing, single shoot, 4” capped steel press wheels, All Run Blockage, dual wing wheels, JD boots and 1”JD carbide points, 350 bushel 1910 cart, hydraulic drive, variable rate, 6 run, single front casters, 30.5-32 rear singles, 10” auger, two green meter rollers, cart SN 1A81910HVDF755183. Stock #83548 $120,000 (14)

2002 Flexi-Coil 2340 45-ft., 12” spacing, single shoot, steel packers, variable rate capable, tow between cart. Stock #84095 $30,000 (2)

2005 Case IH ATX4812 drill, 48-ft. wide, 12” spacing, rubber packer wheels, 1” tips, includes 3380 tow behind cart. Stock #83627 $36,500 (1)

Case IH ADX2230 tow between cart, 8” fill, variable rate, includes flex controller, II monitor-cart only. Stock #81835 $9500 (1)

2019 Brillon SSB12 12” end wheel drill, grass boxes and alfalfa boxes, double cultipacker, mechanical rate control, approximately 250 acres on drill. Stock #84169 $22,500 (11)

2004 John Deere 1700 corn planter with 30” spacing, rigid frame, finger pickup, 1.6 bushel hoppers, tine tooth incorporators, 6 row command. Planter is built on 8 row bar, new disks last season. Stock #83964 $16,500 (16)

1=Conrad: 877-278-5531

2=Cut Bank: 800-273-5530

3=Choteau: 866-466-5741

4=Dillon: 888-213-2793

www.frontlineagsolutions.com

11=Lewistown: 800-823-3373

12=Havre: 800-621-5701

13=Chester: 406-759-5010

14=Great Falls: 888-760-2005

15=Belgrade: 866-282-3337

16=Livingston: 800-824-3932

#83887

#83993

Safety first with livestock

Prepared by Morgan Firestine, PennState Extension

Every year, hundreds of accidents occur on the farm whether it’s caused by livestock, tractors, machinery, or mistakes.

Livestock owners, most times, do not see their animals being a source of danger. Owners and caretakers realize that each animal has a different personality. Some even have thought of their animals as human beings because of their personalities and docility. Many times when this happens, owners forget that they are still animals and this is when injuries occur. It is said that the leading cause of livestock handling accidents is because of poor judgment and the lack of animal behavior knowledge. It is important that safety is the number one priority when working with livestock.

Here are some tips to prevent accidents on the farm when working with livestock.

All livestock see things differently and can be startled very quickly by their surroundings. Cattle have almost 360 degree panoramic vision but cannot see directly behind them. All livestock animals see objects in black and white, not in color. Cattle and hogs actually have a difficult time judging distances. All of these reasons explain why it is important to stay calm and avoid the animal’s blind spots when approaching them. The best areas to approach are the front or sides of the animal.

Most injuries are caused by startled animals. Many objects can frighten livestock such as lighting, shadows, strange animals, and loud noises. Cattle are very sensitive to loud noises and can actually hear sounds that humans cannot hear. It is essential that when you are working with livestock you do not yell. High frequency sounds actually harm their ears.

Livestock respond the best to routine. To eliminate skittish animals, establish a routine for them to follow. This does not mean that they need to follow a strict minute by minute plan for the day. It does mean that feeding should be around the same time each day. Your livestock should also get used to seeing the same people at the same time of the day.

No matter how tame your animals are they are still have territorial instincts. Both males and females can be very protective of their area and younger animals. They have strong maternal traits and stand their ground when they are not accustomed to their surroundings. Bulls actually account for more than half of the livestock injuries and deaths. Use extreme caution when working with male livestock. Special facilities should be created to house males and eliminate the amount of time spent in the pen.

When working with animals it is also best to have a plan of action. Know what you need to do, how you will do it, and what are possible scenarios that could happen. For example, if you have to go into a corral with a mother and her newborn, know the plan of action before stepping foot in the pen. It is always best to plan an escape route as well. This could come in handy if the mother feels threatened or becomes territorial and shows off her maternal characteristics by coming after you. Plan ahead and know your way out to decrease the chance of injury.

If you need to take a closer look at your livestock, make sure you announce your presence before getting too close. If livestock are not aware of you when entering their pen, they can become frightened very easily. Talk to the animal quietly while entering the pen. This will eliminate any skittish behavior.

Livestock facilities design is also important to insure the animal’s safety and can minimize startled animals. Many injuries come from poor facilities and equipment. Concrete flooring with a grooved surface, correct drainage, sturdy fencing, eradicating sharp objects, and even lighting should be part of proper handling. Keeping equipment and facilities in good working order is a key part of livestock handling safety.

Finally, respect the livestock you own and do not fear them. The livestock are there to provide you with food and a profit. Know your animals and understand their behavior characteristics to properly take care of them. When you understand behavior it will be easier to work with them. Respect their size, capability, and strength and be alert at all times.

In conclusion, when working with livestock it is best to stay calm and have a quiet voice, avoid blind spots and announce your presence if you need to get close. Also caretakers should keep as close to a routine as possible and have a plan of action when working with livestock. Keep in mind that animals still have territorial instincts and could be dangerous for the caretaker. Respect your animals and do not fear them. These tips will help you put safety first when working with livestock.

John Deere 6600 combine, gas, pickup header $2000

Massey-Ferguson 510 combine, Perkins diesel $3250

Ford 600 tractor with loader, good tires. Runs great.

Front Dozer Blade with manual adjust. Fits various models $2500

Oliver/White loader fits 1650/1655 $1250

Wagner loader for Ford 8N,

KIOTI TRACTORS

Kioti DK4720SEHC tractor with KL5521 loader, 47 hp, Hst transmission, cab, AC, heat, 3-pt. 4WD, 540 PTO 1 in stock

Kioti DK5320SEHC tractor with KL5521 loader, 53 hp, Hst transmission, cab, AC, heat, 3-pt.,4WD, 540 PTO 1 in stock

Kioti RX7320PCC tractor, 73 hp, creeper, power shuttle, 4WD, cab, air conditioner, heat, 3-pt., PTO. 1 In Stock

Kioti CK2610 with KL4030 loader, 25 hp, tier 3 diesel, 4WD, 3-pt., PTO. 2 In Stock

Kioti K9 2440, 2 rows, seats 5, 22 hp diesel engine, MacPherson struts, steel dump box 1 In Stock

Kioti DK4510 with KL5520 loader, manual trans., 4WD, 3-pt, PTO. 3 In Stock

Kioti CS2210H with SL2410 loader, SM2454 mower, KB2465 backhoe 1 in Stock

New Red Devil

6-ft. snow blower with QA skid steer mount.

Ford 2000 Select-o-Speed For Parts PARTS

Inventoring remaining forage supply

By Todd Whitney, UNL

Ground Hog Day (February 2) pegs the mid-point of winter; so now may be a good time to inventory your remaining hay and forage. Remember you can’t effectively manage; what you do not measure.

Do you have enough hay and forage to last the remainder of winter? Your final answer may depend on weather factors beyond your control such as heavy snow cover impacting pasture grazing? Will your pastures still need extra early season rest due to previous drought?

When making your feed management decisions, consider using ‘best case’ and ‘worst case’ scenarios.

Focus on completing a thorough inventory, account for all feed resources; even counting all bales available. Calculate remaining bunker silage. Also, estimate remaining forage grazing and assign economic values.

Compare what feed resources you have versus what your herd may need. For example, a 200 head lactating cow herd average cow size of 1,200 pounds will need about 3.2 tons of hay per day (not accounting for waste).

Focus on making the best use of your feed resources. Would it be financially beneficial to sell extra highest quality forage and feed the rest? If mild winter conditions continue, selling your higher value forage could generate more cashflow toward paying taxes and land payments. On the flip side, if your feed reserves are too low, will you need to cull your cow herd more and/or buy more forage.

If your cows are thin, consider the opposite; sell your lower quality forage and feed your higher quality.

Thin condition score cows need more protein and energy to keep from dropping body condition and maintaining their milk production.

If you need assistance managing your remaining feed resources and evaluating your hay and forage needs, Nebraska Extension educational resources are available online at: cropwatch.unl.edu and beef.unl.edu

2007

2014 Kenworth T800

We

Grade 5 Bolts

HUGE SELECTION!

1/4” - 1” diameter, up to 6” long. We also carry fine thread, some metric and Grade 8 bolts. NEED A TARP STRAP OR BUNGEE CORD?

HENRY OR DEBRA VERPLOEGEN

MONTANA BRAND FOR SALE

PO BOX 469 HILLS, IA 52235-0469 125521

CATTLE RIGHT RIB

RIGHT SHOULDER

IRONS INCLUDED

$2700

Phone or text (319) 930-5150, Havre, MT

MATTHEW R. FENGER

459 2900 ROAD SOUTH GALATA, MT 59444-9535 127068

CATTLE RIGHT HIP

Custom cut to your specs

HORSES RIGHT SHOULDER

• Full dimension rough cut lumber

•

TOOLE, LIBERTY, HILL, GLACIER

•

43357 ROAD 140 N HAVRE, MT 59501 123360

780 1st Rd. S - Vaughn, MT

HILL

Call The Weaver Family (406) 788-7989

www.bigskysawmill.vpweb.com

TODD C OR TRAVIS A REUM PO BOX 1227 HAVRE, MT 59501

CATTLE LEFT HIP

HORSES LEFT THIGH

HILL

Grain,

Denton, MT 406-567-2232 800-325-8859

HORSES RIGHT THIGH

Westeel

USDA announces major program improvements, progress, and investments

CHOUTEAU, BLAINE, FERGUS, HILL

ELDWIN HENRY BROWN OR HEIDI KAYLENE BROWN 700 DAFFY HILLS LANE CHINOOK, MT 59523

CATTLE RIGHT RIB HORSES RIGHT THIGH

HILL, BLAINE

“At USDA, our goal is to provide all farmers, including new and underserved producers, with the opportunity to receive the assistance they need to continue farming, to build and maintain their competitiveedge, and to access more, new, and better markets,” said Vilsack, who spoke at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention today. “Working together we can ensure American agriculture is as resilient as ever and will do so by implementing a holistic approach to emergency assistance, by lowering input costs through investments in domestic fertilizer production, and by promoting competition in agricultural markets.”

the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA). The 30-day public comment period will close February 8, 2023. Additional information is available at www.rd.usda. gov/fpep-environmental-review-comments.

AARON OR LINDA BOEHM 994 BOEHM ROAD RUDYARD,

CATTLE RIGHT HIP HORSES RIGHT THIGH

HILL, CHOUTEAU

Secretary Vilsack announced that USDA continues to make progress in the following areas by:

Assisting producers facing high input costs to access domestic, innovative fertilizer capacity.

Improving risk protection for underserved producers.

Investing in new choices and meat processing capacity for livestock producers. Providing relief for producers impacted by disaster and the pandemic.

These programs and efforts are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to lower costs for producers, increase competition and access to market opportunities, and ensure equity in designing and developing programs to help all producers. Additionally, the announcements are a continuation of the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus on targeting assistance based on need, reaching everyone who is eligible, and removing the bureaucratic burden on producers.

USDA Moving Forward with Fertilizer Production Expansion Program; Publishes Comments on Importance of Increased Competition

USDA will soon begin accepting public comments on environmental and related aspects of 21 potentially viable projects to increase fertilizer production across the United States totaling up to $88 million. These applicants have requested grant funding through the first round of the Department’s newly established Fertilizer Production Expansion Program. This program is one of many ways the Biden-Harris Administration invests in the agricultural supply chain right here at home. Investing in projects to increase fertilizer production will bring production and jobs back to the United States, promote competition and support American goods and services. Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA continues to create a competitive, resilient, secure and sustainable economy to support opportunities for local businesses and people across this nation. The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program is a critical part of that effort.

The Department is considering fertilizer production projects in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. In response to prior feedback requesting more time for public comment on the environmental and related impact of USDA-funded projects, USDA is seeking comments from the public on the following questions and projects pertaining to

The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program is part of a whole-of-government effort to promote competition in agricultural markets. USDA has also released a summary of the comments received through a Request For Information on Access to Fertilizer: Competition and Supply Chain Concerns, which highlights the variety of concerns about the limited competition and dependence of foreign sources for significant amounts of fertilizer.

Improving Risk Protection for Beginning, Veteran, Limited Resource and Minority Producers

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. There is a Congressionally mandated fee waiver for basic coverage for underserved producers. However, a previous set of procedures and regulations created a paperwork burden that stood in the way of many producers taking advantage of the basic coverage option. The recent rule removes barriers and establishes procedures through which an underserved producer with a CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, on file prior to the applicable NAP application closing date will automatically receive basic coverage for any NAP-eligible crops they plant. Underserved producers on file for 2022 will also receive retroactive basic coverage. Like all other covered producers, underserved producers will still need to file a notice of loss and apply for benefits.

In addition to the basic catastrophic level coverage under NAP, producers can buyup higher levels of coverage by paying a premium. Underserved producers receive a 50 percent discount on any premiums. Producers who are interested in obtaining NAP coverage for 2023 should also contact their local FSA county office for information on eligibility, coverage options and applying for coverage. FSA also plans to target outreach to previous producers of NAP-eligible crops to ensure these producers are aware of their options. For more information, reference our NAP Fact Sheet.

USDA Making More Investments in Meat and Poultry Processing

USDA is investing more than $12 million to expand independent meat and poultry processing capacity in Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota. Vilsack announced that Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program grants will help fund the following projects:

In Ohio, International Food Solutions Inc. is receiving $9,575,250 to help redevelop and expand a vacant building in Cleveland into a plant with the capacity to process 60 million pounds of poultry. The expansion will include cold and dry storage and two processing lines. The project will create 227 good-paying jobs. International Food Solutions is a woman- and minority-owned business that has produced thousands of prepared meals for K-12 students receiving free and reduced-price school meals.

CONTINUED ON PAGE C28

Rockwell Scales

USDA announces major program improvements, progress, and investments

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C26

$1,531,204 to help upgrade the hot water system, wastewater treatment facilities and refrigerated trailers to accommodate an expansion at its plant in Grand Rapids. With recent automation upgrades and the continuing expansion made possible by the grant, the plant will be able to add a shift and double its processing capacity to 10 million turkeys annually. The additional capacity also will allow the plant to provide back-up for other facilities of similar size in neighboring states.

In Minnesota, Benson + Turner Foods Inc. is receiving $962,954 to build a 6,788-square-foot cattle and hog processing plant on the White Earth Indian Reservation and storefront near Waubun. The grant will help the company achieve its goal of building a sustainable business that benefits the local economy by using locally grown livestock and providing new opportunities for producers to market their products by providing USDA-certified processing for them.

This is in addition to recent announcements of $74 million in 22 MPPEP projects, $75 million in grants through the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program, $3.9 million in Value Added Producer Grants, and $5.7 million in Food Supply Chain Loan Guarantees, all supporting meat and poultry processing. These programs are a few of the suite of programs facilitating investment in meat and poultry processing. New Programs to fill gaps in 2020/2021 Natural Disaster Assistance (Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2) and 2020 Pandemic Assistance (Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP).

USDA is announcing two new programs that wrap-up and fill remaining gaps in previous natural disaster and pandemic assistance. To be eligible for ERP Phase Two, producers must have suffered a decrease in allowable gross revenue in 2020 or 2021 due to necessary expenses related to losses of eligible crops from a qualifying natural disaster event. Assistance will be primarily to producers of crops that were not covered by Federal Crop Insurance or NAP, since crops covered by Federal Crop Insurance and NAP were included in the assistance under ERP Phase One.

To be eligible for PARP, an agricultural producer must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to a baseline year.

HERE’S WHAT GROWERS ARE SAYING:

"This is the fourth year we are planting 360-D. It works well both on Irrigated and dry land. Very good variety."

Al Renner - Beach, ND / Laurel, MT

"We love that alfalfa! We get 2 cuts on dryland, and we are ordering for the fourth time."

Skip Ahlgren, Rocking TS Cattle - Winnett, MT

"The 360-D stayed green in a very dry summer. For range dryland seeding the coating on Vavilov Siberian and 360-D dryland alfalfa made all the di erence in getting a good stand!"

Michael Kubacher - Moorcroft, WY

"360-D is an excellent dryland variety! It is very tolerant to rough growing conditions. We will order again!"

"We got 3 good cuts on 360-D. It did well, and we will order again!"

Neil Turnbull - Culbertson, MT

Al Miller - Allendale, ND

√ Will produce AT LEAST 80% of crop with 50% of water

√ Will produce a subsequent cutting after water is gone

√ Plant on dryland/ guaranteed to out yield Ranger or Ladak

The ERP Phase 2 and PARP application period is open from January 23, 2023 through June 2, 2023. For more information, producers should contact their local USDA service center or reference the ERP Phase Two Fact Sheet, PARP Fact Sheet or the ERP Phase Two-PARP Comparison Fact Sheet.

Mohawk

* *Plant in your pivot corners.

√ Plant under pivots that only pump 400 gal/

√ Plant on elds that have only early season creek water

√ Plant under end guns on pivots

√ Plant in the late fall with your dormant seeded grasses

Two ton bonus per acre per year.

Originally worn in Native American cultures, the mohawk reappeared sometime in the 1970s, along with the punk rock movement. At its most extreme, the mohawk, called the Mohican in the UK, featured a stripe of hair sticking straight up and running down the middle of the head, with the sides of the head shaved. It made a statement about not giving in to social standards. However, with the “fauxhawk” (small spike, not shave on sides), the mohawk of today is much more watered-down.

#####

Can a kangaroo jump higher than the Empire State Building? Of course! The Empire State Building can’t jump.

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

low boy service

40-ton RGN trailer for hire to transport combines, tractors, sprayers, floaters, construction equipment, etc. Within Montana & surrounding states. We also have 48-ft. step deck trailers available. Insured & experienced.

Call Roger at Roger Rader Inc., Sun River, MT 406-264-5475 or 406-799-5162 (Roger’s Cell) (MC# 170263 US DOT# 128029)

LOOK FOR THE

FOR MARCH

*Prices listed may include Cash and/or Financing Incentives, other Rebates may be available. Restrictions may apply.

Doc Fee is not included in price listed. See store for more details and questions.

Pre-Owned Vehicles

2013 and newer, under 140,000 miles are covered by the Ford Royal Shield Limited Warranty for the first 12 months or 12,000 miles at no cost to you. See store for more details

miles

2022 Ford F150 Lariat 4X4

SHAMROCK

MARKDOWNS

406-727-7153

4181 North Park Trail - Great Falls, MT (G)

406-538-3919

77335 US HWY 87 - Lewistown, MT (L)

www.hovenequipment.com

Great Falls Sales:

Andy – 590-0372; Lance – 788-8012; James – 868-2570; Hunter – 868-8312; Adam – 403-5987

Lewistown Sales: Anna – 231-4251

USED TRACTORS

New Holland T7.210 stk# 22264. COMING IN SOON (L)

New Holland TM150 tractor. stk# 29559. (G)

Massey Ferguson 1735 EHL tractor with backhoe. stk# 26242. (G)

Massey Ferguson GC1725TLB tractor. stk# 27315. (G)

Case IH Puma 165 tractor. stk# 30255. (L)

Kubota BX2380 compact tractor. stk# 30042. (G)

Versatile 800 stk# 25280. (G)

Ford TW35 stk# 28433. (L)

Agco

Check our Facebook page for our newest trade ins!

USED BALE PROCESSORS

Haybuster 256 stk# 29172. (G)

Haybuster BB256 left-hand discharge. stk# 29173. (G)

Haybuster 2640 round only, left-hand discharge. stk# 30185. (G)

USED SKID STEERS

USED LAWN & GARDEN AND SNOW REMOVAL

Toro 74720 riding mower. stk# 20089. (G)

Toro 74730 riding mower. stk# 23442. (G)

Toro 74624 riding mower. stk# 30527. (G)

USED SPRAYERS

New Holland SF115 sprayer. stk# 28655. (G)

Miller 3275 HT 120-ft. front boom, 1000 gallon, 4WD, Raven Smart Trax. stk# 24819 (G)

Spra Coupe 7650 full run Raven monitor, mechanical rear drive, front hydraulic assist, 90-ft. boom, hydraulic extend axle. stk# 9067. (G)

Versatile SX275 sprayer. stk# 12327. (G)

USED SWATHERS

Case 8840 with 14-ft. header. stk# 28848. (G)

New Holland H8040 swather. stk# 30437. (G)

New Holland 1118 with 14-ft. header. stk# 27582. (G)

Massey Ferguson WR9760 swather. stk# 17659. (G)

USED MISCELLANEOUS

Haybuster 2800 square and round. stk# 30239. (G)

Haybuster 2660 round only. stk# 26158. (L)

Haybuster 256+II stk# 30261. (G)

Haybuster 256+II round only. stk# 30279. (L)

Vermeer BPX8000 round only. stk# 11189. (L)

Vermeer BP8000 round only. stk# 11240. (L)

Highline 7000 round only. stk# 29332. (L)

USED ROUND BALERS

New Holland RB560 net/twine. stk# 28314.(L)

New Holland BR780 net/twine. stk# 27848. (L)

New Holland 688 net/twine. stk# 30181. (L)

New Holland 664 net/twine. stk# 30105. (G)

New Holland 660 net/twine. stk# 27027. (G)

Vermeer 605XL net/twine. stk# 20674. (G)

Vermeer 605L twine only. stk# 21490. (G)

John Deere 566 net/twine. stk# 29080 (G)

Hesston 956A twine only. stk# 9821 (G)

Hesston 856A stk# 22105 (G)

Gehl RB1870 stk# 28492. (G)

USED COMBINES

Case 2188 stk# 29206. (G)

Case 1660 with header. stk# 13168. (G)

New Holland TR98 with headers. stk# 19692. (G)

Massey Ferguson 8570 with 30-ft. header. stk# 9896. (G)

USED HEADER

MacDon FD75D 45-ft. header. stk# 29023. (L)

MacDon 962 stk# 27101. (G) MacDon 920 stk# 21839. (G) Gleaner 24-ft. header. stk# 10119. (G)

Jacobsen Greens King IV riding mower. stk# 28435. (G)

Snapper 7800920-00 riding mower. stk# 20898. (G)

Toro 20017 walk behind mower. stk# 10492. (G)

Toro 20017 walk behind mower. stk# 16445. (G)

Toro 20040 walk behind mower. stk# 26977. (G)

Buhler Y500-4 snowblower. stk# 18435. (G)

MTD 31A-611D000 snowblower. stk# 26304. (G)

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“The Little International Livestock Show is the largest student-run event on the NDSU campus, involving over 300 students,” said Lydia Lyons, Little I publicity chair and a senior in agribusiness from Lisbon, North Dakota. “The show features showmanship classes of beef, dairy, sheep, swine and goats as well as ham curing and public speaking contests.”

The overall showman is determined using a round-robin contest where each species’ overall showman is required to show all other species.

Roxanne Holm

Goat

Champion – Wendel Reserve Champion – Alexis Vanderberghe, Cleveland, North Dakota, junior in animal science, daughter of Paul and Lori Vanderberghe

The show also included a novice division of showmanship for individuals who have never competitively shown their species. Novice winners were as follows:

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Rose Wendel, a freshman in liberal arts from Lamoure, North Dakota, was named the overall showman at the 97th Little International at North Dakota State University on February 11. Wendel is the daughter of Mike and Shari Wendel. Noah Helgoe, a sophomore in animal science and crop and weed science from Cavalier, North Dakota, was named reserve champion. Helgoe is the son of Chris and Kari Helgoe.

Winners of each species and other Little I competitions are as follows:

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Beef – Kamilla Knippling, South Shore, South Dakota, junior in animal science, daughter of Art and Amy Nelson

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Swine –Erika Anderson, Rogers, North Dakota, sophomore in crop and weed science, daughter of Shawn and Linda Anderson

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Dairy

Champion – Madalyn Gieseke, Golden Valley, Minnesota, junior in crop and weed science, daughter of Brian and Angela Gieseke

Reserve Champion – Samantha Johnson, Mandan, North Dakota, junior in biological sciences, daughter of Kirk and Melissa Johnson

Beef

Champion – Jaxon Deckert, Arena, North Dakota, senior in animal science, son of Justin and Carrie Deckert

Reserve Champion – Hope Willson, Wimbledon, North Dakota, senior in animal science, daughter of Joel and Kristi Willson

Sheep

Champion – Reanna Schmidt, Fargo, North Dakota, freshman, daughter of Rick and Renae Schmidt

Reserve Champion – Jolie Sanders, New Salem, North Dakota, freshman in pharmacy, daughter of Josh and Kyla Sanders

Swine

Champion – Helgoe

Reserve Champion – Kasi Holm, Ashley, North Dakota, junior in human development and family science, daughter of Barry and

Goat – Jacklyn Pazdernick, New Salem, North Dakota, junior in nursing, daughter of Mike and Dana Pazdernick

Other contests that took place before February 11 included:

Public speaking – Students prepared a speech about this year’s Little I theme, Leaving a Legacy.

First – Isaac Huber, Jud, North Dakota, senior in agriculture systems management, son of Bryan and Emmy Huber

Second – Stetson Urlacher, Regent, North Dakota, sophomore in agriculture education, son of Gregg and Mary Urlacher

Third - Emma Honeyman, Regent, North Dakota, junior in agriculture economics, daughter of Gary and Tia Honeyman

Ham curing – The top 10 individuals’ hams were auctioned off during the Little I night show.

First – Brooke Kunz, New Salem, North Dakota, senior in agriculture education, daughter of Ron and Margo Kunz

Second – Tasha Pond, Bowman, North Dakota, senior in veterinary technology, daughter of Jennifer Pond and Tracy Pond

Third – Rachel Blue, Henry, South Dakota, junior in animal science, daughter of Doug and Paula Blue.

Caramel Popcorn Day

This holiday is always celebrated on April 7.

This holiday is an opportunity to enjoy the combination of two great treats – Caramel and Popcorn. This tasty, chewy treat is hard to beat. Caramel popcorn is readily found in popcorn tins and specialty shops. Or, you can make it yourself at home. All you need is some popcorn and the seasoning.

If you are like me, you don’t need an excuse to eat any kind of popcorn. So, you can easily guess what you need to do to participate in this day. While salted, buttered, and any other flavors of popcorn are fine any other day, today it must be caramel popcorn.

A great way to make this day truly memorable is to make homemade caramel popcorn.

Rose Wendel (pictured center), a freshman in liberal arts from Lamoure, North Dakota, was named the overall showman at the 97th Little International at North Dakota State University on February 11. (NDSU photo)

Superheroes?

Beneficial insects help protect plants from pests

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service

In the insect world, superheroes come in small sizes. Often as small as one-fiftieth of an inch, in fact.

But don’t let their size fool you: Kansas State University entomologist Raymond Cloyd said beneficial insects – also called biological control agents or natural enemies – are mighty predators, attacking insect or mite pests that can rob farmers of bountiful harvests, or greenhouse producers of marketable ornamental plants.

“Beneficial insects and mites are the good guys and gals taking care of the bad guys and gals,” Cloyd said. “They are a natural way to regulate or manage insect or mite pest populations in farming systems, greenhouses and nurseries.

Using biological control agents to reduce crop losses due to pests may also reduce the use of insecticides, insecticides and miticides, he said.

“One of the problems we’re encountering is pesticide resistance among certain target insect and mite pest populations,” Cloyd said. “If we can incorporate biological control agents into crop production systems, we can reduce the selection pressure placed on insect or mite pest populations by reducing the amount of pesticides that are applied.

“We have a program in Wamego (Kansas) where we’ve been implementing biological controls for three years with minimal to almost no inputs from pesticides. The program has been extremely successful.”

Another example of success: Cloyd has been working with a producer in Courtland, Kansas for eight years in which predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) have been released into a hoop house tomato production system to manage two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) populations. In those eight years, no miticides have been applied, he said.

In late 2022, Cloyd published an extension publication on the rove beetle (Dalotiacoriaria), a soil-dwelling predator that is one-eighth of an inch long. Rove beetle larvae and adults feed on fungus gnat larvae (often found feeding on houseplants) and western flower thrips pupae (an insect pest that feeds on more than 500 species of host plants, including fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops).

“Rove beetle adults are very active and can fly,” said Cloyd, who has been studying the rove beetle for nearly 20 years. “Based on our research, the rove beetle is an effective biological control agent.”

This February, Cloyd has released two additional publications:

Eretmocerus eremicus: Biological Control Agent of Whiteflies – This insect, just one-fiftieth of an inch long,

can manage sweetpotato whitefly populations on ornamental and vegetable crops.

Insidious Flower Bug: Biological Control Agent of Greenhouse Insect and Mite Pests – This predatory bug is one-eighth of an inch long, and feeds on aphids, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies.

All three publications are available to view or order online from the K-State Research and Extension bookstore.

“These publications will enhance the existing portfolio of extension publications from K-State,” Cloyd said. “We don’t have many publications on individual biological control agents, so these publications will start filling that gap. The information will be extremely valuable to producers who are considering implementing a biological control program.”

“Biological control does work,” he added. “However, producers need a sound knowledge of insect and mite pest biology and ecology, and assistance from extension entomologists. I can tell you from my experience that biological control can be successful.”

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Raising small groups of pigs

By Elizabeth Hines, Swine Extension Specialist and Michael Fournier, Former County Extension Director, Pennsylvania State University

When done correctly, you can put pork in your freezer at a lower cost than what you would pay in the grocery store, and possibly even make some money when you have extra pigs to sell. When raising your own pigs, you control the feed and additives, so you know exactly what they were fed. You also have the satisfaction of producing your own meat.

Those interested in raising pigs for meat production should ask a few questions before moving forward:

How much meat do I need?

Do I have the space?

How do I feed them?

How are am I going to address illnesses?

This article will get you started on evaluating what you need to raise a small group of pigs for meat.

How much meat do I need?

Are you looking just to fill your freezer? Or for some extra income as well? To determine how much meat you need, first determine how much pork you eat in a year. Because most people eat pork as related to special occasions, it might help to first know the cuts available from a whole hog.

Whole cuts (generally, 2 of each whole cut per pig)

Generally speaking, these are all the cuts of meat available from the pig at harvest. From these cuts, what do you and your family eat in a year? If you are looking for more whole cuts in your freezer, you may need to raise more than one hog, as whole cuts are limited to the number of whole muscles available in the pig. If you eat 2 hams per year, then 1 hog can produce 2 hams. However, if you eat 4 whole hams, or 2 whole hams and lots of carved ham, you need to raise at least 2 pigs to get enough hams for your freezer.

If you are looking to sell meat, raising more than one pig is highly beneficial, as the cost of care for those pigs can be spread out over more pigs, lowering the amount of money invested in each pig, and increasing possible profits per pig sold.

Understanding cuts of pork is critical knowledge for determining what you want from your small herd of pigs. To learn more about the versatility of pork and to help you determine how many pigs you will need in your herd, start at the Pork Cuts page on the National Pork Board website.

After you have determined how much and what kind of pork you want, you can determine how many pigs you need, and if you have the space to raise those pigs.

Do I have the space?

Determining if you have the space to raise pigs, or if you can create a space to raise pigs, can depend on when you plan to harvest your pork.

Raising pigs in a small herd can maximize environmental resources if it occurs seasonally. Pigs grow best in moderate temperatures, around 70°F, and can tolerate cooler temperatures as they gain weight and age. To maximize optimal weather conditions, it is recommended to raise small herds of swine seasonally, starting your project in the spring. If you are to start raising 50 lb. pigs in May, they are likely to reach an appropriate market size (between 250-280 lbs.) by November, depending on health, environmental temperature, available nutrition, and natural growth rate of the breed.

If you want to raise pigs year-round, a source of heat and a source of cooling may be necessary depending on the age and size of your pigs. Pigs under 50 lbs. need assistance keeping warm, whereas pigs over 150 lbs. need help keeping cool if temperatures exceed 70°F for a few days. Generally speaking, heavier pigs (150 lbs.+) that are cool, 50°-70°F, will eat more feed, while pigs that are too warm, over 70°F will eat less feed.

Generally, pigs require minimal space. Depending on whether you chose to house pigs inside or outside may determine the amount of space needed per pig. For growing pigs, it is recommended that you plan for around 8 square feet of space per pig. While this may seem like a small amount of space, pigs are not terribly active animals. Rather, their behaviors of choice are sleeping, eating, and rooting; they leave the running to horses. More space should be utilized, however, if you are unable to provide your pigs with indoor shelter. This is less for the pigs, and more for spreading manure and managing pasture. Pigs are destructive because of their rooting behaviors. Plan for pigs that are outdoors to rip up soils and create large holes and muddy areas. Managing pastures for high traffic will help you manage the damage that pigs can cause to the landscape.

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Montana has second highest demand for leaders in the U.S.

Montana has the second highest demand for leaders per capita in the country, according to the findings of a report that was presented in a Montana State University Extension webinar at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 18.

The publication, prepared for Montana by rural sociologist Benjamin Winchester of the University of Minnesota Extension, is titled “Montana’s Leadership Demand.” It reports that one in every 13 adults must hold a leadership position to keep the state’s existing government and nonprofit organizations running, according to Tara Mastel, MSU Extension community development program leader.

For example, she said, all organizations are required by law to have a certain number of members on their board of directors, and many organizations rely on volunteers to help staff events and assist with programs.

Mastel, who organizes Reimagining Rural, an MSU Extension program that works to strengthen small Montana communities, said the report’s findings were a relief to many living in small towns.

“They were glad to know it wasn’t just their town that was struggling with not enough volunteers,” she said. “The social life in our small towns is rich and requires a lot of volunteers to keep everything going.”

Leadership demand is calculated by dividing the number of residents over age 18 in a county or state by the number of leaders needed to run government and nonprofit boards in that jurisdiction. The number of leaders needed is calculated conservatively, Mastel said, by estimating only three volunteers for government organizations and six for nonprofits.

Winchester’s report calculates the leadership demand for each Montana county. The highest leadership demand is found in the state’s low-population counties — where one in five adults are needed to hold leadership positions — including Garfield, Prairie and Treasure counties.

“Finding new volunteers to take the place of those retiring is a struggle across the state. We know from a recent MSU survey of newcomers that people want to get involved in community life,” said Mastel. “To find volunteers, look beyond those who already give time to people who are new to town, younger, or who haven’t been involved before. To keep them involved, be open to their fresh perspectives so they feel they belong and their time is valued.”

Volunteers are essential to the functioning of local government organizations that drive many aspects of the state’s communities, including school boards, fire districts and planning boards, according to Ashley

Kent, associate director of the Local Government Center at MSU Extension.

“In our work with local governments, we often hear of citizens volunteering to serve on multiple boards because they are committed to providing local services to current and future generations alike,” Kent said. “Supporting the development of local leaders is critical to ensuring our communities remain such special places to live.”

Winchester calculated the leadership demand for Montana as a follow-up to contributions to the Reimagining Rural program administered by MSU Extension community development. Winchester’s Jan. 18 presentation about his findings is the first in a yearlong series planned for community volunteer leaders called “Inspiration Hour.” The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

To learn more or to register for the webinar, visit montana.edu/extension/communitydevelopment/RRinspiration.html. For more information, contact Mastel at tara.mastel@ montana.edu or Winchester at benw@umn. edu.

Raising small groups of pigs

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C34

Whether you house your pigs predominantly inside or outside, all pigs do require some form of shelter. The shelter need not be extensive. In fact, a three-sided shelter, open on the fourth side is sufficient for pigs with access to pasture. The overall size will depend on the number of pigs you plan to raise, your ability to work in the housing, and the extent of ventilation needed to manage the facility. Naturally ventilated shelters for pasture can have a low roof with manual openings for airflow, however indoor facilities may need an attic and fans to facilitate ventilation. The goal of the shelter is to provide relief from the weather; shelter is also the primary tool for temperature management for pigs. Consult the references for temperature provided before for more information on temperature management for pigs.

Other considerations for swine housing should be their natural behaviors for rooting and cleanliness.

Pigs are natural excavators and will try to dig out of any pen. Many folks have found it useful to put one strand of electric wire inside the pen at ground level to keep the pigs from digging under the fence. Do not put the electric wire across the pen entrance. The pigs will remember it and will be reluctant to go out the gate when it’s time to go to the butcher.

Pigs are naturally clean animals. Pigs learn to defecate near water supplies. This behavior is key to keeping feed clean and bedding dry. Placing waterers away from feeding areas give pigs dry areas to sleep and centralizes manure and urine away from feeders and bedded areas. Creating pens that are rectangular, rather than square or circular, can help maximize distance between bedding and drinking areas.

How Do I Feed Them?

While management of water can teach pigs to utilize a space, restricting feed and water is not a useful tool in pig production. To grow efficiently, pigs need access to feed and water 24 hours a day. This is usually accomplished with a self-feeder which can be purchased at the feed store, or you can build one yourself. The goal of the self-feeder is to allow pigs free choice to eat as much as they want in a day. Access to feed throughout the day improves gain of pigs as compared to those that are limit fed, or fed a specific amount of feed, 1 or 2 times daily.

Diets for meat pigs are very specific for growth performance. Most nutritionists develop pig diets for maximizing growth and minimizing feed intake. When raising pigs, feed will be the most expensive input that cannot be avoided. While you may have heard of people selling ‘grass-fed’ pork, pigs require more energy and protein to grow than grass alone can provide. It is imperative to offer your pigs a nutritionally balanced diet for their needs.

High protein, particularly high lysine content, and energy is very important for growing pigs. Unless you already have access to grain to mix your own feed, purchasing premixed rations is the recommended way to go for a small group of pigs. Current research in swine nutrition suggests phase feeding of pigs, by changing amino acid and energy content as the pig grows. Younger pigs need much more protein, and specific amino acids, than older pigs do. To maximize your pigs’ growth, 50 lb. pigs should have a high protein diet and a specified lysine content, while pigs that are over 200 lbs. can have less protein and lysine. A wealth of information for swine nutrition can be found through the Iowa Pork Industry Center (Iowa State University) and the Pork Information Gateway.

Many folks are tempted to feed table scraps. Pigs are able to digest table scraps; however, these should be fed with careful discretion. Aside from not necessarily providing balanced nutrition, table scraps may contribute to the spread of diseases in swine, such as Trichinella or African Swine Fever. Any table scraps fed to pigs should not contain meat products, particularly any that are not thoroughly cooked, and should be considered a treat, rather than the base diet for pigs. If you are feeding pigs to sell the meat to others, you should look into the requirements for food safety around meat production and feeding, as food safety is very important when producing meat.

Often overlooked in feeding pigs is water. Pigs require a constant supply of fresh, clean water. The recommended best practice is to utilize automatic waterers, where the pig learns to turn the water off and on when they want a drink. These range from an attachment fitted on a 55-gallon drum, to a “nipple” type that is screwed onto the end of a hose or pipe. Do not use buckets for watering pigs, as their curious nature will spill and waste water that is supplied in a bucket on the ground. The importance of water for animals should be emphasized for your herd.

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Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

This holiday is always celebrated on April 12.

People have been consuming the ever-popular grilled cheese sandwiches for seemingly ever. Its roots go back to ancient Roman times, when bread was topped with cheese and melted. It wasn’t until the 1920’s that sliced bread was created. Shortly after that, today’s grilled cheese sandwich began to be enjoyed by tens, if not hundreds of millions of people young and not so young.

What do you need to celebrate Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day? The ingredients are cheese, sliced bread, a little butter, and your appetite. Any cheese will do. If you are looking to be a little daring, add a couple slices of tomato or tuna fish to it, then grill it in a frying pan.

How to Celebrate Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

Here are a few ideas how to celebrate this holiday: Make a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch or dinner.

If you’re too busy to cook today, go to a restaurant or your local diner to enjoy this cheesy sandwich.

Experiment with this quick and easy sandwich. Make it with different kinds of cheeses. Add ham, tomatoes, or tuna fish.

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BRIDGES

Two little boys were known troublemakers, stealing everything they could get their hands, even from the church.

One day a priest stopped one of the boys and asked, “Where is God?” The boy shrugged and the priest repeated, “Where is God?” The boy ran out of the cathedral crying to his home where he hid in a closet.

Eventually his brother found him and asked, “What’s wrong?” The crying boy replied, “We’re in trouble now! God is missing and they think we took him!”

Raising small groups

of pigs

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C36

How am I Going to Address Illnesses?

Raising livestock should always come with a plan to address handling sick pigs. It is a good practice to always start with healthy pigs, preferably from a reputable breeder. Purchasing pigs from a livestock auction carries the risk of exposure to other pigs and they may get sick. Reputable pig suppliers should provide evidence of health records for the herd. If you do choose to purchase from an auction, the pigs you purchase should be associated with a premises identification. This provides the opportunity to return to the source should your pigs get sick after purchase.

Once you purchase your pigs and bring them home, be prepared for illnesses that may occur outside of purchase origin. Because of their propensity to root, pigs are highly susceptible to soil-based parasites and bacterial infections. Pigs are also susceptible to a range of viral infections, including diseases that can be mutated from human illnesses, such as the influenza (flu) virus. These illnesses will slow the growth of your pig, and possibly lead to death if left untreated. It is imperative to have a good relationship with a veterinarian when raising swine. While not all veterinarians have experience treating pigs, they are a very necessary first resource in assisting you in developing a health plan, guiding you to appropriate medications and vaccinations for treating and preventing illness. Should you have access to a vet that lacks experience treating pigs, contact your Penn State Extension Educators. We would be happy to help you and your veterinarian find the appropriate health plan for your swine herd.

Other Management

After answering the key questions of caring for your small herd of pigs, there are many steps that can be taken to further develop your herd for your needs.

For seasonal meat production, it is advantageous to look into what breed of pig you wish to grow. Generally speaking, any modern commercial breed will work for your project. Crossbreds grow faster and are more efficient than purebreds. There are numerous other breeds of pigs, and any combination may be more or less advantageous for the purposes of your enterprise. The most important considerations for meat production are growth and meat quality. High growth and quality breeds are described concisely by the National Pork Board. More exotic breeds of pig can be found from the Livestock Conservatory, however many of these pigs are prized for their historical significance or specific markets, rather than superior growth rates.

Finally, Market Day!

The day will come when the pigs reach market weight. To collect the meat from your pigs, you need to either haul them to a processor (butcher) or harvest them yourself. It is recommended to take your pigs to a butcher if you have no experience in harvesting meat. A skilled butcher will not only treat your pigs with respect at harvest, they will be able to maximize the amount of usable meat from your pig during the cutting process.

To get your pigs to a butcher, you will need to haul your pigs.

When moving pigs, keep in mind that they do not like to be pushed. Take your time and let them move at their own pace. Patience is the key to high quality meat production, as stressed pigs will have damaged muscle at harvest, and poorer meat quality.

Hauling pigs can be achieved with a pickup truck or horse trailer as long as you have some sort of ramp for loading. If you chose to use a pickup, be sure that the sides are high enough to prevent pigs from escaping or falling out during transport. There are also commercial livestock haulers that will transport the pigs for you. To keep stress to a minimum, your loading ramp should have solid sides, so they can’t escape, and you should follow behind with a barrier or panel to keep them from turning around. In fact, a hurdle should be used whenever you are moving pigs. Be sure to never take sick pigs to butcher. Wait until you obtain a clean bill of health from your veterinarian before transporting pigs, regardless of final destination.

Raising market pigs can be a short term, low investment project for any family looking to save money on meat and to get started in raising livestock. With the right management, you can maximize the return on your investment, and have a high-quality product while learning a new skill.

We are working diligently to improve the amount and quality of materials available to all swine producers, useful for newbies and the pros. Please don’t hesitate to contact your educators for specific questions in the meantime, we are happy to help!

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2013 Case IH DH 302 30-ft. triple delivery header for Case IH swathers $23,500 New John Deere loaders for large frame tractors.

John Deere 9420 Very clean tractor Call for Special Price

2015 Versatile SX280 100-ft. booms, 1200 gallon stainless tank. Very clean

2005 Spra-Coupe 7650 Raven rate controller, Raven autosteer, 660 gallon plastic tank, chemical inductor, triple nozzle bodies, Perkins engine

2020 Versatile Vertical Tillage

2012 Versatile SX275 John Deere

and track 50%, 3595 hours. $29,500

1983 Versatile 835 III 250 hp, 4WD, 4932 hours, duals, 4 rear remotes, high flow hydraulics. $28,000 1980 Versatile 875 280 hp, 6285 hours. Runs great, tires are not the best.

1985 Versatile 856 Cummins, 240 hp, 4WD, 7643 hours, duals, 4 remotes, air, heat, radio $32,500 Morris 8900 New Holland SF115 100-ft. booms, 1600 gallon tank, 20” nozzles $30,000 2012 Versatile RT490 Cummins 490 hp, 340 bushel tank, straw chopper/spreader, 873/528 hours $140,000

Morris 7240 240 bushel tow between with 39-ft., 12” spacing, single shoot steel packers. $35,000

1981 Versatile 835 Cummins NTA855 engine, 230 hp, 4WD, 18.4-38 tires all around $28,000 2019 Bourgault 9500-70 5-section folding, 12” spacing, hydraulic depth control, walking tandems, 70-ft. width, field ready. $130,000 K-Hart 60-10 350 bushel tank, 60-ft., 10” spacing, just traded, field ready, will separate.

1982 Versatile 1150 Good tractor, have the triples just not on in the pictures, runs great $75,000 1976 Versatile 850 II Nice older tractor, well taken care of, runs great $28,000 CALL US FOR ALL YOUR RENTAL EQUIPMENT NEEDS! Ask about weekly and monthly rates, to schedule delivery, and more! www.bigequipment.com See more photos and details!

1997 Case IH 9380 Cummins N14, 450 HP, 4WD, 24 speed Synchro transmission, front and rear weights. $75,000

2018 Versatile 610DT Cummins engine, 605 hp, PowerShift transmission, 36” tracks, 4WD, 6 remotes $475,000 Steiger Cougar III ST251 Cummins NTA855 engine, 251 hp, 4WD, 4 remotes, 20.8-38 tires all around $22,250