OCTOBER 2020
Vol. XXI No. 9 P.O. Box 997 Conrad, MT 59425-0997
Phone 406-271-5533 Fax 406-271-5727 website: tradersdispatch.com
GTA Program application deadline is December 7, 2020
Montana Department of Agriculture The 2020 funding cycle for the Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) Program is now open. Montanans interested in creating or expanding their agricultural businesses are invited to apply for funds through the state grant program. “Our Growth Through Agriculture program has a long history of helping Montana’s producers and small businesses add value, scale up, and access new markets,” said Director Ben Thomas. “Investing in the diversification and expansion of our ag industry strengthens the state’s economy overall, and I’m looking forward to seeing this next round of applications.” The GTA program was established by the legislature to strengthen and diversify Montana’s agriculture industry by developing new agricultural products and processes. GTA CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
UPCOMING AUCTIONS
Oct 12 -20, Ascent Auction Services, Fall Equipment & Tool, Online............. A7 Oct 12 - 22, Shobe Auction & Realty, Erickson Retirement Farm, Online....... A9 Oct 24, Mills Auction Service, Harpster Estate, Ekalaka MT............................ A4 Oct 24, RK Statewide Auctions, Oster Estate, Williston ND............................. A5 Oct 27, Steffes Group, Stoner Farm Retirement, Outlook MT.......................... A3 Oct 31, Mills Auction Service, Emmet LaBree Ranch, Baker MT..................... A6 Nov 6 - 7, Shobe Auction & Realty, MT Fall Gatherin’, Lewistown MT............ A9 Nov 7, Mills Auction Service, Equipment Auction, Miles City MT................... A8 Nov 14, Mills Auction Service, Antique & Western Memorabilia, Broadus MT...A10
Alkaline soil management recommendations
University of Wyoming Extension A new publication from University of Wyoming (UW) Extension outlines management considerations or remediations needed to support Wyoming range with alkaline soils. The free publication, Alkaline Soils in Wyoming, is available for download as a PDF, HTML or ePub document at http://bit.ly/alkalineWyo. “Alkaline soils are prevalent across almost all Wyoming range and agriculture lands,” said Jay Norton, extension soils specialist. “They are often very productive and support diverse and unique plant communities, but they require some special management considerations not always addressed in broadly focused land management information.” Salinity at the surface can increase from different disturbance activities like tillage, mining, reclamation or groundwater hydrology, explained Norton. He suggests these areas may need remediation to recover productivity. “This publication is intended to help producers and land managers understand unique properties of different types of alkaline soils, including calcareous, saline and sodic soils and when alternative management or remediation might improve production, diversity or other ecosystem services,” said Norton.
PRODUCTION SALES
Nov 11, Hereford Influence Feeder Calf Sale, Three Forks MT.......................A21 Nov 12, Diamond D Angus, Valier, MT.................................................................B3 Nov 18, Spickler Ranch North, Glenfield ND....................................................A11
OTHER DATED EVENTS
Dec 3 - 5, Montana Organic Association, Virtual Conference, Virtual............A20
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An aerial shot of Dwaine Kubicek’s place in Milligan, Nebraska in July 2019. The dam structure provides many benefits on the farm.
Private Dams Program offers landowners assistance for improvements Chrystal Houston, Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District
The water in the pond on Dwaine Kubicek’s farmland in Milligan is low, having been drained recently for improvements to the dam structure. Still, it is the prettiest spot in the area on this warm day in early fall. Bullfrogs are hopping, cicadas are singing, and a family of ducks is paddling across the pond toward the haven of a small island. Trees hug the shoreline, providing cover for white tailed deer and mule deer. Kubicek has seen plenty of bobcats, rabbits, pheasants, quail, and numerous species of waterfowl at the communal watering hole. In the spring, dozens of endangered whooping cranes will pause their annual migration for a short stay on the property, filling up on last year’s corn in the neighboring fields and bedding down on the water at night. This robust and diverse ecosystem is made possible by the dam on the north end of the pond. Originally installed by Kubicek’s father in 1964, the dam collects runoff from 1,600 surrounding acres and holds 78 acre-feet (25.4 million gallons) of water in the conservation pool. After 56 years of use, the dam was still functional but had begun to show its age. Parts of the tube were rusted through. Kubicek knew that water seeping through the pipe could wash out the soil underneath and lead to the dam’s eventual failure. “I didn’t want to just break it open and not catch all that water,” said Kubicek. “I wanted to keep that conservation practice going.”
Kubicek partnered with the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District on the repairs, taking advantage of cost-share funds in the Private Dams Program. These funds provide landowners with an opportunity to correct or re-build privately owned dams. The NRD will contribute 75 percent of the project costs up to a maximum cost-share of $50,000. Eligible costs include construction and design services provided by a private engineering firm. The NRD works with the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the design and construction support services provided to this popular program. The repairs to Kubicek’s dam, which included removing the old pipe and installing a new one, as well as a new riser and other reinforcements, cost about $71,000, of which the NRD contributed $50,000. “When my dad built it, it cost $10,000. Now just to replace the tube is over $70,000. But I guess that’s progress,” Kubicek jokes. “I was most appreciative that the Upper Big Blue decided to help me out on that because it would have been a much bigger decision for me otherwise.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
PRIVATE TREATY
Feddes Herefords, Manhattan MT...............................A21 J Bar E Ranch, Plentywood MT...................................A21 Maloney Angus & Simmental, Turner MT....................A24 McMurry Cattle, Billings MT........................................A21 Wichman Herefords, Moore MT...................................A21 Wyse Genetics, Manhattan MT....................................A20
ADVERTISING DEADLINE
The deadline for November issue is WEDNESDAY, Oct. 28 Advertiser Index B1 Recipe Patch A32 Email: advertising@tradersdispatch.com--Website: www.tradersdispatch.com