Trader's Dispatch - October 2022

BQA & BQAT training

Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance will be offering Beef Quality Assurance and Beef Quality Assurance Transportation Certification.

The date and location is: Friday, October 18, 2022. 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Prairie Winds Community Center; 428 N Main St, Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) will be present ing the latest on the BQA and BQA Transportation (BQAT) programs and certifying/recertifying producers in BQA and BQAT. The BQA and BQAT programs educates beef pro ducers and transporters on animal health best management practices, proper stockmanship, and proper animal welfare guidelines. “Beef cattle producers, who are committed to producing a quality, wholesome and safe beef and beef products for consumers, are encouraged to attend to stay up to date on BQA practices,” says Jesse Fulton, Director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance.

UPCOMING AUCTIONS

Oct 11 - 18, Musser Bros Auctions & Real Estate, Ron Foos & Bob Adkins Tractor Collection, Online A4

Oct 11 - 18, Kinsey Auctioneers & Real Estate, Roger Geving Living Estate, Online A8

Oct 11 - 19, Ascent Auction Services, Frank Carter Farm & Ranch Retirement, Online A3

Oct 11 - 23, Smith Sales Co., Project Car & Truck, Online A5

Oct 11 - 30, Hagedorn Auction, Estate, Online A6

Oct. 11 - Nov 8, Musser Bros Auctions & Real Estate, Arthun Livestock, Wilsall MT A7

Oct 15, Springhill Auctioneers, Leonard Matteson Museum, Galata MT A2

Oct 18, RK Statewide Auction, Carter County Land, Ekalaka, MT A2

Oct 19 - Nov 2, Ascent Auction Services, Montana Fall Consignment, Online A3

Oct 22 , RK Statewide Auction, Kerr Ranch Liquidation, Ekalaka MT A9

Oct 22 , Mills Auction Service, Ager Antiques, Belle Fourche SD A20

Oct 26, Big Iron, O’Hara Land & Cattle, Online A11

Oct 29, RK Statewide Auction, Custer County Land & Farm, Miles City MT...A17

Oct 30, RLP Auctions, Jack Ooley Estate, Hamilton MT A8

Oct 31, RK Statewide Auction, Border Grain/Don Pankratz Large Hay, Glasgow MT A13

Nov 2, Pifer’s Auctioneers, Gussey Farms Hay & Livestock Equipment, New England ND A14

Nov 2, RK Statewide Auction, Gorman Ranch Liquidation, Wibaux MT A16

Nov 12, Flying D Auction, Dennis Howell Home & Property, Cut Bank MT...A15

Crop insurance workshop

By Sarah A. Sivits, Dawson/Buffalo/Hall County Extension

Nebraska Extension with Colorado State University Ex tension and Kansas State Extension will be hosting a series of crop insurance workshops in Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, respectively. This program is open to crop insurance professionals, producers, and those who wish to increase their knowledge about risk management and ability to design a risk management plan. Topics of interest include livestock risk protection (LRP), farm bill, crop/livestock market outlook, crop insurance fraud, macro-economic trends, and current climate trends. The Nebraska workshop will take place on October 19th, 2022 at the Heartland Event Center (700 E. Stolley Park Road) in Grand Island with registration

PRODUCTION SALES

Various, Starting Oct 15, Montana Livestock Auction, Ramsay MT B4

Nov 9,

Montana State’s annual Celebrate Agriculture Weekend

Montana State University’s College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Ex periment Station will host the annual Cele brate Agriculture Weekend Oct. 21-22 on the MSU campus. Celebrate Agriculture honors MSU alumni and students and the legacy of Montana’s agricultural communities.

Celebrate Ag Weekend will include an ag ricultural economics conference, a pregame event at Saturday’s Bobcat football game against Weber State and the presentation of the Outstanding Agricultural Leader Award.

“Celebrate Ag Weekend is one of our col lege’s greatest traditions and something we look forward to each year,” said Sreekala Bajwa, MSU’s vice president of agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture. “I look forward to seeing our partners, alumni, donors and friends come together to cel ebrate the college and the importance of agriculture to Montana.”

Events begin Friday, October 21, with the annual Agricultural Economics Outlook Conference hosted by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics and MSU Extension. The conference will

PRIVATE

run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. at the Best Western GranTree Inn’s Grand Foyer, 1325 N. Seventh Ave. in Bozeman. Presentation topics will include the 2022 agricultural year in review, rebalancing cattle inventories after a drought, agricultural subsidies for farmers and ranchers, and an introduction to precision agriculture, among others.

The conference also includes the featured M.L. Wilson Lecture, which this year will be given by Nathan Kauffman, Omaha branch executive and vice president and economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The talk, “Macroeconomic Crosswinds in U.S. Agriculture,” will be held at 11:25 a.m. the day of the conference. A full agenda and registration information are posted at ampc. montana.edu/economicsconference.

Saturday, October 22, will begin with a celebratory breakfast at 10:30 a.m. in the Strand Union Building ballrooms on MSU’s campus. The event will feature remarks by MSU President Waded Cruzado and the recipient of the annual Outstanding Agri cultural Leadership Award. The award is given to a Montana agriculturalist who em bodies service, engagement and community impact. The honoree will be announced at a later date.

More information and a full agenda for the Celebrate Agriculture weekend can be found at http://agriculture.montana.edu/ celebrateag/.

Townsend, Montana held their annual Fall Fest

Rain didn’t deter the many people

on the

music in the park. These cute

the main street.

Assets located in Kremlin, Baker and Forsyth, Montana

TRUCKS/ PICKUPS: 1997 Ford F250 7.3 L diesel 4x4 with DewEze bale bed. Ac and heat work. Right front 4wd u-joint needs replaced. Vin 3FTHF26F7VMA55803. 213,000 + miles. Tire size 265-75-16. DewEze Model 275. Pump and controls are not installed but are included.

Beginner wool harvesting school in October

From the MSU News Service

Montana State University Extension and Montana Wool Growers Association are offering a beginner wool harvesting school on October 13-16, at locations in Billings and Molt.

The school is for those who want to learn how to shear their own small flock or take a step toward becoming a profes sional shearer.

Participants will learn marketing and business skills rel evant to the wool industry, become familiar with the shearing machine and shearing tools and gain hands-on experience shearing sheep in a way that maintains a quality wool clip and minimizes stress to the sheep and shearer.

The cost of the three-day school is $300, which allows students to take more advanced MSU Extension-sponsored shearing classes for no additional charge (depending on the student’s shearing ability) or repeat the beginner course to refine their basic skills. The fee also includes supplies, bev erages, lunches and snacks.

Farmhand

wheel rake.

International

Platform Header batt reel.

Tandem

x 30” Auger Briggs & Stratton.

Deere

With header trailer. Some new sickle guides and some new guards. Tire size 235-75-15. Serial 539890. 6’x33” Auger New 540 RPM PTO Shaft.

LIVESTOCK TRAILER: 1979 – Circle L Stock Trailer by Well Built MFG ing. 6’ wide x 20’ long. Tires – LT 235/SR 16. Serial 6-79-141 G.

TRAILER: 2 wheeler utility trailer & tank. No title. • Home built trailer. Tandem Duals. 14’8”x30’. No title. • Home built single axel grain dump trailer. No title. • Home built Chevy pickup box trailer Tire size 235-75-15 - new tires. No title.

2002 Ford F-250 xl Super Crew with grill guard. Needs a tune up. Tire size 265-75-16.

1FTNW21L42EA49457.

1959 Chevrolet 2D Viking. 8.25-20

pad.

speed.

Kawasaki

GRINDER/ MIXER: GEHL

TILLAGE/SEEDING:

wheeler

Deere

V-8.

Omaha

cook.

mill

Brent Roeder, MSU Extension sheep specialist, will lead the course, along with Scott Lammers, Center of the Na tion Wool manager, and Wade Kopren, sheep producer and professional shearing instructor.

Instruction begins at 1 p.m. Thursday, October 13, at the Center of the Nation Wool warehouse, 119 S. 25th St. in Billings. Participants will learn about the principles of wool harvesting and the wool industry, animal welfare, business finance and labor laws, types of shearing gear and how to set up shearing equipment.

From Friday, October 14, to Sunday, October 16, partici pants will travel daily to the Hollenbeck Ranch, 212 Oil Well Road in Molt, for the hands-on shearing portion of the course.

Because bending over and holding a sheep while shearing is physically demanding, Roeder said, it is important people realize it requires strength and stamina.

“Shearing requires the ability to comfortably lift 50 to 60 pounds chest high,” he said. “It also requires stamina, so a person should be able to do tasks such as loading a pickup with small, square hay bales without stopping or running continuously for 15 minutes.”

The class is limited to 16 students and those interested in attending need to complete an application form. Applicants under 16 years old must have instructor approval.

For more information about the wool harvesting school and to request an application, visit animalrangeextension. montana.edu/sheep/woolharvesting.html or email Denise Hoepfner at denise.hoepfner@montana.edu. For answers to specific questions not found on the website, contact Brent Roeder at 406-980-0719.

on the

You can search through the online pages using the magnifying glass and entering a key word. You can also find a subscription form, informa tion about advertising, and more! Check us out at www.tradersdispatch.com

BINS

“By becoming or staying BQA and BQAT certified you are an integral part of beef’s positive story to consumers. A story that can increase their understanding - and confidence - in how you and your operation are raising and transporting an animal that is fit to enter the beef supply chain,” says Fulton.

Many commercial beef packing facilities require produc ers who sell fed cattle to them to be BQA certified and those who deliver cattle to their facilities to be BQAT certified. If you have questions on how this may affect you, call Ne braska BQA.

All producers are invited to attend. BQA and BQAT cer tification is valid for three years. If your last BQA or BQAT training occurred prior to 2020, your certification could soon be or already be expired. Beef producers are encouraged to attend in order to keep their BQA and BQAT certification current. The certification fee is $20/person or a flat fee of $100 for operations who bring 5+ people.

Attendees will need to register online at bqa.unl.edu or by calling the Panhandle Research and Extension Center at 308.632.1230. Locations with no registered attendance will be canceled. Those who call in their registration, will need to be prepared to give name, phone number, for all those registering. Additionally, an email address will need to be provided for certificates to be electronically issued.

For all other inquiries, contact Nebraska BQA via email at nebraskabqa@unl.edu or by phone at 308.633.0158.

Crop insurance workshop

beginning at 8 a.m. and the workshop concluding at 3:30 p.m. Registration can be completed online (https://cvent.me/ R5qeL3), by phone (402-472-4923), or by mail (Crop Insur ance Workshop, 102 Filley Hall, University of NebraskaLincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922). More information about this workshop can be found here (https://cropwatch.unl. edu/2022/crop-insurance-workshop-oct-19-grand-island) and questions can be directed to Cory Walters, Agricultural Economist (402-472-0366; cwalters7@unl.edu).

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What race is known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports?” The Kentucky Derby.

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Mars has no plate tecton ics, but has a single plate 125 miles thick, twice that of Earth’s.

24th Annual Dakota Feeder Calf Show and Feedout

The 24th Annual Dakota Feeder Calf Show and Feedout is set for October 15 in Turtle Lake, North Dakota.

Interested consignors will deliver 500- to 700-pound steer calves before 10 a.m. CST on the day of the show. Each producer can consign one or two pens containing three or four calves. The calves are exhibited and evaluated that af ternoon and then shipped to the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center feedlot to be fed to finished market weight.

Irish Red Bulls, Cows and Heifers

“After 23 years of comparing calf performance, North Dakota cattle ranchers are finding superior growth and car cass characteristics,” says Karl Hoppe, Extension livestock specialist at the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center. “Since cow herd genetics can change over time via bull and heifer selection, sending cattle to the Dakota Feeder Calf Show and Feedout gives the rancher information on how their selections are advancing their herd.”

NDSU Extension and Carrington Research Extension Center partner with the Dakota Feeder Calf Show to provide producers an opportunity to experience retained ownership of calves beyond the cow-calf segment of cattle production.

“There are several ways to collect growth performance carcass data from your calves,” says Hoppe. “The best is to feed out your entire calf crop. That takes considerable time, effort and funds. An alternative is to consign a group of calves to a feedout project. Your risk is less and a feedout project provides a substantial amount of information about the calves.”

Dakota Feeder Calf Show chair Darwin Chesrown has been consigning calves since the feedout started.

“I still enjoy comparing my weaned calves in October to the finished calves in May,” says Chesrown. “The calves really grow and I do see differences in herd sires.”

During the 2021-22 feedout, the calves gained an average of 710 pounds in 220 days, with a total feeding cost (exclud ing interest) of $1.22 per pound of gain. The average sale weight was 1,290 pounds. The calves were fed with a market weight break-even point of $142.84 per hundredweight.

“It’s the variation among cattle that makes this project educational and a real eye-opener,” Hoppe says.

In the 2021-22 feedout, the spread in net return per head between the average of the top and bottom five herds was $179.66. The spread between the top and bottom herd is more noticeable ($255.75 per head). Average daily weight gain in the feedlot was 3.07 pounds for the top-profiting herd and 2.79 pounds for the bottom herd.

“Small differences in production have a huge impact on profit,” Hoppe says.

Feedout project staff will gather data on the rate of gain, feeding costs and other characteristics during the trial. After the calves are marketed, the staff will collect and provide information to the entrants on carcass weight, meat quality, feeding expenses and value. Calves should be pre-vaccinated for BVD, PI3, IBR and BRSV, Mannheimia, Clostridials and histophilus somni. Booster vaccinations will be administered upon delivery to the show.

Producers will be assessed an entry fee of $20 per calf. Dakota Feeder Calf Show officials will present awards to producers at the end of the trial.

For more information or to preregister calves, contact Hoppe at 701-652- 2951 (office), 701-650-8810 (cell) or karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu, or Chesrown, Dakota Feeder Calf Show Committee, at 701-448-9286.

Stalk quality

By Sarah A. Sivits, Dawson/Buffalo/Hall County Exten sion

This past growing season has been hard for many between replants, hail damage, heat, and drought stress. When corn plants are under stress, they will take resources from the stalk to complete grain fill. This leads to poor standability and harvest difficulties. To determine if your corn field needs to be harvested sooner rather than later, perform the push and/ or pinch test on about 100 plants per field. The push test can be done by walking up to a corn plant, placing your hand at about ear level, and pushing it out at a 30-degree angle away from your body. If the plant “gives” or falls over, stalk quality has been compromised. Some people prefer the pinch test which can be done by going to one of the lowest internodes on the plant and pinching the stalk between your thumb and pointer finger. If it crushes easily, stalk quality is poor. Be sure to prioritize which fields need to be harvested first to avoid harvest losses. While it’s been hard this year, let’s do our best to finish strong and get as much as we can into the bin instead of leaving it in the field!

Hendrickson

Gardner

CAT ROPS

Arrest Systems

One of Two Service Body’s

Fuel

NRCS sets conservation program funding application date

The USDA Natural Resources Con servation Service (NRCS) in Montana is accepting applications for the Environ mental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Regional Conservation Partner ship Program (RCPP). To be considered for funding in the current cycle, producers and landowners should apply by October 28, 2022.

“NRCS provides funding and technical assistance to help farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners implement conservation practices that improve their environmental and economic sustainability,” said Tom Watson, NRCS State Conservationist for Montana. “Conservation work focused on local outcomes with the support of local partners and land managers achieves mean ingful conservation across a landscape. These opportunities are open to ag opera tions of any scale.”

Conservation funding is available for the following programs and initiatives: Conservation Incentive Contracts: Con servation Incentive Contracts are an option under EQIP, with a focus on climate-smart forestry and agriculture and drought resil ience management practices. EQIP-CIC provides financial assistance to adopt con servation activities on working landscapes Community Agriculture: Building on the high tunnel initiative available in the past, the community agriculture initiative offers an expanded set of conservation practices tailored to the conservation needs of smallscale ag producers.

Joint Chiefs’ Partnership Restoration Projects: The U.S. Forest Service and NRCS are working together to improve the health of forests and reduce wildfire threats to communities where public forests and grasslands connect to privately owned lands. There are currently four projects in Montana, including the Connecting Fuels Treatments in the Salish Mountains and Whitefish Range Project, Fire Adapted Bitterroot Project, Gallatin Valley Forest Resiliency and Watershed Health Project, and the Libby Surround Project.

National On-Farm Energy Initiative: Agricultural producers work with NRCSapproved technical service providers to develop agricultural energy management plans or farm energy audits that assess en ergy consumption on an operation. NRCS may also provide assistance to implement recommended measures identified in the energy audit through the use of conservation practice standards.

National Organic Initiative: Producers currently certified as organic, transitioning to organic, or National Organic Program exempt will have access to a broad set of conservation practices to assist in treating their resource concerns while fulfilling many of the requirements in an Organic System Plan.

National Water Quality Initiative: This initiative focuses assistance in small water sheds to improve water quality where this is a critical concern. With the help of partners at the local, state and national level, NRCS

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Dear God, I wondered what was taking so long for the clothes to dry at the Laundro mat. Yep, I hadn’t inserted the proper coins.

for rescuing me again.

identified priority watersheds in Montana where on-farm conservation investments will deliver the greatest water quality benefits. The two projects in Montana are located in the Lower Gallatin watershed (Camp and Godfrey Creeks) and the Shields River watershed.

Sage Grouse Initiative: Producers can work with NRCS on three different com ponents to improve sage-grouse habitat. One is a general category to implement prescribed grazing management practices. The others are to seed cropland back to pe rennial species to improve the connectivity for sage-grouse that depend on large, intact landscapes and the removal of conifers to increase nest success rates.

Targeted Implementation Plans: Mon tana NRCS targets its investments in very specific areas to achieve clearly defined natural resource goals as identified by local partners. This approach harnesses the power of multiple producers in one area undertak ing similar conservation projects to achieve a regional or landscape-scale result. There are nearly 100 local projects currently avail able in fiscal year 2023.

Regional Conservation Partnership Pro gram: The RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with part ners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Currently, there are three RCPP land management projects in Montana, including the Big Game Habitat Improvement Project, Northern Great Plains Grassland Conservation Project, and the Gallatin Valley Land Trust project.

EQIP offers financial and technical as sistance to eligible participants to install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. In Montana, historically underserved par ticipants, 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 farm ers, 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. The workbook will be due by November 10, 2022. Request a printed copy of the workbook from your local USDA service center.

NRCS accepts conservation program applications year-round; however, applica tions for the next funding consideration must be submitted by October 28, 2022. Applications made after the cutoff will be considered in the next funding cycle. Additional information is available on the Montana NRCS website at www.mt.nrcs. usda.gov under the Programs tab or by contacting your local USDA service center.

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Lord, what a surprise! The book I bought yesterday is identical to one I bought last month. I guess I’ll make it a gift to a friend–but it’s our secret, okay?

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Some cat breeds (called “puppy cats”) are bred specifically to exhibit dog-like be havior.

for the Future

Moving livestock pens out of waterway

Historically, livestock corrals as well as holding and feeding facilities were placed near a farm’s homestead along bodies of water. Being located along a stream cor ridor, animal feeding operations (AFO) or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) provided livestock access to water and shelter among trees and shrubs. As time passed, often more pens and livestock were added and animals tended to stay close to those areas. But as many creeks and streams feed into larger bodies of water, environ mental issues with sediment, waste and erosion arose. Many of these waterways are now classified as impaired and have become a natural resource concern.

In 2015, water quality came to the fore front in the Gallatin Valley of Montana. The Gallatin Conservation District along with a variety of partner organizations, including NRCS, evaluated every watershed in the Gallatin Valley to identify the top resource concerns. In the Camp Creek and Godfrey Creek areas, water quality was identified as the number one resource concern with both creeks listed as impaired by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The area was identified as high in nutrients, sedi ments and e-coli. The Gallatin Watershed group developed a multi-year restoration plan and began working with partner groups across the area. Efforts for improvement in cluded the National Water Quality Initiative where NRCS offers financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers in small watersheds to improve water quality where on-farm conservation investments will deliver the greatest water quality benefits.

As the program gained momentum, more producers became interested in doing things that would help address their issues along water ways. “Producers wanted to reduce the level of impact that their animals were having on the creek,” states NRCS’s Meiss ner. “That might be something as simple as a riparian fence for a two-horse operation and seeding things back to grass. Other projects such as 3-F Dairy are in a place in their operation where they are starting to transition into the next phase of their lives.”

A 600-acre operation, 3-F Dairy’s concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), like some of its neighboring farms, are positioned along Godfrey Creek. “We have about 10 acres along the creek,” states owner Gary Flikkema. Born and raised on

the 200-acre farm their dad bought in 1955, Gary and his two brothers took over in 1974. Over the years, the Flikkemas added more land to their operation. “It’s beautiful agri cultural land,” states Flikkema. “We have pivots, lateral irrigation systems; it’s set up really well for the dairy and we wanted to keep it.” But as the brothers aged and chil dren attained other careers, the family made the hard decision to leave the dairy business.

“We were discussing the potential of moving things around,” states NRCS Dis trict Conservationist Chris Mahony. “But for various reasons, the family decided to go this route and we are working with them to decommission the dairy.”

“We entered into a program with NRCS and put 580 acres of land into a conserva tion farm easement,” states Flikkema. With bittersweet emotion, the brothers are none theless pleased their land will not become another development. “With the money from the easement, we are debt-free and the land will still stay in agriculture,” states Flikkema.

What won’t stay is the animal feeding operation along the creek. Corrals, fences, and sheds will be disassembled, sold or

Ag In Color drawing contest

The Montana Farm Bureau Ag in Color Drawing Con test is underway for students in kindergarten through 6th grade. Teachers who participate in this contest must submit the drawings from their classroom directly to county Farm Bureau leaders.

Drawings are due to the county Farm Bureau by De cember 1 with judging completed by December 20. The winning entries will be submitted to the MFBF office. The Women’s Leadership State Committee will select the state winners notify teachers in February and announce the results in March 2023. Winners will receive a prize package from Montana Farm Bureau, ag accurate materials for their teacher & classmates, and a classroom pizza party.

The ‘Ag in Color’ drawing contest is open to all students and educators across Montana.

The categories are:

Kindergarten- Farm Ani mals in Montana

Grade 1- Grown in Mon tana

Grade 2- Grains of Mon tana

Grade 3- Cattle in Agri culture

Grade 4- Noxious weeds in Montana

Grade 5- Safety on Mon tana Farms & Ranches

Grade 6- Agriculturalrelated Careers in Montana Contest rules:

Entries must be legible with clear printing on good quality paper.

Paper Size-- half letter/ a5 (5.5” by 8.5”) Landscape (no need for margin)

Paper weight—Card stock is encouraged. Please use heavier than standard printer paper.

15 word maximum

Slogan must include the word “Montana” (GRADE 3, omit “Montana” from slogan for cattle category)

The student’s name, grade, school, school phone number, teacher’s name, teacher’s email & county must be printed neatly on the back of the drawing (pro vided labels can be affixed to back of each drawing.)

Entries must be submit ted to the local county Farm Bureau Secretary (contact list online) by Thursday, December 1. See details, as well as corresponding lesson plans, at https://mfbf.org/ Programs/MY-AG. Ques tions? Contact Rikki Swant, rikkis@mfbf.org.

Conservation for the Future

destroyed. The concrete silage pit will be removed and broken up and the creek banks will be reseeded with native grasses, trees and shrubs. “It will look like there never was a dairy here before,” states Flikkema.

The family has begun the process of de commissioning the dairy; a procedure that will happen in four stages over the next two to three years. “We are taking it back to nature and making it into crops,” concludes Flikkema. “The buildings are deteriorated after forty years. So, no more broken-down fences and waste, metal, concrete and rot ten wood. NRCS has provided engineering and design help and they know what needs to be removed and they have it down to a fine science. They have been very good to work with.”

To further improve water quality in Galla tin County, NRCS and local partners have updated the local resource concerns. These resource concerns help to inform projects NRCS will undertake through Montana Focused Conservation. Urban sprawl was identified as one of the top concerns which in turn puts pressure on conventional agri culture. “Urban sprawl is really constrict ing agricultural operations,” states NRCS District Conservationist Justin Meissner. “Areas where producers would have had additional ground to winter or pasture their cows are now a subdivision. There is less and less ground left to produce the food and fiber that we need to survive.” Urban expan sion from Bozeman out and into productive agricultural regions creates its own human impacts with septic systems, gray water is sues and shallow ground water.

Through Montana Focused Conservation, NRCS wrote a Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP) to work with landowners and agricultural producers within the Lower Gallatin River watershed to relocate AFO/ CAFO facilities, decreasing pathogens and nutrients leeching into groundwater and adjoining streams.

While one family transitions out of ag ricultural production, another phases in. The Theisen family purchased a working ranch two years ago near Wilsall, Montana, roughly 45 miles northeast of 3-F Dairy. “We’re rookies when it comes to working cattle,” states Mark Theisen, Jr. “We had some over the last twenty years but we’re working up to a hundred head. We want it to be a working ranch.”

With a background in environmental sci ence, the younger Theisen saw right away the concentrated animal feeding operation along Horse Creek was not a good idea. “When you have a couple of hundred head of cattle concentrated down in the riparian corridor, that’s a lot of waste going down there,” states Theisen. “It was important to get it (the CAFO) out of that bottom ground and get it up on higher ground. It was impor tant for us from an ecological standpoint.”

When the family started looking at their restoration and ecological goals, they contacted NRCS. “Early on we work with producers to understand their overall objec tives and goals,” states NRCS Civil Engi neer Cory Wolf. “In this case, the Theisens wanted to eliminate the existing corral site completely and move to a new location so that they were farther off the stream. From that point forward, we worked with them to find a location that fit their operational goals and where discharge was not going back into the stream.”

Once the Theisens selected their upland location, NRCS helped on the civil engi neering side, developing site plans, eleva tions and proper grading. “We spent count less hours moving dirt,” states Theisen.

“We probably moved way more dirt than we should have from an aesthetic stand point but Cory with NRCS helped keep us on track. We also picked NRCS District Conservationist Ted Nelson’s brain about vegetation.”

Newly planted vegetation of native species along the creek running through the old corral site is already inviting more wildlife. “We see the occasional moose move through there and white tail,” states Theisen. “We have a little herd of antelope that pop around a little more now, we’d like to see more of them. Definitely with a little less use, we’ll see more wildlife for sure.”

Aerial imagery of the original corral site. See the home site (brown roof) for reference point. The corrals were located along Horse Creek, allowing direct access to the stream by livestock and animal waste.

Site of original corrals. The facilities have been completely removed and the stream banks have been revegetated.

In the center of the photo is a home on the Theisen ranch near Wilsall. To the right of the home is the original location of the livestock corrals. The corrals were located along the riparian area and moved up the slope toward the home. The corrals were removed, the streambanks and riparian area were revegetated as needed, and a newly revegetated site is visible as the currently bare spot on the slope. The landowners de veloped the pond after the area was treated. The new livestock corrals are to the left of the home in an upland area sloped and revegetated to keep any animal waste from flowing into the waterway. The new location of the corrals has improved water quality on Horse Creek, improved wildlife habitat, and has improved the efficiency of the operation as well as livestock health.

Additional seeding around and below the new livestock handling facilities is un derway. These vegetative treatment areas (VTAs) will provide erosion control and the absorption of any contaminants or effluent if rain, snowmelt, or other water moves through the facilities.

“There are definitely environmental ben efits to the producers with these programs,”

I

I Love Yarn Day

effort of

Yarn

a non-profit made up of the leading yarn companies,

manufacturers, publishers and consultants in

to

been a

History of I Love Yarn Day

I Love Yarn Day got its start in 2011 after the Craft Yarn Council decided that it needed to launch an event to promote the benefits of the industry’s products. I Love Yarn Day is very much a product of the internet age. The majority of people who take part do so through the web. Doing so gives them access to Craft Yarn Council’s educational programs and lets them share their experi ence with other knitters and crocheters.

We must ask ourselves what our lives would be like without yarn. Historically, it was something that people needed to do for survival, especially in northern climates. On cold winter nights, our ances tors relied on being able to create fabrics that retained body heat as they shivered in their mud huts. With industrial clothing production, the fundamental problem of staying warm dis appeared, but it introduced a new issue: generic clothing.

I Love Yarn Day, how ever, isn’t just an event for the purpose of increasing the popularity of knitting and crocheting as a hobby. The Council also says that it is vital for improving health too. Numerous studies reveal that working with yarn has multiple health benefits, from increas ing confidence to reducing the conscious experience of stress. For instance, a 2019 study found that 97 percent of people thought that working with yarn helped them to “slow down” and relax.

How to celebrate I Love Yarn Day

Celebrating I Love Yarn Day is easy because most of the events and activities take place over the internet.

The first way to get involved is to sign-up for I Love Yarn Day on social media. The Craft Yarn Council runs pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Here you can see some of the craft materials other crocheters and knitters have created in the course of their work. You can be a pas sive observer of goings-on, or you can actively share your images and pictures. Remem ber, it is about communicating with people about the profound health benefits that working with yarn brings.

The Council also recom mends that people share blog posts explaining why they love yarn. You could talk about the fact that it allows you to make new garments or lets you un wind on a Sunday afternoon, readying you for a busy week.

Speaking of which, if you’re an expert knitter or crochet, you could become a teacher for the day. If you’re renowned in your field, you could join the official training roster for the day. But even if you’re not, you could host a live webinar on social media, explaining particular topics, from begin ner to advanced.

October

Border Grain LLC, Don Pankratz

Glasgow, Montana

Deere) parking

hay is 2022 (1 to 1825 bales to be sold by the bale)

Conservation for the Future

states NRCS’s Nelson. “Moving off the wa ter also improves their operations over time. They can see that in improved livestock handling and livestock health.” NRCS’s Wolf agrees, “The old facility down in the bottom was really wet and muddy and calv ing was difficult. By moving it up where it has positive drainage, they are not fighting cattle in the mud, the cattle are better pro tected, and there is less issue with loss of calves. Overall, they can work cattle much more efficiently.”

McMURRY

Fred

Billings, MT 59102

Montana Hereford Breeders

Anchor Polled Herefords 406-467-2880, Vaughn, MT

Beery’s Land & Livestock Co 406-979-5720, Vida, MT www.beeryherefords.com

Feddes Herefords

Dan 406-570-1602, Manhattan, MT www.feddes.com

J Bar E Ranch 406-765-7068, Plentywood, MT

K & C Herefords 406-240-9301, Deer Lodge, MT

L Bar W Cattle Company

406-425-2484, Absarokee, MT www.lbarw.com

McMurry Cattle 406-254-1247, Billings, MT www.mcmurrycattle.com

M/D Herefords 406-891-0973, Baker, MT

Rafter Ranch Inc 406-832-3219, Wise River, MT

K.L. Slagsvold Herefords 406-584-7571, Lindsay, MT

Sparks Herefords 406-778-2320, Plevna, MT www.sparksherefords.com

Wichman Herefords 406-350-3123,

With the establishment of a new facility on higher ground away from the waterways, the entire operation now flows better. The land can now be better utilized with the old location becoming part of a pasture rotation. “It isn’t that they gave up land they can’t utilize, it’s just utilized differently now and it’s much more environmentally friendly,” concludes Wolf.

NRCS continues working with producers through technical assistance. There may also be local opportunities through Montana Focused Conservation. “We offer volun tary technical assistance that works with individual landowners to help them meet their resource concerns and to address their goals and objectives for how they want their operation to look today, tomorrow and into the future,” concludes NRCS’s Meissner.

Theisen recommends contacting NRCS to other producers, “They might have pro grams coming up that fit any transitions that you’re making on your ranch or production facility, something that works really well for you. I think it’s a good idea to have them come out.”

Kulbeck selected as executive vice president of Montana Farm Bureau

Scott Kulbeck has been named execu tive vice president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, the state’s largest general agricultural organization. Kulbeck succeeds John Youngberg who retired from the position in August after 30 years with the organization.

Kulbeck grew up west of Big Sandy where his family raised dryland wheat, barley and registered Herefords. He gradu ated from Montana State University in 1994 with a degree in agricultural business and a minor in economics.

Kulbeck started with Montana Farm Bu reau in July, 1995, first serving as eastern Montana fieldman and coordinator of Young Farmers & Ranchers program. He became the director of membership development while also serving as coordinator of the MFB Foundation. During his tenure, the MFB Foundation reached a milestone of having over $1 million in assets. With the help of the MFB Foundation leadership, Kulbeck started and implemented the Cen tennial Community Initiative which raised and distributed $100,000 for economic development in rural Montana.

“I have an unwavering belief in rural Montana and Farm Bureau’s grassroots structure, and I want to see both thrive,” said Kulbeck. “I believe in our mission: Farm Bureau is dedicated to preserving and im proving the agriculture and natural resource industries through member involvement in education, political activities, programs and services.”

Kulbeck thanks the previous leadership of the board and staff of Montana Farm Bu reau for providing the financial stability the organization has today. “Our membership is increasing and our county Farm Bureaus are more active than ever,” he said. “We are in a position to go on the offensive, and my goal is to do just that on behalf of our membership.”

He is married to Casey Foussard Kulbeck and the couple has two sons: Zachary is studying mechanical engineering at Mon tana State University and Aidan is studying

business management at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona.

He is an avid baseball fan and player, and enjoys camping, fishing and being involved in the St. John Vianney Parish in Belgrade.

“Scott’s integrity and dedication to Mon tana agriculture speak volumes for the kind of leadership he will provide,” said MFBF President Cyndi Johnson. “Members of Montana Farm Bureau look forward to more growth and even greater success with Scott Kulbeck leading the team of dedicated employees.”

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A husband and wife were playing their club’s mixed foursomes. The wife got on the tee and knocked her drive straight down the middle of the fairway. Her husband proceeded to slice the next shot behind a big tree. Undeterred, his better half hooked her next shot around the tee, and the ball settled a foot from the pin. Per his MO, the husband pushed the putt eight feet past the hole. Thankfully, his wife calmly drained the eight-footer. As the couple walked to the next hole, the wife said, “We need to step it up. That was a bogey five.” “Don’t blame me,” the husband snapped, “I only took two of those shots.”

Strong

Single Axle Trailer

1994 Ford 1-Ton Dually

Kawasaki Prairie 360 4x4 Kawasaki Prairie

2007

Wed, Nov. 2, 2022

HAYING &

JD 1600A MOCO 16’ Hydra-Swing

JD 568 Mega-Wide Baler w/net wrap (5) New Rolls of Net Wrap

JD model 705 Power

V-Rake

Highline 700 7-bale

Hauler

2-wheel Hay Turner

3 pt. DewEze Pick & Roll

NH Hay Invertor, hyd. Driven, model 166

Highline 960CRF Bale Processor, (does round & square bales), hyd. Apron, double Chopper

Old Hay Wagon

Old Sheep Wagon, on skids

Taskmaster hydraulic. Squeeze Chute, 220volt

WW Tub & (4’) Adjustable Alleyway Palp Cage

Powder River Portable Loading Chute

Thorsen Squeeze Chute

Gallagher Scale w/gauge

Thorsen Calf Table Thorsen Calf Alley

Preifert 30+/- 12’ Portable Panels

Preifert (5) 10’ Bow Gates Preifert 4’ Gate HiQual Square Maternity Pen

(2) 20’ Sections of Steel Wind Break

(2) 12’ Feeder Panels (2) Cattle Oilers (2) Poly Square Calf Shelters

SPRAYER, PICKUPS,

Summers Pickup

& BOAT

Sprayer, 350-gallon Tank w/60’ Booms, Honda 5.5 motor, Raven & Outback System

1997 Ford F250 Heavy Duty Supercab Pick up, 4x4, 460 engine, auto, (transmission is bad)

1984 Ford F350 Pickup, 2x4, 6.9 liter die sel, w/12’ Knapheide bed & sides, (engine needs overhaul)

1989 Ford F350 Pickup, 4x4, gas, 4-speed, & Cake Feeder

1986 Ford F250 Supercab Pickup, 4x4, 6.9 diesel w/Flatbed

1978 Ford 600 Cabover Truck w/24’ Van Body & Tommy Lift Honda Rubicon ATV

Sun Runner Fiberglass Boat w/Chevy in board/outboard motor & EZ Loader Trailer

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE

Randy and Donna

will be

equipment

It’s a great time to fertilize your lawn

By Tom Kalb, Horticulturist,NDSU Extension

Early fall is the most important time to fertilize your lawn.

The key to a beautiful lawn is a strong, deep root system.

Your lawn grows most of its roots in fall.

Feed your lawn around Labor Day and it will grow stron ger, deeper roots this fall.

As a bonus, fertilizing in early fall can repair any damage to your lawn caused by the heat of summer, strengthen your lawn for the cold of winter and lead to a quicker green-up in spring

Select a winterizer fertilizer. This fertilizer has the nitrogen your lawn needs and a boost of potash to prepare the lawn for winter.

A bag of fertilizer will have three numbers on it. These numbers indicate the percentages of nitrogen, phosphate and potash inside.

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient. Look for a fer tilizer with at least 20% nitrogen. Select a fertilizer that contains some slow-release nitrogen, if available. This will gradually feed the lawn this fall and next spring

The second number, phosphate, is abundant in our soils and is rarely needed in established lawns.

The third number, potash, will help your lawn to tolerate winter and other stresses. Most winterizer fertilizers contain 5% to 10% potash

Don’t worry about these exact numbers, but a fertilizer that approximates 25-0-10 is best for most lawns in fall

Calf Shed (2) Liquid Feeders

Lewis Portable Feeder/Oiler Apache Portable Calf Feeder

Portable Creep Feeders (2-big & 1-small) (10) Cement Feed Bunks (4) Vita-Ferm Mineral Feeders Calf Puller 60-bushel Pig Feeder (2) Fiberglass Tubs (2) Tank Heaters

JD 8560 4-wheel drive Tractor, 3-hydraulics, 18.4x38 tires, 6,869 hours

Degelman 14’ Blade

JD 4755 MFWD

Tractor, 3 pt., PTO, 320/85Rx42 tires, 9,280 hours

(2) 8’ Haybuster No-Till Drills, model 1000

JD 16’ Toolbar w/harrows

AC 10’ Tandem Disc w/hydraulic cylinder 22’ Drag

NH 355 Grinder/Mixer Walinga Grain Vac 3 pt. 7’ Back Blade 3 pt. Ditcher 3 pt. Snow Blower 6” PTO Auger

(2) Clamp-on Duals & Tires

GRAIN BINS, HUGE BBQ, TANKS, & SHOP

Fertilize at a rate of approximately 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn area.

You may wonder how much is 1 pound of actual nitrogen. Four pounds of a fertilizer with 25% nitrogen provides 1 pound of actual nitrogen. Likewise, 3 pounds of a 33% nitrogen fertilizer provides 1 pound of actual nitrogen

For a uniform distribution of the fertilizer, apply it in two directions going at right angles to one another. For example, apply half of the fertilizer going in north and south directions, and the other half going east and west directions

Irrigate the lawn after applying your fertilizer. This in creases the effectiveness of the fertilizer, prevents the fertil izer from burning the grass, and reduces the likelihood the fertilizer will runoff the soil during a rainstorm

Weed-and-feed fertilizers are convenient but not ideal. That’s because now is the best time to feed your lawn, but it is not the best time to kill weeds. You will get a better kill if you wait until mid to late September

Weed-and-feed fertilizers are not the best choice for the environment either. Trees and other landscape plants grow better when herbicides are sprayed only where needed on lawns. Using weed-and-feed fertilizers puts toxic chemicals everywhere, even in areas with no weeds

As an alternative, spot sprays of liquid herbicide applied directly onto weedy areas can be applied to kill weeds at the most effective time and in a more effective manner

Everything is getting more expensive now. This includes fertilizer. It’s important to fertilize when you can have the greatest impact.

National Mushroom Day

Every October 15th

With more than 14,000 different species of mushrooms that grow around the world, the mushroom is an unassuming food that should be more carefully considered on National Mushroom Day.

Box Cream Separator 200-gallon Propane Tank Misc. Propane Bottles Buggy & (2) Buggy Seats Honda 5.5 hp Motor Aluminum Semi Bumper Grill Guard w/Slam Latch

History of National Mushroom Day

Not only do mushrooms offer a delicious flavor when eaten on their own or added to various dishes, they are also one of the most sustainably produced foods on the planet. So no one needs to feel guilty about filling up on them!

their

most

some very nice and well-kept equipment. This

all-day

Plus, mushrooms are low in calories and contain a wide variety of nutritious substances that are part of a healthy and balanced diet for humans. So eat a lot of mushrooms and eat them often!

Originating in Australia, National Mushroom Day is particularly meant for mushroom farmers, restaurants, cafes and health professionals to enjoy and celebrate everything related to growing and eating mushrooms. Now is the best time to learn about mushrooms and eat mushrooms – a food that is certainly worth celebrating!

How to minimize stress when separating cows and calves

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

Young children separating from their parents to start kindergarten – and even young adults moving out of the house and headed to college or their first job — bring about transitions that often involve high stress for all.

In much the same way, calves separating from their dams at weaning can also experi ence stress, especially if they undergo vac cinations and other processing procedures at the same time, said the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute on a recent Cattle Chat podcast.

“Stress happens when the calf is exposed to a new or unusual situation, so our goal is to reduce the number of stressors we put on them at one time,” veterinarian Brad White said.

Historically, calves were processed on the same day as they were weaned due to the labor availability, said veterinarian Bob Larson, but he added that following that management plan is not necessarily best for the calves’ stress level.

Veterinarian Brian Lub bers offered advice on how best to help the calves through this transition.

“The goal is to spread out over time things that will lead to reduced stress in calves. So, first begin by separating the cows and calves for a few days before processing. This will allow the calves to get used to the new environment and ad just to their feed and water sources,” he said.

Lubbers added that on subsequent days help can be brought in to do other processing procedures such as vaccinations and castra tions.

Another strategy is fenceline weaning, nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said “Fence-line weaning al lows the cows to have noseto-nose contact with the calf during the time of transition so that bond is broken more gradually,” Lancaster said.

Larson said fence-line weaning is effective at re ducing stress and the wean ing process can happen quickly.

“With fence-line wean ing, the cows and calves typically walk the fences for the first 24 hours, and after that they start leaving each other on their own,” Larson said.

The key is to make sure the fences are strong so the calves don’t get back in with their mothers, Lancaster said.

White said exposure to the new environment can happen while the cows and

calves are still together.

“With weaning, we are changing the calves’ social structure by separating them from their mothers as well as transitioning them to new feed and, in some cases, a new water source,” he said. “So, when it is possible it is good to let the calves explore their new area before they leave their dams.”

Lubbers added: “By spreading out the stressors over time, the calves will be bet ter off from an animal welfare and health standpoint.”

2022 Wheat and Barley Variety Survey

By Sam Anderson, MWBC

The 2022 Wheat and Barley Variety Survey report has recently been released. Funded by the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC), these reports were conducted by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Mountain Regional Office. This information is used to help guide breeding programs in selecting varieties that will ulti mately increase farm profitability and end-use marketability of Montana-grown crops.

“The varietal survey provides MSU wheat and barley breeding programs with valuable producer feedback that can be utilized to develop cultivars that will continue to drive international markets toward Montana,” said Sam Anderson Market Development Director of the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee

Producers participating in the survey ranked Warhorse as the top winter wheat variety, Vida as the top spring wheat variety, Alzada as the top durum wheat variety, and AC Metcalfe as the top malting barley variety. Wheat and Barley Variety Survey Reports are available online at the USDA NASS website at nass.usda.gov/. Click Here to view the MT Wheat Varieties Report. Click Here to view the MT Barley Varieties Report.

Trait index survey results indicate traits that farmers are considering when deciding which variety to select. In ad dition to yield and protein, farmers are looking for drought tolerance, sawfly resistance, high test weight and early matur ing traits. Montana growers experiencing extreme drought conditions view varietal selection decisions as vital to the farm’s success.

Comparing the farmer profitability since last year, we saw a 17.4% decline in expected profitability and a 16.6% reduction in overall financial status for treasure state farmers.

As farmers wrap up harvest this year, the Wheat and Barley Committee and Montana Department of Agriculture encourage all producers to reach out to extension agents, agronomists, and seed dealers to discuss available options for growing the highest quality grain possible.

Ager

MUSEUM OF TOOLS

Fred has in 65 years put together an im

museum of hand tools dating from 1700’s forward. Axes—Hammers— Hatchets—Mallets—Sledges—Scrapers— Scoops—Froe’s—Draw’s—Spoke Shaves— Adze’s—Picaroon—Plows—Planes—Saws— Reamer—Drills & More.

Some outstanding pieces include George Washington Inaugural 1789 hatchet—WWII Bomber cockpit hatchet—Early sandstone truing hammer used on sandstone buildings in Belle Fourche, St. Onge and Spearfish. Many tools and shears from Homestake Mine—Arcade miniature tool display Plus 300 specimens in this offering, this collection will sell at 8:30 AM—Many wooden Ax— Hammers--& Plow Handles

GAS & OIL COLLECTABLES

Mobil Grease Bucket w/Pump—Texaco Fuel Pump— (25) Oil Cans— (8) Standard Oil Quart Bottles w/Carrier—Mobil oil Vacuum one gallon can—Shelly Tagline 5 gallon can—Cargile & Standard Continental Tin Signs—Standard Zerolene Gas & Oil— (3) Kerosene cans—Oilzun Oil sign

INDIAN & WESTERN

(3) pair Beaded Cheyenne & Sioux Mocca sins—Sioux & Crow Breach Cloth (3) Fancy Ceremonial Hatchets—Indian Doll—Beaded Gloves—Cheyenne Breast Vest from Dancing with Wolves—Bladder Rattle—Beaded Sachs—(4) Pipestone Pipes w/Stems—Navaho Vases—Large Ox Yoke— Texas Cattlemen Porcelain Sign—Cast Iron Saddle Rack—Hudson Bay Wool Blanket— Museum Quality Ax Head & Points – Nebras ka, South Dakota, Montana, Colorado Brand Books—Early Cow Horn Hat Rack—Pommel Bags marked Kent Frecher Idaho—12+ pair of Spurs Crockett & Military—(2) Buffalo Skulls—Deer Horns—Mounted Antelope Head—Steer head Antique Sign—Painted Hide Stretchers—Branding Irons—(30) Hesston Belt Buckles—(50) Pocket & Hunt ing Knives, many old—Civil War Fles or Bleeder—(2) Fancy Beaded Headstalls, one with pistol bit—US Feed Bag—Horse Col lars—Hames—Blacksmith Forge & Tools— PLUS MORE

BRASS & CAST

7 sizes of Brass Trade Pails from 3 gal lon to 2 quart—Large Hudson Bay Copper Kettle—Copper Hand Hammered Pot— Brass Umbrella or Cane Receiver—Gris wold Corn Pone Cast—Griswold Waffle Iron—Cast Dutch Ovens—Cast Horse Head Bookends—Brass Coffee Urn—(2) Copper Moonshine Stills—Brass School Bell—Horse, Pig, Car, Weather Vanes—(5) Hudley Coin Banks—Arcade Cast Toys—Cast Rooster w/ Rainbow Tail Windmill Weight (very rare)—W Windmill Weight Cast—(3) JD Cast Trac tors (toy)—Enterprise Cast Geared Meat Grinder—Sad Irons—Fluting Irons---Trivets--Pump Handles—Well Cups—Steel Wheels— Fire Hydrant—Several Rake Teeth—PLUS MORE

Ways to extend the grazing season

By Lisa Moser,

K-State Research and Extension news service

Just as gardeners manage produce differently depending on the time of the season, so do cattle producers manage pastures so that the grazing season can be extended, said Kansas State University beef cattle experts on a recent Cattle Chat podcast.

One technique offered by Beef Cattle Institute nutritionist Phillip Lancaster is called stockpiling forage.

“Stockpiling is the practice of removing cattle from a pasture to allow regrowth through the late summer and early fall. This creates a pile of forage in the pasture than can be grazed through the late fall and early winter,” Lancaster said.

The amount of time cattle can be on the pastures will depend on the grass variety being grazed.

PICTURES

Budweiser Custers Last Fight—Deadwood 2012 Rodeo Poster by Bob Coronado—Sev eral WF Cody Pictures—Joseph “Blackjack”

Pershing one who led the Buffalo Soldiers (w/Documentation)—1924 Tri State Roundup Picture—1938 Tri State Roundup Picture— Camp Custer Picture—1938 Belle Fourche Picture—WWI Soldier hand tinted in bubble glass frame—Spearfish College Picture— Many more pictures.

CROCKS & JUGS & GLASS (40+) Crocks & Jugs, most are Red Wing— Red Wing 1 gallon Jug w/Wing— (5) Adver tising Jugs—Crock Foot Warmers—Several Large Glass Platters—Hull Tea Pots—Cru ets—Milk Jugs—Old Bottles—Insulators— Sleepy Eye Picture—Glass Butter Churn— (12) Silhouette Ads Calendars—Large Hallway Painted Urn

FURNITURE

(2) Eastlake Walnut Lamp Tables & Com mode—Oak Secretariat w/Mirror & Desk— Doctors Cabinet—Coffee Table w/Top Dis play Case—Childs Hoosier Cabinet—Large Oak Wall Telephone & Desk Telephone— Japan Tea Box—(10) Wood Boxes—Hand Made Childs Chair—Ice Cream Table & 3 Chairs— (4) Stack Lawyer Book Case— Small Oak Roll Top Desk—Oak Craig Ford Spearfish Cash & Bill Box—Wooden Juice Bar Belle Fourche Sign—Curved Glass Chi na Case—Oak Bedroom Dresser w/Mirror— (2) Oak small Commode w/Mirror—Eastlake Walnut Commode w/Marble Top

MISCELLANEOUS & COLLECTABLES

13 Star American Flag of Wood (very old)— Ford 8000 Tricycle—Clipper Foot Scooter— Kerosene Heaters—Kerosene Lamps—May tag Washing Machine Engine—Diamond Willow Walking Canes—South Dakota 1913 Auto License Plate & Various Others— Wood Pulleys—Car Parts—Cigarette Light ers—Kitchen Tin Ware—Enamel Ware—(2) Sausage Stuffers—3 Bracket Kerosene Lamp—Several History & Antique Books— Railroad Watchman Detex Clock—Large Martin Iverson 1896 Safe—Kerosene & Aladdin Lamps—Homestake Lab & Balance Scale—Brass Fire Extinguisher—(25) Bell collection—Budweiser Pool Table Light—Var ious Homestake Mine Signs—German Field Stove—Leupold Survey Post—Cream Sepa rator—RIA Tool Box---1920 Clarinet—Postal Scale—Several Boxes Costume Jewelry— Pepsi & Coke Boxes & Coolers—(60+) South Dakota License Plate—Key Chains & MORE.

“This management technique works well for cool season grasses that are treated with nitrogen followed by rain lead ing to a good regrowth of the grass,” said veterinarian Bob Larson.

Lancaster said stockpiling can be done on native grass pastures as well, but the timing of grazing and management will be different.

“Native range pastures don’t need to be fertilized and cattle will have to come off the grass earlier in the summer to allow for the forage to stockpile through the late summer and into the fall,” Lancaster said.

With these potential costs, the experts agree that producers need to look at the expenses associated with this management strategy to determine if it is cost effective.

“Do the math. One bale of hay will feed a cow for 40 days, while a stockpiled acre of pasture should carry that cow 90 days, but there are costs of fertilizer and labor that need to be factored in,” Lancaster said.

Regarding labor, Lancaster said strip grazing is a tech nique that works well for stockpiling forage.

“With strip grazing a small area is contained by electric fence and the cattle are allowed to graze that grass to the ground before being moved to another area. Because this grass is dormant, producers don’t need to be concerned about plant regrowth,” Lancaster said.

An added benefit is the distribution of manure across the pastures, said Larson, which serves to help fertilize the pastures naturally.

Grazing for interseeding

By Ben Beckman, UNL

Pastures and hay meadows provide higher quality feed, are more productive, and require fewer inputs when they have good forage legumes growing in them.

Outside of moisture, nitrogen is often the limiting nutrient in pasture production. While commercial fertilizer may be a quick and easy option, it’s costly. Instead, let’s grow our own N using legumes.

Do you have a pasture area or hay meadow that is rela tively free of weeds and makes up no more than about 15 percent of your total pasture acres? If so, here is what I want you to do. From now until that grass will grow no more this year, graze that grass hard. Grub it down, then graze it some more. With dry weather this summer, maybe you have al ready accomplished this on a portion of your ground already.

Now why would I recommend overgrazing? Surely it will hurt the grass. Well, that’s exactly what we want. Next spring, you will interseed legumes like red clover, white clover, and alfalfa into that grass to make it more nutritious and productive. We may even consider a winter frost seed ing if conditions are right.

The biggest challenge to establishing legumes into a grass sod is competition by that existing grass on new, slow grow ing legume seedlings. Anything you do to reduce competi tion and slow down grass growth will help. Overgrazing this fall prior to next spring’s seeding will weaken the grass and slow its spring growth, thus giving new legume seedlings a better chance to get started. With drought causing unplanned overgrazing this summer, interseeding may be a way to make some lemonade out of that particular lemon. Of course, all this depends on moisture next spring to work.

While you’re at it, also collect some soil samples. Then analyze them and apply any needed fertilizer. Legumes especially need good phosphorus and the proper soil pH.

So, add some legumes to your pasture next spring. Graze your grass this fall until virtually nothing is left. Then, keep grazing a couple weeks more just to make sure. Legumes you add next spring will establish better because of it.

adding pounds this fall with BGF-30

Fighting

Store

Protein is often the first limiting nutrient on most forage programs, minerals and vitamins play an important role in helping cows stay healthy and in maintaining repro ductive efficiency.

CRYSTAL-PHOS™ is a weather and waste proof mineral supplement that cows will consume readily along with BGF-30™. Place a BGF-30™ barrel with every 20-30 head of cows and a CRYSTAL-PHOS® barrel for approx imately every 40-70 head. Studies have shown that cows will consume mineral better from CRYSTAL-PHOS. Try the “combo” program ~ it works!

Ben Taylor Valier

Grain

ITEMS FOR

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To note the historical significance of the first flight to the Moon, the Apollo 11 crew brought a piece of wood from the Wright brother’s 1903 airplane.

#####

First brewery in North America opened in New Amsterdam (Manhattan) in 1612.

Additional detections of Avian Influenza confirmed

Tuesday, September 13, 2022, the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a Teton County poultry flock. This is the 11th HPAI affected Montana flock linked to a 2022 wave of HPAI infections in the United States traced to seasonal migration of wild birds.

Since September 1st, Montana and eight other states have confirmed infections in domestic poultry. Due to ongoing detections, MDOL has reinstated recommendations to house birds indoors including birds enrolled in certified organic programs. Enrolled producers should contact their certifier before moving birds indoors to ensure program compliance.

“While the route of disease introduction has not been determined, exposure to wild birds or their excreta is the most likely source.” stated Martin Zaluski, the Montana State Veterinarian. “Preventing contact between wild birds and domestic poultry is still our most effective tool to keep poultry healthy.”

Infected birds can exhibit signs such as swollen eyes, discolored comb and legs, significant drop in egg production or water and feed consumption. In 2022, the most common presentation has been sudden death of multiple birds within a flock. When avian influenza is suspected, samples from these flocks are submitted to the Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MVDL) and tested.

Infected flocks are placed under quarantine and required to depopulate all remaining birds on the premises to prevent further disease spread. Flock owners are eligible to receive indemnity on birds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Depopulation of the Teton County flock is underway. In addition to restrictions on the affected flock, the Department will conduct disease surveillance of poultry premises within 10 km of the affected premises. Surveillance is conducted by contacting premises to inquire about any sick birds and weekly sampling for premises that may sell poultry or poultry products.

Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease of birds that can cause high mortality rates in domestic flocks. Migratory waterfowl are the primary source for avian influenza (AI). Wild birds can be infected and appear healthy but shed virus in the feces, saliva, and respiratory secretions. Domestic poultry become infected through direct contact with infected wild birds, or through contact with contaminated objects, equipment, or the environment.

Biosecurity measures to protect flocks include:

Prevent contact between wild or migratory birds and do mestic poultry, including access by wild birds to feed and water sources.

House birds indoors to the extent possible to limit expo sure to wild or migratory birds.

Limit visitor access to areas where birds are housed.

Use dedicated clothing and protective footwear when caring for domestic poultry.

Immediately isolate sick animals and contact your veteri narian or MDOL.

The department encourages all poultry producers to im mediately report sudden onset of illness or high death loss in domestic poultry to their veterinarian or the department at (406/444-2976). If you find sick or dead wild birds that have died from unknown causes, please contact your local FWP Warden, Biologist or Regional office, or call the FWP wildlife veterinarian (406/577-7880).

While HPAI is considered a potentially zoonotic disease, CDC continues to consider the risk to people from wild birds, backyard flocks, and commercial poultry to be low.

Existing safeguards to keep food safe and wholesome are sufficient to protect people, and the food supply in the United States is one of the safest in the world. As a reminder, the US Department of Agriculture recommends cooking poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

The mission of the Montana Department of Livestock is to control and eradicate animal diseases, prevent the trans mission of animal diseases to humans, and to protect the livestock industry from theft and predatory animals. For more information on the Montana Department of Livestock, visit www.liv.mt.gov.

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Winnie the Pooh is named for Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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Cost of a 3-minute phone call from New York to San Francisco in 1915: $20.70.

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If you’re average, you’ll produce about 10,000 gallons of saliva in your lifetime.

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2003 New Jersey Dev

goaltender Martin Bro deur took the NHL Stanley Cup to a movie theater and ate popcorn out of it.

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At one time, a Minnesota tax form required you to list your date of death.

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Hiking the entire 2,174mile Appalachian Trail takes an average of 5 to 7 months.

Feeding cattle in a drought

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

With any recipe, it takes the right blend of ingredients to make the perfect batch, but if something is missing, the nutritional value changes.

In much the same way, grazing

that don’t have adequate rain are not able to meet the nutritional needs of the cow herd without supplementation, say the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.

Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Phillip Lan caster, beef cattle nutritionist; Brad White and Bob Larson, veterinarians; and Dustin Pendell, agricultural economist, offered options for beef cattle producers to consider when managing their cattle in a time of drought

Lancaster said this is the year when producers will likely need to start feeding hay sooner than usual and may need to start by feeding hay that has been sitting for a few years.

“Older hay does not hold the same nutritional value as hay that has been cut within the year because microbes and weather break down the carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins in the hay the longer it sits out,” he said.

White added: “There is a value in feeding older hay, but the quality has declined and so producers need to account for that in the overall ration.

To be sure of the nutrient value, they said testing the hay was important.

Another management strategy is to limit the time the cows have access to the hay to prevent waste, said Larson

“By giving cows access to the hay 6-8 hours a day and then moving them out of the lot, they will get the same nu trition as they would have with free choice access but will waste less of the hay because they aren’t tossing it around as much,” Larson said

The third strategy the experts discussed was grazing crop residues.

“Crop residues can be a great feed source, but producers need to remember that they have the greatest nutritional value on the first day the cattle are turned out and the quality decreases the more time that passes,” Larson said. “This is because the cows will eat the leaves and ears on the ground first and then the stalks, which have less nutrient value.

Larson also said producers will need to make sure the cattle grazing corn stalks and milo residue have adequate fencing and access to water.

Along with that, Pendell said that producers need to ac count for labor costs in these strategies.

“With limit feeding and turning cattle out on crop residues, there are additional labor costs, and in some cases, fencing costs that need to be budgeted for when deciding on if this a good strategy for the operation,” Pendell said.

Fall thistle control

Jerry Volesky, UNL

Did you spray thistles this past spring and summer? If so, it would be a good idea to revisit those areas and even though it has been dry, there are likely some remaining or new growth that has occurred. October and early November is a key time to control thistles in pastures. There are sev eral biennial thistles, but musk, plumeless, Scotch, and bull thistles are our most problematic. Biennials require portions of two growing seasons to flower/reproduce. They develop from seed the first season into a flat rosette. When trying to control biennial thistles, destruction of rosettes prior to flowering (bolting) is an effective means of preventing seed formation and subsequent spread.

Another thistle to look out for is Canada thistle. Canada thistle is a creeping perennial that can be controlled with fall spraying, in conjunction with other management options in the spring.

While in the rosette stage, thistles are more effectively controlled using herbicides. It is important to note that fall spraying of thistles is not a silver bullet and effective con trol often needs repeated applications. It will take several years of timely control before the soil seed bank is reduced. There are many herbicides labeled for thistle control. Take care when purchasing products and always read/follow label directions before use.

GrazonNext® HL, Milestone®, Chaparral®, Graslan® L, Stinger®, Overdrive®, and Tordon 22K® are all products that are labelled for use on biennial thistles as well as Canada thistle. 2,4-D mixed with dicamba is also an effective option but should be sprayed when temperatures are warmer for the highest efficacy. When using Tordon 22K® or Graslan® L, both products are restricted use and contain picloram. Use extreme caution around other vegetation, especially trees, as both products will kill woody plants.

Late season grasshopper control

By Samantha Daniel, Extension Educator, UN

In the summer of 1874, Nebraska was experiencing an extreme drought, not unlike the conditions the state is ex periencing this year. Despite this, crops were growing and families were hopeful, until July. From the west came a cloud that blocked out the sun and sounded like a storm: locusts.

These were Rocky Mountain Locusts, relatives of grass hoppers, which had descended on the Great Plains from Colorado, Wyoming and Montana in numbers nearing the trillions. Not only were crops eaten to the ground, but clothes were reportedly consumed from farmers’ backs and trains were halted due to the sheer number of locust bodies being crushed under their wheels.

This account is no doubt unsettling; however, such swarms are no longer a threat in Nebraska. Ultimately, the Rocky Mountain Locust was eradicated from North America by 1902, due primarily to western development.

While we no longer need to worry about locust swarms that fill every corner of the sky, current drought conditions throughout much of Nebraska has created an environment conducive to grasshopper movement into crops from field edges. It is important to note, however, that grasshopper presence does not necessarily indicate a need for treatment. By conducting visual counts or using a sweep net, you can determine if the threshold of 15-20 nymphs or 8-10 adults per square yard has been reached in your field.

If grasshopper levels have reached threshold, treatment with an insecticide may be feasible as long as pre-harvest intervals are considered. Many insecticides used for other insects in alfalfa and other forages are also labeled for grasshoppers. Please be especially careful to avoid injuring bees and other important pollinating insects when using in secticides and carefully read and follow all label directions.

It’s also important to remember that our goal isn’t to com pletely eradicate grasshoppers from our fields, but to reduce their numbers to below threshold levels and give our crops a chance to “win the race” against pests.

The first celebrity to ware pants in public was Ac tress Sarah Bernhardt who was photographed wearing men’s trousers in

Soil temperature can predict pest spread in crops

A new study from North Carolina State University shows soil temperature can be used to effectively monitor and pre dict the spread of the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), an important pest that ravages corn, cotton, soybeans, peppers, tomatoes and other vegetable crops. The ability to better monitor the pest and make predictions about where it will appear could help farmers control the pest more effectively, which would reduce the financial and environmental impacts of pesticide use.

The researchers combined historical soil temperature data with long-term corn earworm monitoring data and informa tion on how the pest survives cold conditions in a lab setting to better understand “overwintering success,” or how well the pest can survive underground during the colder winter months.

Greater overwintering success can expand the areas where the pest can live and thrive, the researchers say, as the pest can migrate long distances. Generally, greater overwintering success in more northern latitudes increases the potential for crop damage from this pest further north. Climate change also affects overwintering success

“There is a preconceived notion that pests have little overwintering success north of 40 degrees latitude,” said Douglas Lawton, a former NC State postdoctoral researcher and co-corresponding author of a paper that describes the research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “That may have been true in the 1930s, but now we have more data-guided evidence to ask and answer the question, ‘Where can this species actually overwinter?’”

KIOTI

USED HAYING

New

The research shows that 40 degrees latitude is not the best division for overwintering success, so much so that the researchers devised their own maps – overlaying the three different data sets – to show three relevant geographic zones: a “Southern Range” where pests survive over the winter months, a “Northern Limits” area where pests are generally unable to survive during winter months, and a “Transitional Zone” in between the northern and southern areas where pests may or may not survive over the winter.

“These areas are biologically relevant and supported through studies in the lab and the academic literature,” Lawton said.

The researchers used the three zones to show historical trends for the corn earworm and then used a model to make predictions about pest spread extending to the end of the century. Strikingly, the Southern Range grew by 3% since 1981. The models suggest the Southern Range will double in size by the end of the century and shift well to the north, with the other two zones shrinking.

“As the climate changes, the overwintering zones are likely to shift northward,” said Anders Huseth, assistant professor of entomology at NC State and the paper’s other co-corresponding author.

Minnesota, with its harsh winters, saw no corn earworm overwintering success from 1950 through 2021, the data show. By the end of the century, however, the predictive models show the entire state firmly in the Transitional Zone.

“This is the canary in the coal mine for agricultural pests,” Huseth said. “Making sense of what’s taking place with this pest is really important for agricultural producers. We’ve shown here the element of uncertainty that can have demon strable effects on farmers and potentially new opportunities for pesticide resistance selection. Our models visualize that change and provide touchstones for pest management.

“Now we’d like to come up with a better forecasting tool for this pest, along with a risk-prediction model, in order to give growers better information about pest spread. Success here could reduce both costs for farmers and pesticide into the environment.”

The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Protection and Pest Management com petitive grant no. 2017-70006-27205 and Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grant no. 2020-33522-32272. NC State co-authors of the paper include entomology professors Dominic Reisig and George Kennedy, graduate student De Shae Dillard, and former NC State postdoctoral researcher Seth Dorman.

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Niagara Falls State Park in New York is the oldest state park in the United States. Approximately 140 of the park’s 400-plus acres are under water.

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The 2007 space shuttle Discovery carried the prop lightsaber used by Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) in Star Wars–a fake space relic in real space.

Round-up

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Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Theodore.

Theodore who?

Theodore wasn’t opened so I knocked.

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What do you get when you cross a rabbit with shell fish?

An oyster bunny!

Recipe Patch by Geri

Zucchini Casserole

4 cups grated zucchini, squeezed dry with a towel

1 1/4 cups Bisquick,

1/3 cup minced onion

3 large egg whites, beaten

1 large egg, beaten

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, good quality

1 tsp kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste

1 tsp parsley

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mix everything together in a bowl.

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

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

Roasted Green Beans with Carmelized Onions

1 tablespoon extra virgin oil

2 large Vidalia Onions, about 1 1/4 lbs, peeled and sliced kosher salt and black pepper to taste

2 pounds green beans, trimmed olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 425F.

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

onions in a skillet

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

Caramelized Onions

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

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

roasted green beans

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

Corn Tomato Avocado Salad

1 cup corn kernels , from 1 large steamed corn on the cob 5 ounces diced avocado, from 1 medium

1 1/2 cup diced Persian cucumbers, about 3 small 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

2 tablespoons diced red onion

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, from 1 medium lemon 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt fresh black pepper, to taste

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

Let it cool then transfer to a large bowl. Toss all the remaining ingredients together and serve immediately.

Baked Mushrooms

1 pound white button mushrooms

2 tablespoons water

1 ⁄4 cup dried Italian-style breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated

2 tablespoons Italian parsley, minced

1 ⁄4 teaspoon thyme, fresh or dried

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt black pepper to taste

2 tbsp olive oil to drizzle olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice off the bottom of the stems; then, use a moist paper towel to gently remove any dirt from mushrooms.

Quarter or halve the mushrooms, depending on the size.

Sprinkle water in the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking dish then place mushrooms in a single layer on top of the water.

In a small bowl combine next six ingredients: breadcrumbs through salt/pepper. Sprinkle mixture evenly on top of the mushrooms.

Drizzle evenly with olive oil then spray the top with olive oil spray so it’s evenly coated. Bake uncovered until the mushrooms are golden, about 20 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

Check imported hay

By Ben Beckman, UNL

Are you looking to buy hay? Can’t find anything local? When you finally do find hay, don’t also bring undesired pests to your farm or ranch along with that imported hay.

Hay is expensive this fall, and very hard to find. You may be looking out-of-state or even out-of-country to find hay for this winter.

Whenever you bring hay from another location onto your land, you also run the risk of bringing any pests onto your land that were in the distant hayfield. If hay comes from someone close by, you probably won’t bring in anything you don’t already have. But when hay comes from a long dis tance, you can get pests that are new or extra hard to control.

So, what should you lookout for? It could be any number of things, but some examples might be sericea lespedeza and old-world bluestems from Kansas, endophyte-infected fescue from Missouri, or absinthe wormwood from North and South Dakota. Even with more local hay, a clean pasture may suddenly be infected with leafy spurge or Canada thistle.

These examples all are weeds, but hay also can carry other pests. For example, it might contain alfalfa weevils from just about anywhere or fire ants from Texas. Fire ants won’t survive a typically harsh Nebraska winter, but if it’s mild and the hay is well-sheltered, they could be a problem for a season or two.

Now – I don’t mean to suggest that all hay from these areas will carry problem pests. Lots of very good hay is made in these areas. But how do you reduce the risk of acquiring these pests?

Begin by asking questions. Find out what pests are a problem in that area. Check references. Reserve the right to refuse the hay after it arrives, and you’ve check it out thoroughly. Then, when you feed the hay, do it only in a small area. That way, if a problem does develop, you can keep it isolated and, hopefully, controllable.

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Did you hear about the rancher who had 97 cows in his field?

When he rounded them up, he had 100!

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Why can’t you tell a joke to an egg?

It might crack up!

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What did the triangle feel sorry for the circle?

Because it’s pointless!

A lesson in planting zucchini

By Carrie Knutson, Horticulture Agent, NDSU Extension – Grand Forks County

As most gardeners are, I am overly excited at planting time. If I have the room and the weather cooperates, I usu ally plant way more than I can eat and preserve. One never knows what the growing season will bring, and you don’t want to be short on vegetables!

One vegetable that I have learned the hard way not to over plant is zucchini.

Zucchini is a member of the Cucurbitaceae or gourd fam ily. This family includes pumpkins, squashes, cucumbers and melons. Zucchini is also called summer squash as it is harvested when it is immature and the skin is very soft

Zucchini gets a bad reputation because the plants can be so productive. The annual vines of some zucchini varieties can take up a lot of garden space, but there are some variet ies with a bushy growth habit that take up less garden space.

Zucchini flowers are bright yellow and large in size. The flowers are either male or female. The male flowers are born on long stalks and the female flowers will have a miniature zucchini at the base of the flower. Depending on the variety, there can be more male flowers than female flowers. Male flowers tend to appear before the female flowers

Because of the separate male and female flowers, pollina tors are needed to produce viable fruit and seed. Misshaped fruit and fruit drop can be a result of poor pollination

Zucchini flowers are edible. A popular recipe is to drip the flowers in batter and deep fry.

Zucchini should be picked when it is 6 to 8 inches long. It is best, I think, when it is young and small. This requires daily checking to see what is ready to harvest. Zucchini seems like it grows overnight. Miss one day picking and you have zucchini the size of a small dog

While there are diseases and insects that affect zucchini, the main one in my garden was powdery mildew. I battled the disease for a few years before I invested in resistant va rieties. Now, I don’t have any issues with powdery mildew. As bad as it is to have too much zucchini, it’s worse yet to not have any

Zucchini used to dominate half of my gardening space. Now, I only have three hills of zucchini and despite the warm, dry weather, I am still eating at least one zucchini a day. Next year, I plan to reduce the number of zucchini hills to one or two.

Ultimately, if you have too many or if they get too big, don’t be afraid to chop them up and compost them. I have added a few large zucchinis to my own compost system this summer. Well, I better go check my zucchini, happy gardening!

Harvest safety

By Sarah A. Sivits, Dawson/Buffalo/Hall County Extension

Harvest is in full swing right now for many producers across the state. This is a gentle reminder to be safe out there this fall. While harvest can be a very exciting time of year, it can also be stressful for many as equipment breaks down, rain delays happen, and long hours lead to sleep deprivation. Accidents happen so fast so please be careful. I always encourage producers to use the buddy system and know where your buddy is at all times. Wear high visibility clothing, especially when moving equipment. Be mindful of power lines, low bridges, and overhead obstacles. We have caught a few rains here in the last couple weeks, but for many it’s incredibly dry and it doesn’t take much to start a fire. Always carry a fire extinguisher with you—preferably one in the combine, tractor, and truck—so if something ignites, the first person there is equipped to put it out before it spreads. Avoid wearing very loose-fitting clothing as to not get caught in any moving parts accidentally. Wear good foot attire for the job and use handrails as falls happen quickly. If you’re the one putting grain in the bin for storage, wear a NIOSH approved N-95 dust mask and be mindful around augers. Breakdowns happen, but please shut down equipment for maintenance to avoid accidental entanglement. If you have small children riding in the tractor, truck, or combine with you—or they stop out for a visit at mealtime—make sure they understand the importance of safety when working around equipment. I have very fond memories of riding along with family members at harvest time, but I also remember strong words about being aware of my surroundings around equip ment. Wishing you all a safe and healthy harvest

fall!

Body condition score as a management tool

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

Body mass index is one measure that people use

overall health when talking with their medical team.

much the same way, veterinarians and beef producers

to measure the well-being of the cow herd

condition score of each animal,

to the experts

Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute

on a recent Cattle Chat podcast.

“Cows are ranked on a scale of 1 to 9, with ones being very thin and nines being extremely obese,” veterinarian Brad White said. “Cows post-weaning will typically score in the 4-6 range.”

Veterinarian Bob Larson recommends evaluating the cows’ body condition at three points in the yearly cycle — at weaning, a few weeks prior to calving and right ahead of breeding.

“The main reason for body condition scoring is to identify the cows that need additional supplementation and feed them separately from the rest of the herd,” Larson said.

Beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said late summer/ early fall is an optimum time to evaluate the spring calving cows because of the ability to adjust their supplement needs at a time in the pregnancy when there is a low nutritional demand.

“During the next two months the spring-calving cow will have the lowest energy requirements that she will have in the year because she is in mid-gestation,” Lan caster said.

He added that during this time of year, a cow with a good body condition score can maintain her weight with poor quality forage, and those that need to add body weight can be separated and turned out on the best available forage to economically add condition.

“With a spring-calving herd, the goal would be to have the cows at a body con dition score of five in Decem ber,” Lancaster said.

While turning those cows that need to gain back out on fall pastures is a strategy, Lancaster said that may not be possible in areas where there has been drought.

“Producers may need to look at building the cheapest ration, and that is not always a diet that is high in forage,” Lancaster said.

He encouraged producers to look at other potential feed sources, such as silage, or even allowing them to graze fields where the crops have failed.

“If a crop isn’t going to produce like it should, it may be best to use it as a feed source for the herd rather than attempting to harvest it,” Lancaster said.

White cautioned that pro ducers following that option need to make sure there are no toxins in the field and think through how they transition the cows to a grain-based diet.

“Turning out cows into a corn field is going to re quire different management than turning them out on corn stalks after the harvest,” White said. “Just make sure you have a plan on how you are going to handle the cows moving forward.”

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Why did the student eat his homework?

Because his teacher told him it would be a piece of cake!

Changing of the guard

By Joe Zeleznik, forester, NDSU Extension

The first ones I notice are the sumacs.

It’s the same pattern each year. Sumacs turn a bright red, and they start changing color early. It’s a bright, fire-engine red, usually. Sometimes they’re a little muted, with a bit of purple mixed in.

Robins are supposed to signal the arrival of spring. For me, sumacs are the first sign of autumn. They’re beautiful.

For the next few weeks, I’ll watch the palette change. In North Dakota, it’s a lot of yellow. You have to search for the reds and oranges, and the occasional purple. But it’s worth it. They’re out there

In our native forests, red fall colors are found on shrubs and some vines. American cranberrybush, also known as highbush cranberry, is another one that turns a bright red, though it’s much later than the sumac. Highbush cranberry fruit also provides a splash of red in a duller world.

Leaves of Virginia creeper, a common vine, also turn red. The vine snakes its way around tree trunks and up into the crowns, sending a streak of red through a yellow backdrop. It’s beautiful.

As I watch autumn unfold, the old biochemistry lessons come back to mind. The yellows and oranges are mainly produced by carotenoids, pigments that have been hidden all summer by chlorophyll. Photosynthesis uses chlorophyll to capture energy from the sun and turn it into sugar – an amazing process. The carotenoids play a minor role in pho tosynthesis and become visible once the chlorophyll begins to break down in the fall.

The chemistry behind the reds and purples is pretty re markable as well. They’re produced by compounds called anthocyanins. These compounds hook up with sugars and then put on a great show. If the cell sap is acidic (low pH), we often see red; if the sap is alkaline (high pH), the display changes to purple. It’s amazing.

Various combinations of anthocyanins and carotenoids can result in yellow, orange and red leaves all on the same tree. A few years ago, I learned about bog birch (scientific name Betula pumila). It’s a small shrub that grows in swamps and, well, bogs! Its colors are subtle but can be orange or red or some combination of them. I look at these unique ecosystems in a whole different way now.

Many landscape painters love autumn. It gives them a chance to explore a whole different palette of color that they haven’t much used for a year. Photographers love this time period as well.

Enjoy the fall colors. Explore and look for the subtle ex pressions of complex chemistry. We only have a few weeks to enjoy them. Sunny days result in brighter colors. Rain washes them out. And a windstorm can destroy it all, in the blink of an eye.

Testing hay quality

By Jerry Volesky, UNL

Do you know the quality of the hay or silage that you harvested this past season? It is important to know how much protein and energy your cows will get when you start feeding, or how much supplement to feed. Find out by fol lowing instructions for sampling and testing.

Maybe the most important step in sampling hay is deciding which bales and stacks should be included in each sample. Ideally, each sample should include only bales that were produced under similar conditions.

Obviously, the place to start grouping is to separate differ ent types of hay, like alfalfa or CRP or corn stalk or meadow hay. But each cutting of hay probably is different from the other cuttings also, so there is another separation. And no two fields or meadows are ever exactly the same, especially if they were cut more than several days apart, this makes another grouping. And what if part of the field was rained on before it was baled? The hay made without rain damage will likely be different from hay with rain damage.

After you’ve made all these separations, which could re sult in quite a few groups of similar bales, then and only then are you ready to sample. From each group gather a dozen or more cores from different bales or stacks and combine them into one sample. Be sure to use a good hay probe that can core into at least 12 to 18 inches into the bale.

Finally, send these samples to a certified lab for tests of crude protein and energy content. With the drought condi tions of this past year, testing any annual forages or salvaged dryland crops for nitrates is a good idea.

Then use this information to feed your cattle as profitably as possible.

Montana Hemp Advisory Committee

The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is seek ing applications from hemp growers interested in serving on the Montana Hemp Advisory Committee. The deadline for applications is Monday, October 17th.

The advisory committee consists of at least five voting members involved in the production of hemp within the prior three years, one non-voting processing industry representa tive, and one non-voting representative from the Montana State University System. The Committee is responsible for advising the Department on the use of hemp checkoff funds generated through Montana’s Agricultural Commodity Research and Market Development program. Through the program, 1% of the net receipts of all hemp crops produced in Montana can be used to further research, marketing and education activities that advance Montana’s hemp industry. Those interested in serving on the committee can request an application by contacting Dani Jones at (406) 444-2402 or Danielle.jones@mt.gov

Finished applications can be sent to MDA: Via email at: danielle.jones@mt.gov

Via mail at: Montana Department of Agriculture, Hemp Advisory Committee, 302 N. Roberts, Helena, MT 59601

Dictionary Day

This holiday is always celebrated on October 16 Dictionary Day is in honor of Noah Webster, considered the Father of the American Diction ary. Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758.

The objective of this day is to emphasize the importance of dictionary skills, and seeks to improve vocabu lary.

Webster began to write his dictionary at the age of 43. It took him 27 years to finish it! In addition to traditional English vocabulary, it contained uniquely American words.

Celebrate Dictionary Day by reading the “Good Book”......the Dictionary! We challenge you to learn some new words today.

When

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When the London Bridge (the version built in 1831) started to disintegrate, it was taken apart stone by stone, shipped to the United States, and lovingly reconstructed in Lake Havasu City, Ari zona.

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A duel between three people is actually called a truel.

Drought’s impacts extend to fish, wildlife

By Maddy Rohr,

K-State Research and Extension news service

No one needs to tell Kansas’ farmers that the state is suf fering from drought. The agricultural industry is well aware of the negative impacts, from failing crops and erosion runoff to decreased livestock grazing and hay inventory concerns.

“Right now, 90% of the state is in a drought status and just below 60% of the state is in severe, extreme, or exceptional drought status,” said K-State Research and Extension fish eries and aquatics specialist Joe Gerken. “To put that into perspective, at this time last year less than 1% of the state was in those statuses, so it’s a very dry year.

“Some of the areas in northeastern Kansas are experi encing normal rainfall, but a lot of the state is experiencing drought this year.”

Soil degradation is a major concern, Gerken added, be cause when soil dries out it is unable to pick up as much moisture as before, which may lead to wind erosion and runoff. When there is rainfall, sedimentation, nutrient runoff and eutrophication may increase in waterways, potentially resulting in oxygen depletion from plant and algae growth.

Blue-green algae and wildlife populations

Gerken said blue-green algae blooms worsen in areas with a moderate drought because of the concentrated nutrients in low water levels and warmer water conditions.

WHEEL LOADERS

“Blue-green algae can be a concern for pets, livestock and humans,” he said. “If you see something that looks like paint on the top of your pond or stream, you definitely want to give the department a call so we can check that out.

While blue-green algae are present all the time, the blooms are what cause sickness. Fish have adapted to live with the presence of blue-green algae and usually remain unaffected.

“You wouldn’t want to eat the liver of a fish. If you’re han dling the outside of a fish while fishing make sure you wash your hands,” Gerken said. “But the fish generally don’t get hurt from blue-green algae, so they’re safe to eat otherwise.”

But Gerken said drought does negatively impact fish populations. A decrease in water surface area means less oxygen and more fish kills.

“After drought, you get fragmentation events where the streams aren’t connected anymore and the populations tend to homogenize,” Gerken said. “We lose some important spe cies that maybe aren’t as high in density. Focusing on how to get the streams back connected and having water flow in them once we get out of the drought conditions is important.”

The severe impacts of drought in western Kansas pose a threat to pheasant and quail populations, as well. Nesting habitats are decreased when native grasses thin and food may become scarce with reduced broadleaf vegetation and forb growth

Gerken said hunting usually is still allowed during periods of drought because it is hard for hunters to have a meaning ful impact on bird populations compared to drought-induced habitat changes.

“We just want to make sure we’re making some improve ments in their habitats on good years so we can increase their populations moving forward,” Gerken said.

Recovery

Depending on the severity and length of drought, recovery can take months or even years. Having a plan to reduce the effects is needed in preparation for drought conditions.

“Maybe it means we’re going to reduce grazing a little bit in good years so that the plants aren’t as heavily forged and can have a chance to sustain themselves and handle the drought a little better,” Gerken said. “Maybe it means we’re going to reinvest in some irrigation so that we have more water efficient irrigation systems.”

Gerken added that drought is a natural part of the ecosys tems and having a management plan for different agricultural practices is needed to prevent extreme impacts.

For more resources, Gerken recommends reaching out to local extension agents, contacting the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or looking into resources available from the United States Department of Agriculture.

stage before frost bite is called “frostnip.”

##### Warner Bros canceled “Home Alone” because they didn’t want to spend $14 million on it. 21st Century Fox continued the production, and the film grossed $476 million worldwide.

A Designated Driver

A friend is not bound by the words To have and to hold But their smile has a special meaning When you come in out of the cold

They don’t share the words Till death do us part It’s just a bond that always Comes straight from the heart

It didn’t have anything to do with Do you take so and so It started with someone Who just likes to go where you go

Friends don’t notice how you look And probably don’t care about your age But they are always there when Through life it’s time to start a new page

They’re there to tell anything Or just the happenings of the day Maybe it’s just a deep dark secret That you know with only them it will stay

They’re always around when Nothing seems to be going right They make you feel like Seeing you to them was a welcome sight

With them you can talk for what seems like hours Or way into the night And they know who you’re taking about When you say, “I wish I may, I wish I might.”

Tomorrow one friend won’t have a headache Or won’t wonder how he was a survivor

Tonight he’s drinking coke

It’s his turn to be designated driver ©Robert Lee Ridgway (Vaughn, Montana)

This is the 2022 Mineral County 4-H Grand Champion Market Beef. This 1260 pound steer was owned, fed, trained and show by Heather Haskins of Superior, Montana. She purchased her steer from Bill and Helen Meadows, Mountain Meadow Ranch, Trout Creek, Montana. Heather’s market beef was purchased by Darlows Foods, Superior, for $5.25/pound Photo courtesy of Mary Grace Donally.

Growing herbs indoors

By Catherine Wissner,

University of Wyoming Laramie County Extension

Plants purchased for this area, Laramie County, should be hardy to USDA zone 4, which excludes most of our culinary herbs. There are a number of culinary herbs that are easy start from seed and grow indoors, don’t need anything more special than most houseplants.

Always start with good quality potting soil, preferably without fertilizer in it. Plastic pots are best as clay pots draw water out of the soil and dry out faster. There should be drainage as you never want a plant to sit in water. All herbs need bright light, no drafts and a cool room.

Fertilizer should be used sparingly, it should have a very low first number, nitrogen (N), a higher middle number, phosphorus (P), and a low third number, potassium (K). A fertilizer should have numbers like: 5-10-5. Too much nitrogen creates leggy growth and opens up the possibility for insect problems. Herbs lose their flavor if over fertilized. It’s all about the essential oils in the leaves, that’s where the flavor is.

What to grow indoors? Profusion Chives (Allium) it’s a variety that does well as a potted plant, doesn’t produce seeds, the reddish purple flowers are edible. Leaves are great mixed with butter for bread, sprinkled on soups or salads, or a vinegar infusion for a tasty salad dressing.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) comes in a wide variety of flavors from the standard Genovese to Blue Spice, Thai (has a lovely licorice flavor), Cinnamon, White (has a lemon scent originated from Vietnam) one for growing inside is Dwarf Bush Basil.

Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) a great house plant needs the same growing requirements as a Ficus tree. It is native to the Mediterranean area, can summer outside in filtered shade, than back indoors for winter. Leaves can be picked and used fresh or let dry on the counter for a couple days. Bay is considered a foundation seasoning herb for soups and stews, meat and fish dishes.

Lemon balm, (Melissa officinalis), easy to start from seeds, strong lemon flavor. Lemon balm is good for vinegar infused salad dressing, fresh, a salad topping, or chopped fresh leaves in cookies and cakes. Dry the leaves for a re freshing lemon scented tea.

Another great lemon flavored plant is Lemongrass (Cym bopogon citratus) essential in Asian dishes and growth throughout the tropics. Makes a great house plant, but needs to be harvested on a regular basis to keep it growing and happy.

Add a spicy punch to your pizza, grow Kaliteri Oregano (Origanum kaliteri) grown in Greece for its high oil content and the spice market. You can use the leaves fresh or dry them for use in herb blends.

Love Mexican dishes, grow Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens). This is the herb found in Mexican restaurants in the little shaker. Does well in a bright window, used to flavor everything from salads, soups, to meats.

The best way to grow Saffron (Crocus sativus) is indoors. These bulbs are easy to grow, enjoy the beautiful lavender blooms then harvest the stigma for culinary use in rice and sweet breads. They are shipped in September.

All these herbs can be found either as plants or seeds, they are easy to get started and offer great rewards once up and growing. Some sources for your culinary seeds; Richters, Hudson Valley Seed, Mountain Rose Herbs, Seed Savers and many more.

influences forage production

Dry conditions are common across most of North Dakota with most areas receiving below normal precipitation over the last two months. This, in combination with above average temperatures, is impacting the condition of pastures across the state. Currently, the majority (59%) of pastures in the state are reported as being in fair or lower condition.

Grazing management in the fall can have significant impacts on forage production during the subsequent growing season.

“Pastures in our region are dominated by cool-season grass es, which can make up 85% or more of the species composi tion,” says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “These cool-season grasses can develop tillers in the fall, and the development of these tillers has a direct impact on plant growth the next year.”

“If livestock graze tillers below the growing point in the fall (in between the bottom two leaves), they usually will not survive the winter,” says Meehan. “Drought stress also affects the survival of fall tillers. Fall droughts either don’t allow buds to come out of dormancy, thus no new tiller growth, or cause death to those tillers that did grow. If tillers do not establish or survive the fall, a delay in growth and development will occur the following growing season due to new tiller development in the spring.”

Monitoring degree of use is one way to prevent negative impacts to developing tillers. The recommended utilization level for proper use of grasslands is 40% to 60%. At this level, rangeland utilization is fairly uniform, with 65% to 80% of the height of desirable forage species being grazed. Livestock should be removed when this level is exceeded.

An NDSU Extension study found that pasture with greater than 80% forage utilization had delayed forage growth and reduced forage production by as much as 57%. A full article about the study is available in the 2022 NDSU North Dakota Livestock Research Report.

The NDSU Grazing Monitoring Stick can aid in monitoring forage utilization on range and pasture. The grazing monitor ing stick does require an ungrazed area with similar forage species for comparison.

Here are the steps for using the grazing monitoring stick: Calculate the percent of the plant height removed by di viding the grazed height of the plant by the ungrazed height. Subtract this amount from 1.

Multiply this amount by 100 to determine the percent of height removed.

Correlate this number with those in the chart in the NDSU Extension publication “The North Dakota Grazing Monitor ing Stick: A Way to Measure Range and Pasture Utilization” (https://tinyurl.com/NDSU-GrazingStick) to estimate the percent of entire plant weight removed.

“A general rule of thumb is to target 50% utilization by weight during a grazing period, as well as at the end of the grazing season,” says Kevin Sedivec, NDSU Extension range land management specialist. “If greater than 50% utilization occurs during a grazing period, plant recovery will be slower, which means plants require a longer recovery period between grazing events to maintain their health.”

High use of grasslands, especially in the fall, can result in tiller mortality by either removal of the growing point or physiological stress to cool-season grasses. If pastures receive high grazing use, they must be given adequate time to recover and turnout should be delayed on these pastures in 2023. If pastures are not given time to recover, forage production and pasture condition will decline.

“Monitoring pastures will be especially critical if dry condi tions persist through the fall, as drought stress may increase tiller mortality,” says Sedivec.

Contact your NDSU Extension agent for assistance with monitoring grazing use and reviewing your grazing plan.

#####

An elderly golfer set a goal to break 100 by the end of the summer. He was so determined that he promised his caddie a large cash reward if he could help him achieve his objec tive. As the months wore on, there were several close calls, but victory was yet to be obtained. Finally, on one of the last days of summer, victory was in sight. The older gentleman was on the green, about eight feet from the hole, and sitting with a current score of 97. The two men were giddy with excitement when the golfer nervously sent his putt ten feet past the hole. Without missing a beat, the caddie quickly picked up that ball and said, “Congratulations! You’ve shot a 99. Anyone in their right mind can see that this last putt was a gimme.”

#####

The first commercial Christmas card, produced in 1846, featured a drawing of family members hap pily toasting each other with glasses of wine - a shocking ly decadent portrait that was immediately condemned by temperance advocates. In New South Wales, Australia, the average daily mailbag of six to seven million items of mail can triple over Christ mas. The heaviest day ever was on 23 December 1997, when a record 23 million items were delivered in this state in Australia.

2W Spreading, Choteau MT B18

3V Distributing, Conrad MT C11

7W Farms, Greg Woods, Inverness MT C38

A-Plus Auto, Great Falls MT A24

Action Toys, Billings MT A17

Affordable Construction Equipment, Billings & Bozeman MT A37

Ag Trucks & Equipment, Great Falls MT A19

American Manufacturing, Hogeland MT C14

Augmenta, Torgerson’s A40

Badland Truck Sales, Glendive MT B3

Basin Seed, LLC, Stanford MT A3

Bass Auction Co. Inc., Lewistown MT C8

Ben Taylor, Valier & Shelby MT A21

Big Iron Auctions A10

Big Sky Equipment, Conrad MT B15

Big Sky Pipe, Great Falls MT C28

Big Sky Sawmill & Wood Products, Vaughn MT A24

Bjorn Johnson Construction, Missoula MT C6

Bobcat of Mandan, ND B19

Bobcat of Williston, Ironhide, Williston ND B10

Booker Auction, Mukilteo, WA A22

BTI Feeds, Cut Bank MT A21

Buckley Auction MT A4

Bull Mountain Fencing, Yoder, Dan, Round up MT B24

Burks Tractor, Twin Falls, Caldwell ID A30

C & B Operations, LLC, Billings, Culbertson & Plenywood, MT, Sheridan, WY, Powell, WY C2, C3

Cascade Machine & Supply, Great Falls MT A31

Centrol Crop Consulting LLC, Brady & Conrad MT B8

Circle G Salvage, Walhalla, ND C27

Circle S Seeds, of Montana, Three Forks MT A6

Clearview Seed, Denton MT A18

Corder & Associates, Fort Benton MT C37

Courtesy Ford, Conrad MT B11

Cut Bank Tire, Cut Bank MT B18

Dakota Truck & Farm, Minot ND A33

DBL Sales & Service, Dave & Brock Linker, Coffee Creek MT B19, B24

Doane Western of Montana, Bozeman MT B16

Double Diamond Truck & Equipment Sales, Missoula MT A25

Dry Fork Ag, Ledger MT B5

Index

Ear Mountain Machine, Choteau MT A9

Exchange Services, Inc, Whitefish MT B16

FBN Direct C30

First State Bank, Shelby, MT A28

Fisher Metal Products, Fort Benton, MT A32

Flaman Rentals, Power MT B14, B24

Fox Ford, Wolf Point MT C38

Fraser’s Oil Inc., Inverness MT C16

Frieling’s Agricultural Equipment, Great Falls MT A23, C15, C21

Friesen Livestock, Medicine Hat AB Cana da B1

Frontline Ag Solutions Dillon, Dillon MT C35

Frontline Ag Solutions, Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Dillon, Lewistown, Havre, Ches ter, Great Falls, Belgrade, Livingston MT C32, C33

Gateway Arch & Fence, Wayne Thiem, Bozeman MT C10

Glasgow Rental, Glasgow MT C23

Glass Trucking, Denton MT C24

Golden Harvest Seeds, Big Sandy MT A38

Golden Triangle Rental, Great Falls MT C23

Golden Triangle Seeds, Rudyard MT A31

Gordon Repair, LLC, Miles City MT C20

Greenway Seeds, Caldwell ID A25 , B22

Greyn Fertilizer, Choteau, Dutton, Valier MT B6, C7

Grossenburg Equipment, Winner, Pierre, Philip, Belle Fourche SD, Wayne, Bloom field, Harrington NE, Sundance WY C19

Heartland Ag Systems, ID, KS, MT, ND, NE, SD, WA C37

Heartland Seed Company, Moccasin MT A28

Hedman, Inc, Grass Range MT C31

Helfert’s Helena Farm Supply, East Helena MT A26

Henke Enterprises, SprayFlex & Big Dog Mowers, Chester MT C4

Hi-Line Rental, Havre MT C23

Hoven Equipment Co., Great Falls MT B12, B13

Hwy 12 Equipment & Repair, Baker MT C20

Ironhide, Bobcat of Williston, Williston ND B10

J & T Equipment Sales, John Jones, Ste

vensville MT C28

J Bar T Bins & Steel Buildings, Jeremiah

Johnson & Thad, Chester MT A12

Jamieson Motors, Inc., Chinook MT C34, C36

Johnsen Trailer Sales, Inc., Bismarck & Fargo ND B14

Krogmann Mfg. C26

Lattin & Sons, Power MT B14, B24

Lewistown Honda, Lewistown MT A2

Lewistown Rental, Lewistown MT C23

M & M Auto, Trailers, & Welding, Stevensville MT B11

M & W Machine, Three Forks MT B10

MDS Construction Supply, Great Falls MT C34

C27

R

MEDA

Missouri River Realty, Glasgow, Malta, MT C32

Montana Farrier Supply, Livingston MT C24

Montana Fence, Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell MT C18

Montana Holster & Shoulder Rig, Norm Schertenlieb, Great Falls MT A28

Montana Metal Fabrications, Great Falls MT A38

Montech Seed Group, MT A36

Mountain Equipment, Cody WY A34

Mountain View Metal Works, Wilsall MT A25

MT Tractors, Matt Pendergast, Stevensville MT C15

Musselshell Valley Equipment, Roundup MT B23, C29

New Homes of the Future, Billings MT C26

North Star Equipment, John Myers, Simms MT B9

Northern Ford, Cut Bank MT A35

Northern Prairie Auto Sales, Wolf Point MT B8

Norwood Sales, Inc., ND & NE C13

Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc, Conrad, Great Falls, Billings, Fort Benton, Belgrade, Hardin ,Chester, Shelby, MT A12

Pete’s Auto Sales, Great Falls MT B17

Power Motors Implement, Fort Benton MT C22

Precision Truck & Trailer, Havre MT C5

Price Truck & Equipment Sales, Missoula MT A32

MT C20

R & M Exterminators, Cheney WA C14

RDO Equipment, Kalispell, MT C36

RDO Equipment, Missoula MT C36

Reddig Equipment & Repair, Kalispell MT C12, C15

Rehbein Ford, Inc., Plains MT A29

Reinke, RPH Irrigation Services, Choteau MT C30

Rockwell Scales, Simms MT C28

Roger Rader, Inc, Sun River MT C27

RPH Irrigation Services, Reinke, Choteau MT C30

Severinsen Irrigation, Zimmatic & GSI, Fair field MT A31

Shop Specialties, Valier MT C38

Shortline Ag, Scobey MT B16

Sod Buster Sales, Polson MT C8, C10

SprayFlex, Doug Henke Chester, MT C4

Steel Etc, Great Falls MT A27

Stokes Fencing, Conrad MT A34

Sullivan Brothers Construction, Conrad MT B7

Sunrise Hoppers, Bow Island AB Canada B10

Super SmartRooms/Superform ICF, Jerry Gangstad, Avon MT A20, B17

T & T Farm Supply, LLC, Chester MT B5

Taylor Farm Store, Shelby MT A21

TCB Transport LLC, Todd Bedosky, Geyser MT A39

The Gear House, Helena MT A29

Tiber Tractor Co., Chester MT B7

Tom’s Shop, Grass Range MT C24

Torgerson’s LLC, Ethridge, Glasgow, Great Falls, Havre, Billings, Lewistown, Belgrade, Hysham, Kalispell, Denton MT....A40, C17

Treasure State Seed, Fairfield MT A33

Treasure State Wood Boilers, LLC, Charley Bucklin, Bigfork, MT B9

Tri County Implement, Sidney MT C25

Triangle Ag Service, Fort Benton MT C1

Triple T Sales, Chinook MT C4, C40

TT&E Inc, Victor MT B22

Valley Trailer Sales, Belgrade MT C10

VW Mfg, Loren Hawks, Chester MT C9

Westfield, Power Motors, Fort Benton MT C22

Wichman Ag Supply LLC, Hilger MT C20

XB Trailer Sales, Great Falls MT C39

Zimmatic, Severinsen Irrigation, Fairfield MT A31

Zimmerman Manure & Silage Hauling, Fair field MT A29

Comparing cover crop planting methods

UNL Extension educators

Introduction

An overarching goal for planting cover crops is to produce as much biomass as possible during the growing window. Higher levels of cover crop biomass will reduce soil erosion, inhibit weed growth, and add carbon and other nutrients to the soil. However, one of the challenges in Nebraska is the limited amount of time between corn or soybean harvest and the onset of winter temperatures, which has tradition ally been when most cover crops are planted. Unfortunately, this can limit the amount of biomass produced, reducing potential benefits.

While planting cover crops after harvest with a drill or planter may be the most convenient, there are several other planting methods that can increase cover crop success as measured by biomass production. These methods include interseeding during the vegetative growth stage of crop production, interseeding during late reproductive stages with aerial equipment and interseeding during late reproductive stages with a high-clearance ground machine. Each of these methods has potential positives and negatives.

Planting Cover Crops After Harvest

In areas of the country with more temperate winter cli mates, planting cover crops after corn or soybean harvest is a suitable option. These fields are often planted with a drill or air seeder, which provide good seed-to-soil contact and higher rates of germination and emergence. However, Nebraska winters can set in shortly after cover crop planting in the fall and be marked by extremely cold temperatures. This limits the amount of time for cover crops to establish and put on needed biomass.

Cold temperatures can also limit the number of species that can be planted after harvest. The best option after harvest is cereal rye because it can germinate at soil temperatures down to 34°F. This has allowed growers to drill cereal rye in November through March, with the focus on spring biomass production with a later termination date

Interseeding Cover Crops During Vegetative Stages

Nebraska On-Farm Research suggests that interseeding cover crops into corn at V4 can be an option. At this growth stage, corn is usually short enough to plant cover crops with a grain drill or air seeder. This allows for good seed-to-soil contact and good rates of germination and emergence. Additionally, research has shown that cover crops planted around this growth stage will not affect corn yield. However, because the corn is growing so quickly and often reaches full canopy shortly after cover crop emergence, cover crop biomass production can be limited due to shading depending on the species planted.

Aerial Interseeding During Reproductive Growth Stages

Interseeding cover crops into corn later in the season can have its advantages. However, corn at these reproductive stages is quite tall and not accessible by traditional equip ment. As a result, cover crops are frequently planted with either a plane or helicopter, with helicopters being the most common. The benefits of aerial seeding include the ability to cover large areas in a short amount of time, reduced risk of crop damage from equipment, and no impact to the soil from compaction, which is important in wet conditions.

Rather than conduct aerial interseeding at a specific growth stage, it’s recommended that growers time aerial interseeding when leaves begin to yellow and drop for soybeans or when leaves begin to senesce in corn. In non-irrigated situations, the timing may be more based on the opportunity for a rain event around crop maturity in late August through early September instead of targeting a specific development stage to ensure germination and emergence of the cover crop seed.

Another potential drawback to aerial interseeding is the inconsistency of germination and emergence. With this method, seeds frequently get hung up in the crop canopy and never reach the soil surface. The seeds that do reach the surface are not incorporated, and instead rest on top of the soil. Because seeds need moisture to germinate, they will rely on either pre-existing wet soil conditions, precipitation or irrigation to germinate. Then, if conditions are dry dur ing the critical seedling phase, cover crop losses can occur because roots are not adequately developed or protected. Aerial applicators often try to compensate for this by apply ing higher rates of cover crop seed, further increasing costs.

Interseeding During Reproductive Growth Stages with High-Clearance Machines

An increasingly popular method for interseeding cover

Comparing cover crop

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2 crops is using a high-clear ance machine, such as a sprayer, equipped with a hopper and dry-application system. These utilize drop tubes to place cover crop seeds between crop rows and directly on the soil surface. The advantage of this method is that existing equipment can be upgraded or modified to apply cover crop seed. Another advan tage is that cover crop seed distribution is usually better than aerial methods, as the seed will not get stuck in the canopy.

Like the other options, there can be several disad vantages with this method. As the equipment is groundbased, damage to the pri mary crop can occur. This usually occurs in the end rows where the machine turns around but can also oc cur in the middle of the field if the operator drifts off the row. This can easily occur because the crop is usually at full canopy and seeing the ground and individual crop rows can be very difficult. Many manufacturers have steering aids, such as row sensors near the tires, that can help aid operators.

Lastly, depending on the species, cover crops planted later in the season may not produce as much biomass as those planted earlier, such as at V4 in corn.

Which Method to Choose?

Choosing a method de pends on many factors, which will be individual to each farm and its goals, fi nancial resources and equip ment access. In general, any cover crop timing or method will be better at reducing soil erosion, inhibiting weed growth, and adding carbon and other nutrients to the soil than no cover crop at all.

Pontiac

Not much is known about Pontiac’s early life, but it is believed that he was born in the Detroit or Maunee River region to Ottawan parents. By age 30, he was a promi nent figure within his tribe. After the French and Indian War, Pontiac was none too pleased with the British and their trading policies. In 1763, he responded with wide spread attacks against British forts and settlements in the Ohio Region; these skirmishes came to be called Pontiac’s Rebellion. How ever, neighboring tribes and other Native American leaders didn’t like the way Pontiac conducted himself. Some felt he used a fake title of “chief” given to him by the white man to exert influence and enjoy undue power. Pontiac was killed by member of the Peoria tribe in 1769.

2007 Sullivan D185Q-4 towable air compres sor, John Deere diesel, 185 cfm, 125 psi. Ready to work.

Cat D6D dozer, 10’ft straight blade with manual tilt, rear winch, rebuilt Cat 3306 diesel, 3 spd powershift transmission. Good undercarriage. Ready to work.

2013 Sullivan P185PJD towable air com pressor, John Deere diesel, 185 CFM, 1145 hours

AIR

W/CART FOR

Scholarships awarded to three panhandle students

The Panhandle Research and Extension Center is pleased to announce the recipients for its first annual “Panhandle Research and Extension Center Student Scholarship.”

Laura Albro from Bayard, Faith Miller from Mullen and Braelyn Shrewsbury from Alliance were all awarded $1000. Each was asked to send a brief bio and what this scholarship was going to help them achieve.

Laura Albro

I attended Bayard High School and during that time, I was highly involved in many activities: FFA, Student Council, Cross Country, Quiz Bowl, Student Lead Team, and National Honor Society. I also participated in 4-H for 10 years. In the fall, I will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and majoring in horticulture or agronomy with an Engler Entrepreneurial minor. I’m not quite sure what career I want to have, but I have a dream to own a greenhouse/floral shop one day. This scholarship is important to me not only because it will help me through college, but also because it is another step towards realizing my dreams.

Faith Miller

I’m from Mullen, Nebraska. I am a Nebraska FFA State Officer this year and I am attending the University of Ne braska-Lincoln to become a veterinarian. This scholarship is important to me because I want to open the first equine surgical facility in the Sandhills in the future, and this helps me to accomplish my dream!

Braelyn Shrewsbury

This scholarship is important to me because it is helping me to fund my dream of becoming a Veterinary Technician. I recently graduated from Alliance High School where I was involved in FFA, 4H, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Basketball, Dance, and Track. In the fall I will be attending Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture to pursue a degree in Veteri nary Technology. I am hoping to come back to the Alliance area and continue working for the Alliance Animal Clinic as a Licensed Veterinary Technician.

The scholarship fund was created after Gering High School students won state and national awards sponsored by Samsung Corporation demonstrating drone use in agricul tural settings. As the sponsor for these students, PHREC was awarded $20,000 from Samsung. This gift was matched by then-University President Hank Bounds. Further donations from fundraisers, including the recent 2022 Glow Big Red campaign, have provided PHREC the opportunity to begin awarding this scholarship annually.

Addisyn Bengtson wrapped up her 4-H Teen Leadership just in time for the 2022 Marias Fair. Addisyn spearheaded and fundraised for installing a flagpole on the 4-H side of the Marias Fairgrounds. The American, 4-H, and POW flags were raised and lowered daily during fair by county 4-H ambassadors.

Photo by Andrea Bengtson.

Marathon Kids run more than 5,000

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

More than 5,000 miles ran over the course of the summer by kids who participated in Nebraska Extension Marathon Kids. More than 200 runners signed up for the summer program and 70 runners completed marathons.

Marathon Kids is a national running program designed to motivate kids by utilizing running logs, boost their activ ity, and introduce them to the joy of running! The goal for the program is for youth and their families to become more active and gain confidence through running. Whether the participants run, walk, or even skip – a mile is a mile, and being physically active is so good for their health.

During the Nebraska Extension Marathon Kids 2022 summer virtual running program, Extension pro fessionals teach the young runners about goal setting, tracking miles, hydration, eating healthy and so much more. They also have creat ed special challenges during the 9-week program which encourage the participants to set goals and then achieve them.

Of the 200 participants, one runner completed 350 miles. Ethan Heilbrun, a seventh grader from Scotts bluff, set the goal to com plete 350 miles over the course of the program, and he did it. Heilbrun is an active kid and has always enjoyed running. He said, “Your size and shape don’t matter when you run, as long as your mind and your heart and your feet can agree on the goal and work together to get there.”

Nebraska Extension Mar athon Kids Coach Donnia Behrends said that “All of the runners from the sum mer virtual running program did a fantastic job this year, especially Ethan! Ethan is an example of the ultimate marathon kid, he set a big goal, tracked his miles, and was determined to accom plish his goal!”

At the end of the program, the runners send in their mileage logs and then are entered to win a grand prize. This year, participants who ran a marathon had a chance to win a Hydroflask water bottle or a Fitbit.

The program is a virtual running club that takes place over the summer months for youth and families across Nebraska and is sponsored by Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Nutrition Edu cation Program. Parents who have children that may be interested in participating in 2023 can find out more in formation by visiting food. unl.edu/marathon-kids.

The world’s first flight attendant was Ellen Church, hired in 1930. (She wanted to be a pilot.)

Recycling

one ton of paper saves

trees.

Willmar

Side

tender, spread axle trailer, fenders, elec

Fruehauf 8500 gallon lead and 5700 gallon tanks,

Beall pump

engine,

16-ton

Honda engine,

Increase profitability with sustainable chicken farming

A large part of sustainable chicken farming is profitability.

Lubbock NH3 transport trailer, 10,400 gallon, Na tional Board Number, 265 psi, 5 to choose from

speed,

1995 International 4700 fuel truck, DT466, 6 speed transmission single axle, 2200 gallon, 5 compart ment tank, 300,126 miles

Wilson PaceSetter

aluminum hop per bottom grain trailer, roll over tarp, tandem axle with 3rd axle, air ride suspen sion. Exceptionally clean, very nice trailler.

Sterling fuel truck, 3600 gallon, 5 compart ment, automatic, Cum mins, 218,000

1993 International top auger tender, RayMan 5 com partment, roll over tarp, tag axle, 689,222 miles

Fort stainless steel hy draulic auger tender trailer, hydraulic drive augers, rear unload, tip tops

Merritt Rapat conveyor

Rapat Series C con veyor system, electric roll tarp, clean out windows,

Freightliner with 24-ton Rayman tender, Cummins, side discharge, 5 axles

Willmar Load Runner Ten

Pup, 16 ton, Honda engine, rear auger. Call

International, Cum mins diesel, 24-ton tender, 5 axle,

can be more consistent, predictable, and in line with your personal or business goals if your methods

and

sustain production.

But what does it take to develop a sustainability plan for poultry farming? How can sustainably raised chickens help you reach your financial goals as a production facility or self-sufficient family? And finally, what kind of difference can sustainable poultry farming make for your bottom line?

Discover the link between sustainable chicken farming and profitable chicken farming with answers to these ques tions and more.

Sustainable Chicken Farming can be Responsible and Profitable

Getting into the chicken industry can be a rewarding and lucrative experience. You may earn extra money selling eggs, selling fresh meat alongside your produce in a roadside stand, or putting chicken breasts, legs, and wings on family tables. You’ll also enjoy caring for some of the planet’s most beautiful and unique creatures.

Sustainable chicken farming doesn’t automatically give you the right to attach a certified-organic label to your eggs and meat; however, it can positively impact the environment, your animals, consumers, and your bottom line.

What Are Some Sustainable Practices for Chicken Farmers?

With correct management, sustainable chicken farming joins birds with the land and the farm in a way that encour ages the good health and well-being of the farm, the land, the humans, and the birds.

Sustainable chicken farming means being responsible for the health and safety of your chickens. Sustainable chicken farmers must be excellent land, water, and feed management stewards. They must also raise birds humanely and justly to promote longevity and profitability.

Raising chickens has a more minor impact than almost any other animal-agriculture industry. Compared to chicken production in 1965, today’s chicken farming has half the environmental impact it once did. You can use that fact to raise awareness about animal husbandry practices, boost ing the entire chicken industry’s profile and making it more desirable to consumers.

Here are a few ways you can raise chickens sustainably: First, Assess Your Goals

Will you be raising chickens as a hobby? Are you hoping to add food to your family’s table? Or do you want to develop a market and create a profitable business? The market for egg and meat sales is growing and can include farmer’s markets, farm-to-table restaurants, local supermarkets, and even larger grocery chains. Clearly defining your goals will help you to develop a plan to maintain a sustainable chicken operation.

Add Income Diversity

Maybe you’ve been advised to diversify your financial investments because some do better at times than others. That’s the same thinking behind adding chickens to any size farming operation.

When you responsibly diversify with chickens, you will make your farm more sustainable. Not only will you be add ing an additional income stream, but you will also provide insurance against underperformance in other areas.

Choose a Housing Method that Makes the Most Sense for Your Chicken Farm

Free-range chickens do not live in cages and have access to natural daylight for at least eight hours daily. They also have at least 1.23 square feet of floor space to nest, perch, and dust bathe.

Pasture-raised poultry has 1.8 square feet of indoor floor space per bird and continuous access to a vegetation-covered outdoor area to roam and forage.

The method you choose is entirely up to you, and either one will provide for the health and happiness of your flock.

START YOUR FLOCK

Use a Chicken Tractor

To integrate your chickens and land in a mutually benefi cial and sustainable way, you need to provide fresh pasture to your chickens. For pasture-raised poultry, a mobile poultry house, sometimes called a “chicken tractor,” allows birds to access a particular part of the pasture daily or every few days. This not only provides your chickens with a no-cost food source, but their manure also acts as fertilizer for your land, and you’ll save money on bedding.

Address Nutrition, Diet, and Feed Cost

You’ll want to consider your birds’ food as part of a

Increase profitability with sustainable chicken farming

chicken farming plan.

anced diet at the lowest cost possible

them with a

positively affect

You can grow your own food or buy from a reputable producer.

Some farms prefer to ferment chicken feed for nutrition, egg production, and economic purposes. This process is rather simple and involves soaking the food in water before giving it to the chickens.

When feeding chickens, you get out what you put in, so be cautious about cutting corners. Bargain or homemade feeds that aren’t nutritionally sound can be limiting if you raise birds for production purposes.

Manage Land and Pastures

Pasturing chickens creates a sustainable cycle that’s good for the land and your flock. Chickens will graze on nearly any type of crop, but if you have the opportunity to plant a pasture for them, include crops that will rotate in produc tion to provide food all year. Chickens will spread their own manure in these pastures, scratching it into the ground and making it even more productive. And what’s more, all that healthy plant growth will help to prevent soil erosion!

Maintain Dual-Purpose Farmland

Laying hens, meat chickens, and even turkeys and ducks are efficient converters of feed to meat or eggs. That is a great way to turn investment into profit!

Because poultry’s grain can be grown on the land where they’re raised, and chicken farmers only need about three acres to grow enough feed for 1,000 broilers per year, farmers can use the land for dual purposes, increasing profit. Add the fact that chicken litter can be used to fertilize the land that grows the flock’s food, and you have an even more lucrative arrangement.

Keep Your Flock Safe From Predators

When predators kill chickens, that hurts your bottom line. Protect your chickens in housing and fencing that keeps out rats, hawks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, wolves, weasels,

Contact Centrol for all your soil sampling needs for the 2023 season!

Standard Analysis, Complete Analysis or NutriScan™ Analysis.

inch, 6-24 inch and 24-42 inch depths

Composite or Variable Rate Sampling with prescription writing.

3 GPS guided trucks available.

the guesswork out of your fertility program with soil sampling from Centrol.

owned serving the

Triangle

Steer-A-Year program seeks donations for 2022-23 academic year

Montana State University’s Steer-A-Year program is seeking donations of steers and feed as well as financial support for the 2022-23 academic year.

A student program in MSU’s College of Agriculture combining academic courses with hands-on, technical experience, Steer-A-Year involves students in multiple aspects of raising cattle. Students spend the academic year feeding and managing steers, caring for them through the winter and spring, collecting data on feed efficiency and weight gain, and studying livestock marketing.

“Steer-A-Year is a valuable program for our students, as it gives them hands-on ex perience of raising cattle as well as proper preparation for their future careers,” said Hannah DelCurto-Wyffels, the program’s adviser and an instructor in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences. “There is so much to learn about the cattle industry and providing our students with a hands-on program of this caliber gives them the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.

Donated steers are housed at MSU’s Boz eman Agriculture Research and Teaching

Farm. After being cared for by the students through the academic year, the cattle are sold annually to MSU’s Culinary Services, and the meat is served in both on-campus dining halls, Miller and Rendezvous.

Proceeds from those sales support travel and other costs for various student teams and clubs in the College of Agriculture, as well as opportunities for students to meet with commodity groups and industry pro fessionals, such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Montana Stockgrow ers Association and the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, allowing for additional networking and learning opportunities

Steer-A-Year students raised 27 steers during the 2021-22 academic year, all of which were purchased by Culinary Services.

“There’s so much to like about this program, including the opportunities and experiences our students get, ensuring our Culinary Services team is serving Montana beef and providing our producers with valuable comparative information” said Carl Yeoman, head of the Department of Animal and Range Sciences. “Students

Increase profitability with sustainable chicken farming

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B7

snakes, and any other predators native to your area. A dog to guard your flock can also be a great idea.

Purchase Healthy Chicks

Sustainable poultry production also means watching out for your birds’ health. You’ll want to be sure to order baby chicks from an NPIP-certified hatchery because healthy chicks equal a healthy flock. You’ll also have the option to protect your chicks’ health with vaccinations against Marek’s Disease when you place your order.

Reuse and Recycle

You’re making your chicken farm more sustainable when ever you can use something twice or for another purpose for your flock. For instance, you can capture rainwater to keep your flock hydrated, use their manure to fertilize the land that will grow their food, and use their litter as fuel or for fertilizer for other crops.

No matter the specifics of your chicken farming method, you can be sure that adding one or more sustainable chicken farming practices will increase your chances of success. That’s because sustainable practices not only increase profits (because they decrease costs), they reduce reliance on cash flow and outside suppliers.

did the lightbulb say to its sweetheart?

wuv you a watt!

What do you call a sad strawberry?

blueberry!

The Great Northern Fair in Havre, Montana hosted the Hill County 4-H Fair on July 13-17,

One of the highlights of the 4-H Fair is the Round Robin competition.

year there were 3 Seniors and 5 Juniors in the competition.

left to right: Qualifiers, Senior 4-Hers - Mad elyn Myers (sheep); Stephen Preputin (swine); Evan Baker (beef); and Junior 4-Hers - Wesson Scovel (goat); Broke Myers (beef); Macy Barrett (horse); Savannah Schaumloeffel (swine); and Brea Sattoriva (sheep).

Steer-A-Year program seeks donations for 2022-23 academic year

caring for the cattle provide donors with regular reports on their donated animal’s growth and health, as well as detailed infor mation about meat quality after the steers are harvested.”

Awards are given annually to the pro ducer who donated the best initial feeder steer, the steer with the top rate of gain, the steer with the best feed efficiency and the steer that produces the best carcass.

“The opportunity for our students to interact with regional cattle producers is an irreplaceable and crucial experience,” DelCurto-Wyffels said. “The generosity of our supporters is truly what makes this program possible, and we thank them for investing in our students’ futures.”

DelCurto-Wyffels said that before dona tion, calves should be weaned, castrated and dehorned and weigh 500-800 pounds. The ideal pickup period for calves is during the first two weeks of November. Those inter ested in donating steers or feed, providing financial support or learning more about the Steer-A-Year program can contact Hannah DelCurto-Wyffels at 406-994-3752 or han nah.delcurto@montana.edu.

#####

God, where is that ringing sound coming from? My desk drawer? What’s my cell phone doing in there? Yep, another senior moment. God, please bless all my senior moments!

SOLD

DU helps reverse import ban of harvested game birds from Canada

The United States Department of Agri culture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), after several discussions with waterfowl scientists from Ducks Unlimited (DU), has revised their previous rule banning the import of game birds from Canada.

On September 8, 2022, DU provided sci ence-based information to USDA APHIS to advise their decision to revise import restric tions, while maintaining strong measures to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Under the new restrictions, unprocessed hunter-harvested wild game bird carcasses, originating from or transiting Canada, must meet the following conditions: Viscera, head, neck, feet, skin, and one wing have been removed; and Feathers have been removed, with the exception of one wing, as required by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for species identification; and Carcasses must be rinsed in fresh, clean, potable water prior to packaging and must not have visible evidence of contamination with dirt, blood, or feces; and Carcasses must be imported in leak-proof plastic packaging and stored in a leak-proof cooler or container during transport and import; and Carcasses must be chilled or frozen during transport and import.

USDA APHIS, making the case there’s little existing evidence this regulation would have meaningful impact on the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the U.S.

“We certainly understand and appreciate the importance of limiting the spread of HPAI in the U.S.,” said DU Senior Water fowl Scientist, Dr. Mike Brasher. “But based on data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service, U.S. hunters and their harvested birds imported from Canada pose relatively minimal risks in this regard. DU will use this opportunity to communicate with waterfowl hunters about these new import restrictions and USDA APHIS voluntary guidelines that will provide additional safeguards against the spread of HPAI this fall and winter.”

For more details on restriction criteria and additional USDA APHIS recommenda tions for hunters, please visit https://www. aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakehold er-info/sa_by_date/sa-2022/canada-wildbird-game-carcasses.

For more information, visit www.ducks. org, and be sure to Follow DU’s Twitter feed – @DucksUnlimited and @DUConserve –to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

#####

right tools make you the one to call when there’s a challenging job that needs done. That’s what Bobcat

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“We appreciate USDA’s willingness to hear the concerns from DU and revise this rule in a practical and scientific manner,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “This revision is not only a win for American waterfowlers but also for the application of sound science. Now, waterfowlers who’ve already departed north of the Canadian border have clear guid ance on how to limit the spread of HPAI and bring their harvested game birds back into the U.S. safely.”

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This decision reverses a previous APHIS regulation, announced on September 2, 2022, which immediately disallowed game birds taken by hunters in Canada from entering the United States, regardless of the province in which they were taken. Over the last week, DU scientists held several discussions with

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A golfer is having the round of his life. He’s consistently driving the ball down the middle of the fairway. His iron play is su perb. And his putter is on fire. For the first time in his life, he might actually break par as he stands on the 18th tee. As the weight of the moment hits him, he literally starts to shake. He proceeds to hook his tee shot into the woods. The man then duffs the next several shots and closes with a four-putt to blow the round. The frustrated man looks to his caddie and says, “What do you thnk about that finish?” To which the caddie replies, “I was about to call 9-1-1.” “Why would you do that?” the curious golfer asks. “Because it’s been years since I’ve seen a man choke like that.”

Addisyn Bengtson is no stranger to the cake decorating trophy at the Marias Fair, and this year was no different. Addisyn had the top senior and overall decorated foods exhibit and received a rosette for top Cake Decorating interview as well. Photo by Andrea Bengtson.

Home Repair Grant Limits increased

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director Kathleen Williams announced today increased grant limits available to homeowners needing to make important repairs to their homes. As a result of the Presidentially de clared Yellowstone flood disaster impacting Montana, grant limits have increased from $10,000 to $36,520 in Carbon, Flathead, Park, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure and Yel lowstone Counties.

“Many Montanans suffered significant personal and eco nomic losses from this flood event,” said Williams. “True to Montanans’ nature, neighbors and communities pulled together to help, and we at Montana Rural Development are honored to be able to offer this enhanced assistance for homeowners that may need it the most.”

Funding is available through Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Home Repair Loan and Grant (Home Re pair) program that helps income-eligible homeowners in rural communities make health and safety repairs to their homes.

Increased grant limits are only available until June 16, 2023, then grant limits will return to $10,000. To access the full increased amount, homeowners must apply by this date. In addition, one percent loans up to $40,000 are also avail able to assist with repairs and other home improvements.

Applicants for the Home Repair program must:

Own and occupy their home located in a rural area. All listed counties are considered eligible areas except for the City of Billings.

Have a household income at or below the county’s very low limit. For a family of four, the maximum income limits are: $39,700 in Flathead, Sweet Grass and Treasure Coun ties; $41,350 in Park County; $42,300 in Carbon, Stillwater and Yellowstone Counties.

Grant applicants must be age 62 or older, however there are no age restrictions on loan applicants.

For more information on this program or to apply, contact Kelvin Schanaman of USDA Rural Development Montana at (406) 371-2550.

USED TRACTOR

USED ROUND

Ford TW35 tractor. stk# 28433. (cons) (L)

Versatile

USED MISCELLANEOUS

Case SV340 skidsteer cab, A/C & heat, ISO control. stk# 29551. (L)

Big Jim BJ740 post pounder. stk# 28985. (G)

Canola Roller 34371 adapter 9-ft. stk#28550. (G)

JCB 84” snow thrower. stk# 27476. (G)

Gradall telehandler forks, hydraulic angle.stk# 24230.

Melroe 501 plow with Valmar. stk# 25282. (cons) (G)

Gysler 46-ft. plow and rotary harrow. stk# 28579. (cons) (L)

Chisel plow, 36-ft. stk# 20966. (G)

BALE PROCESSORS

Vermeer BP8000 round only. stk# 11240. (L) Highline 7000 round only. stk# 29332. (L) Degelman 4100 Bale King round or square. stk# 24628. (cons) (G)

USED COMBINES

New Holland TR98 combine. stk# 19692. (G) Massey Ferguson 8570 with 30-ft. header. stk# 9896. (G)

Case IH 2188 combine with 30-ft. header & 15-ft. pickup header. stk# 29206. (cons) (G)

Case IH 1660 combine. stk# 13168.(cons) (G)

Massey Ferguson 850 combine with 24-ft. header, air reel. stk # 22248. (cons) (G)

USED HEADER

MacDon FD75D 45-ft. header. stk# 29023. (L)

John

USED AIR DRILLS

(cons) (G)

Flexi-Coil air drill, 51-ft., 12” spacing with 2320 tank. stk# 18821. (cons) (G)

Melroe 284 drill, 36-ft., 12” spacing. stk# 18155. (cons) (G)

USED RAKES

H&S BF 12HC 12-wheel rake. stk# 26868. (L)

Sitrex MK16 wheel rake with single casters. stk# 29763.

class June 30.

led the first aid and CPR portions from

offered with Blackfeet EMS, with over

County Health Department for

youth

Fall 2022 seed guide available

By Dr. Amanda Easterly, Research Assistant Professor at the High Plains Ag Lab; Dr. Brian Maust, Research Technologist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture; Dr. Cody Creech, Associate Professor and Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist, PREEC; Dr. Katherine Frels, Assistant Professor of Small Grains Breeding, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture

Results of the 2022 UNL Crops Testing Winter Wheat tri als are now available in the 2022 Fall Seed Guide. It can be found at cropwatch.unl.edu/varietytest and includes details on yield, protein, test weight, ratings for disease character istics, location summaries and weather information.

Contacts for individual seed companies are provided to assist farmers in identifying certified seed growers. Trial ef forts in winter wheat were led by Drs. Cody Creech, Brian Maust, and Amanda Easterly. Also included in the publica tion are results summaries of barley and triticale advanced yield trials, conducted by Dr. Katherine Frels, the small grains breeder.

This year’s inaugural cover photo contest winner was Dr. Sandeep Sakhale, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The image features the variety trial plots at Mark Knobel’s farm near Fairbury.

Despite a dry year in 2021, fall emergence of the winter wheat trials across the state was excellent and we experi enced very little winterkilling. Early spring green up was also promising across the state, leading to early season predictions that winter wheat yields were going to hold steady.

However, as the drought continued, the conditions deterio rated. In addition, hailstorms affected many parts of the state and trials were lost to hail at Clay, Red Willow/Hitchcock, Gosper, Deuel, and Box Butte Counties.

A late spring freeze during heading also impacted wheat yields, particularly for earlier-heading varieties. In the Pan handle, wheat stem sawfly pressure further impacted yield and performance and resistance to sawfly continues to be a trait that the Crops Testing team monitors in the varieties tested.

Locations for which the data was lost to hail or too severe ly impacted by the freeze damage has not been published, and we strongly recommend that growers make decisions based on multi-year and multi-location averages.

Furthermore, we encourage growers to diversify their variety selections and obtain seed as quickly as possible. Certified seed growers were impacted by the same difficult conditions and seed inventories are expected to be in short supply.

Lastly, we encourage growers to reach out to local Ex tension and Industry partners with questions about local growing conditions and optimizing fall planting for the continued drought. Members of the Crops Testing Team can be reached via email with questions regarding the results and interpretation at ccreech2@unl.edu, bmaust2@unl.edu, or aeasterly2@unl.edu.

Testing would not be possible without the support of our cooperators across the state, who graciously share land to conduct the trials, host field tours, and manage the sites for high quality data. We would also like to thank the Agricul tural Research Division, Nebraska Wheat Board, UNL Ex tension, and the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture.

LET’S

Deadline extended and more pre-filled forms for 2020 and 2021 disasters

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will indefinitely extend the deadline for producers to return the pre-filled applications for Phase One of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). A new deadline will be announced after the last Phase One applications are mailed and provide at least 30 days following the mailing.

Continuing to build on the initial mail ing of pre-filled applications in May, the Department will continue using existing information in USDA and crop insurance files to send additional pre-filled applica tions starting this week for potentially eligible Noninsured Crop Disaster Assis tance Program (NAP) participants. Once applications from eligible NAP producers are returned, these producers are expected to receive about $105 million in ERP pay ments for eligible losses from 2020 and 2021 disasters.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now mailing pre-filled applications to NAP producers through ERP to offset crop yield and value losses. To receive a relief pay ment, producers should complete and return the applications by announced deadlines.

Producers are expected to receive assis tance direct deposited into their bank ac count within three business days after they sign and return the prefilled application to the FSA county office and the county offices enters the application into the system.

While most crop insurance customers that may be eligible for ERP Phase One received the pre-filed applications in May, there are some who should expect to receive a form in August including:

Producers who had an eligible loss in 2020 that had been recorded in the crop insurance records as a 2019 loss (e.g., pre vented planting claims); and Producers with policies that required additional information before being able to calculate an indemnity for 2021 losses (producers with 2020 losses would have already received that application). Poli cies that required additional information include Supplemental Coverage Option

(SCO), Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO), Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX), Margin Protection Plan (MP) or Area Risk Protection Insurance (ARPI).

Producers without risk management cov erage through crop insurance or NAP and those with shallow losses may be covered by the forthcoming Phase Two of ERP.

“Catastrophic natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 decimated crops, livestock and farm infrastructure from coast to coast, making it critically important to provide as sistance quickly and reduce the paperwork burden on these farmers and ranchers recov ering from disaster,” said FSA Administra tor Zach Ducheneaux. “I was in North Da kota a few weeks ago and received feedback on how well the streamlined livestock and crop disaster programs are working for our producers and front-line employees. Like any new process, there are some kinks to work out, but we are addressing them and will use the streamlined process to keep the ‘red tape’ to a minimum.”

USDA estimates that Phase One ERP benefits will reach more than 5,200 produc ers with NAP coverage for eligible 2020 and 2021 crop losses. This emergency relief complements ERP assistance recently pro vided to more than 162,000 producers who had received crop insurance indemnities for qualifying losses. Nearly 13,000 additional crop insurance customers will also receive pre-filled applications in August to cover eligible 2020 losses described above and for producers with more complex policies where indemnities could not be calculated for 2021 previously.

ERP and the previously announced Emer gency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) are funded by the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency As sistance Act, which President Biden signed into law in 2021. The law provided $10 billion to help agricultural producers im pacted by wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, winter storms and other eligible disasters experienced during calendar years 2020 and 2021. Overall, USDA has already

Brad and Jacob Hjartarson were excited to show their poultry projects off at the 2022 Marias Fair. Jacob exhibited the Grand Champion Hen or Pullet and was also the Grand Champion Poultry showman. Photo by Bess Hjartarson.

Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, aka Chief Joseph

Born in 1840 in what is now Oregon, Joseph the Younger (also called Chief Joseph) had some big shoes to fill. His father Joseph the Elder, had converted to Christianity in 1838 in an attempt to make peace with white settlers. His father’s efforts seemed to work, for his Nez Perce people were given land in Idaho. But in 1863, the U.S. government took the land back, and Joseph the Elder burned his Bible and his flag and refused to sign any new treaties. After Joseph suc ceeded his father as tribal chief in 1871, he agreed to move his people to the now smaller reservation in Idaho but never made it. They came under attack by white soldiers, fought back, and then dealt with the wrath of the government. In an impressive battle, 700 Native Americans fought 2,000 U.S. soldiers successfully until Joseph surrendered in 1877. Joseph died in 1904.

For more information on ERP eligibility, program provi sions for socially disadvantaged or historically underserved producers as well as Frequently Asked Questions, NAP applicants

visit FSA’s Emergency Relief webpage and program fact sheet.

Additional USDA disaster assistance information can be found on farmers.gov, including the Disaster Assistance Dis covery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet and Farm Loan Discovery Tool. For FSA and Natural Resources Conserva tion Service programs, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

1997 John Deere 8200T tractor with new 18” tracks, 20 weights $57,000

1989 John Deere 4455 MFD tractor, 12 weights $43,000

1978 Hough H65 loader, 3-yard with forks $9000

1978 International 4300 dump truck, 12-yard $3500

1981 Freightliner, Cat engine, 5th wheel $4500

1978 International Transtar II, 400 Cummins Big Cam II $5500

1982 40-ft. utility flatbed trailer $4200

1987 Farmbed 42-ft. bulk trailer, roll tarp $9500

Mack RL700L with Mack V8. For restoration $4000

1954 GM military truck 21/2-ton, 302, 20-ft. bulk, 1200x20 $1800

1973 Ford F700 truck, 20-ft. flatbed $3200

1974 International 1600 truck, 16-ft. flatbed and hoist $2600

1976 GMC 6000 truck, 16-ft. flatbed and hoist $3400

1974 Ford 750 truck, 16-ft. grain box, 4-ft. steel sides $2900

1959 GMC truck with 4 fuel tanks, 2 pumps $2900

1985 International 6200 drill, 7” spacing, double disc, 14ft. $3200

1995 SprayAir field sprayer, 3-point, 60-ft. boom, air & fan nozzles $12,000

1982 International offset disc, 14-ft. x 22” blades $7000

1984 Gleaner N6 combine, 29-ft. header $12,000

1986 International 1482 combine, PTO, 16-ft. header, 12ft. belt pickup $11,000

Phone (406) 490-3795, Anaconda, Montana

They may be spooky, but spiders are good for the garden

By Maddy Rohr, K-State Research and Extension news service

Many people view spiders as pests, and the fear of spiders is one of the most com mon phobias among Americans. To their credit, however, they provide a great service to the home garden.

Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said spiders feed on insects that could harm flower beds and vegetable plants, making them valuable to any gardener.

“There are two common species of gar den spiders in Kansas that are active during the day,” Upham said. “The yellow garden spider and banded garden spider.”

The yellow garden spider has a black ab domen with yellow markings and black legs with a yellow or red band, Upham said. The banded garden spider has continuous bands across the abdomen and legs, alternating white and dark with orange and black bands on the legs. Both spiders spin large webs in the usual spider web shape.

To capture insects, garden spiders utilize vibrations that pass through the web from

prey. They have poor eyesight, making them extremely sensitive to the vibrations.

Upham recommends leaving garden spi ders alone because of their benefits to the garden, and they are harmless to humans.

Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.

Interested persons can also send their garden and yard-related questions to Upham at mailto:wupham@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.

#####

Focus! Focus! I feel your reminders each day, dear God. Good thing since I almost tried to bake a cake in the freezer and freeze a batch of cookies in the oven.

EAT Family Style at Home

Life is busy, especially for families. From late-night work meetings to school events and extracurriculars, families are on the go. This can often lead to rushed meals or meals on the go. With hectic schedules, it is important to plan relaxed family mealtimes into your schedule as often as possible. There are several benefits to relaxed family meals that in clude: the development of positive eating habits, creation of stronger parent-child bonds, and better school performance. The University of Nebraska’s EAT Family Style at Home website supports families with quick, easy, and fun ways to make mealtimes healthy, enjoyable, and less stressful for everyone.

You can find the EAT Family Style at Home’s website by going to https://child.unl.edu and looking under the Family Resources tab. The website is divided into six main areas: positive mealtimes, recipe stories, cooking with kids, spark conversations, activities by age group and family resources.

The Positive Mealtimes section offers tips for making mealtimes relaxed, appealing, and less stressful. A few high lights from this tab are seven tips to help picky eaters and tips on handling food refusal. The Recipe Stories section offers tried-and-tasted, easy family recipes that bring back memo ries of good times together. In addition to traditional recipes, there are tips on packing a cooler, and how to organize your pantry. The Cooking with Kids section offers simple ageappropriate activities for children to help with in the kitchen.

Some additional information in this section includes steps to helping children learn how to serve themselves and helping kids learn how to set the table. The Spark Conversations sec tion offers ideas for conversation starters for talking around the dinner table. Additional information found in this section is supporting children’s self-regulation in eating and using praise effectively.

The Activities by age section is broken down into activities, recipes, and useful information for preschoolers, school-ages, adolescent, and all age groups. The Family Resources sec tion has ideas and resources that help to make food fun for young children and families through additional helpful tips and recipes. Each of these six main sections offer important information and helpful tips though videos and downloadable handouts. EAT Family Style at Home hopes to help create memorable mealtimes for families through these useful resources.

Sequoyah

If it weren’t for Sequoyah, a huge piece of Native Ameri can culture might be missing. Thanks to this Cherokee born around 1766, the Cherokee language is not a mystery. Sequoyah created the syllabary, or syllable alphabet, for his people and taught the Cherokee how to read and write. The ability to communicate via the written word helped make the Cherokee Nation a leader among tribes everywhere. The giant sequoia tree is named after the man who felt that the pen would outlast the sword.

Watching for wasps

By Maddy Rohr, K-State Research and Extension news service

Yellow jacket wasps are increasing in numbers as they scavenge for food this fall until cold weather arrives. Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham encourages those outdoors to be careful as wasps can sting if agitated.

“Yellow jacket wasps are three-fourths of an inch long and closely resemble bees from a distance,” Upham said. “Bees have more hair and are duller in color.”

Wasps look for food near compost piles rather than flow ers, and especially sugary liquids such as soda.

If a nest is found, it is best to avoid the area as wasps can be more aggressive near the nest, Upham said.

While they are known for unfriendly behavior, wasps are beneficial to their environment, feeding on soft body insects like caterpillars and sawfly larvae. Upham encourages not destroying nests unless they present a danger to people.

“Rather, concentrate on removing food sources near areas you frequent,” he said.

Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horti culture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.

Interested persons can also send their garden and yardrelated questions to Upham at wupham@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.

That certain something

Historians agree that the development of agriculture around 10,000 B.C. was the “something” that led to civi lization. There is a strong correlation between agriculture, population size and density, and social complexity. Once agriculture began, human populations were increasingly tied to the land. They could no longer be nomadic, moving around at different time of the year and setting up temporary villages. As people continued to stay in once place and social relationships became more hierarchical, permanent villages developed into cities.

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Making butter-like spreads healthier

Jan Suszkiw, ARS

A dollop of margarine or spread can go a long way to livening up a slice of toast, a piping hot ear of corn or other food. But that enhanced flavor can also come with a side helping of worry over consuming saturated fats, which are used as solidifying agents in some margarines and spreads and give them their butter-like properties.

Jill Moser and Hong-Sik Hwang, research chemists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Peoria, Illinois, want to create a healthier product by replacing those fats with plant-based and other natural waxes—sunflower, rice bran, candelilla and beeswax, among them. They do this by melting the waxes in hot vegetable oil and letting it cool to room temperature. This results in a semi-solid substance called an oleogel. When mixed with water, salt and other ingredients, the oleogel mimics the role of saturated fat in producing a margarine, spread or shortening that has the desired firmness, mouthfeel, melting point, shelf-life and other properties, including when used in baked goods.

Artificial trans fats (those not naturally present in meat and dairy products but rather created via a chemical process called partial hydrogenation) were once the popular choice for making margarines, spreads and shortening. However, artificial trans fats were phased out of use in 2021 over concerns their consumption can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Saturated fats without a trans structure, such as from palm oil and fully hydrogenated vegetable oil, are among the replacements now used to make margarine, spreads and shortening. Consumers, though, are advised to limit their intake of saturated fats from foods or beverages that contain them.

Using wax-based oleogels, “we think 100 percent of the saturated fats can be replaced, including saturated fat in palm oil and fully hydrogenated vegetable oil,” said Hwang, who, together with Moser, is located at the ARS center’s Functional Foods Research Unit in Peoria.

The wax-based oleogels are made of a network of platelike crystals that immobilize molecules of oil in a gel state that mimics the function of solid saturated fat in margarines and spreads—minus the associated human-health concerns.

To date, the researchers have created oleogel formulations from four different natural waxes and 12 different kinds of vegetable oils, including soy and, most recently, hemp seed oil, which is rich in beneficial polyunsaturated fats and an tioxidants, including Vitamin E.

Of the waxes they’ve worked with, sunflower and rice bran seem to work best in creating margarines and spreads that compare to those made from fully hydrogenated (saturated) vegetable oil. Very little wax is needed, too. In one experi ment, between 2 and 6 percent of sunflower wax was needed to create an oleogel that was nearly as firm as margarine containing 18 to 30 percent of saturated soy oil.

Oleogel ingredients can come from a variety of sources, but those derived from plant waxes are especially of interest because they are “generally recognized as safe” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are abundant and inex pensive. Sunflower waxes, for example, are waste products generated from refinery procedures used to remove impuri ties from crude oil in the flowering crop’s seed. Similarly, rice bran waxes are waste byproducts of husk-oil refining methods.

The researchers continue to refine the oleogel formula tions, for example, by blending different waxes with oils to achieve the very best combination of properties expected in a margarine or spread. Their efforts and collaboration with industry are part of a larger research effort at the ARS center to usher in new, value-added uses for both established crops such as corn and soybeans and newer ones such as penny cress and hemp that will benefit producers and consumers alike.

Geronimo

Historical figures are often described with embellish ment, but rarely are they mythologized to Geronimo’s lev els. Geronimo’s wife, children, and mother were killed by Mexicans in 1858. He led many attacks on both Mexican and American settler and was known for his legendary war skills–some even said he was impervious to bullets. But late in life, this fearless leader of the Chiricahua tribe of the North American Apache was forced to settle on a reservation, his group having dwindled to just a few people. He died a prisoner of war in 1909.

Erika Kujava, Ashlyn Brown, Peyton Volkman, Brant Blonde and Corin Brown helped serve up appetizers and samples of lamb, beef, pork, and goat to buyers at the fair pre-sale social. Photo by Kari Lewis.

Janae Roberts keeps a concentrated look on the beef judge during her first year showing steers where she earned a purple ribbon in the market and showmanship divisions. Janae also had exhibits in beef breeding, babysitting, cooking, market swine, photography, and archery. She was named the overall High Point 4-Her of the Marias Fair, earning an extra $300 for her efforts. Photo by Kari Lewis.

After a tough competition between the good sports of Eric Morrisett, Andy Van Haur, Travis Clark, Stefanie Leach, Jesse Fulbright, and Jeremy Curry, the top 2 vote getters for Hadley Barbie’s ‘Kiss the Pig’ contest were Jesse Fulbright, Liberty County Extension Agent, and Jeremy Curry, Livestock Committee president. Jeremy’s bucket had $488.21 of ‘votes’ in it, winning him the honor of applying some lipstick to Katelyn Suta’s pig and giving it a quick peck to start off the 2022 Marias Fair livestock sale! In total, $1,057.86 was raised for Hadley Barbie’s trip to National 4-H Congress that she earned from her win at Montana 4-H Congress in Career Communications. Photo by Kari Lewis.

Wildfire smoke’s influence on potato crops

A two-year study by Boise State University and University of Idaho probes how wildfire smoke affects potato crops and seeks to identify smoke-resilient potato varieties.

Farmers know potato crops grown during seasons of heavy, extended wildfire smoke generally have smaller yields and worse quality. Past studies have identified some smoke components, such as ozone, that could impair potato growth, but limited research has largely left the underlying chemical relationships unexplained. This work tests industry’s smokeharm theory in controlled environments, allowing research ers to investigate the effects individual smoke compounds impart on Idaho’s flagship crop.

“Observations from industry started all of this. When we have had bad, smoky years, yields are down and processing quality is down. Our hypothesis is smoke exposure causes that,” said Mike Thornton, a professor in U of I’s Depart ment of Plant Sciences.

Thornton and Boise State Chemistry Department Chair Owen McDougal are analyzing smoke’s chemical effects on potatoes. The study also evaluates if certain potato variet ies are more immune to smoke’s damage. Researchers will present preliminary findings this winter at potato industry meetings. Full results are expected for release after the 2023 harvest.

The existing understanding of smoke’s influence on pota toes points to a mixed bag. Several smoke components are suspected to affect potato crops, such as brown and black carbon, volatile organic compounds and even disease spores. Smoke reduces available light and raises nighttime humidity — worsening environmental conditions for potato growth. But other parts of smoke, such as carbon dioxide, may be advantageous for plants.

“This is the first time, at least in our review of academic research, that anybody has tried to do this on a large scale,” Thornton said.

The new research involves subjecting three potato variet ies — Clearwater, Alturas and Russet Burbank — to smoke emitted from pine needles, sage brush and wood. Burnt in a commercial smoker attached to a mixing drum, the blend attempts to emulate wildfire smoke. The smoke is piped to potato plots, where plastic covers trap smoke in with plants, while other control potato plants grow in a smoke-free envi ronment to let researchers compare outcomes. Daily potato smoke treatment at the U of I Parma Research and Extension Center began July 11 and ended August 18.

The two-year project is funded by $125,000 from the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, authorized by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

McDougal, director of the Boise State Food and Dairy Innovation Center, will oversee chemical analysis into pos sible changes potatoes experience from smoke exposure. Analysis occurs immediately after harvest, after six months in storage and after the potatoes are turned into frozen fries.

“It will tell us what differences there are between a control and a treatment potato so we can pinpoint which metabolites — chemicals within a potato — change due to exposure to smoke,” McDougal said.

Fries analyzed for the experiment will be processed at the U of I Food Technology Center in Caldwell.

Noticing potatoes don’t seem to store well after intense wildfire years, McCain Foods lent expertise toward the project. Representatives from U of I, McCain Foods and Boise State serve on an advisory committee that oversees the research project.

Thornton anticipates applying similar research methods in future seasons to replicate the smoke study with other crops, including onions.

Tatanka-lyotanka, aka Sitting Bull

The principal chief of the Dakota Sioux was less than forgiving of the white miners who tried to take over the Black Hills in the late 1870s. Sitting Bull was born in 1831, and his big moment came in 1876. Trying to protect their land, Sitting Bull and his men defeated Custer’s troops at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Sitting Bull then escaped to Canada. In 1881, he returned to America on the promise of a pardon, which he received. The legendary warrior than joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, exhibiting his riding skills and hunting prowess. When he died in a gunfight with federal troops at age 69, Sitting Bull was still advising his people to hold on to their heritage.

Glacier County 4-Hers attending the Multi-County 4-H camp at Camp Kiwanis in June included: (Back Row) Ken Winkowitsch, Brad Hjartarson, Ethan Brown, Hadley Barbie, Jed Winkowitsch, and Jacob Hjartarson, Middle Row – Bodie Barbie, Emily Roberts, Sammie McCauley, Janae Rob erts, Kaida Kaquatosh, Will Suta, Miles Geer, Hadley Barbie, Brody Stokes, Ashlyn Brown, and Josalyn Wilder, Front Row – Corin Brown, Alec Morrisett, and Mac McCauley. Not pictured – Lexi Stubbs. Jed, Ken, Jacob, Brad, Josalyn, Ashlyn, and Hadley served as camp counselors organizing activities, workshops, and keeping morale up through the last day of camp which included solid rain. Photo by Kari Lewis.

Mac McCauley, Kale Stokes, Sammie McCauley, and Emily Roberts were a competitive class of pre-junior sheep showmen at the Marias Fair. Photo by Kari Lewis.

First year 4-Her, Mac McCauley, shared his swine project details with Rachel Brown, swine interview judge. In addition to Mac’s market lamb and market swine projects, he also exhibited leathercraft at the Marias Fair. Photo by Kari Lewis.

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Jay Bodner honored as Outstanding Agricultural Leader

By Meaghan MacDonald-Pool, MSU News Service

Jay Bodner, division administrator for the Montana Department of Livestock Brands Enforcement Division, has been named the 2022 Outstanding Agricultural Leader on behalf of Montana State University’s College of Agriculture and Montana Ag ricultural Experiment Station. The public is invited to honor Bodner at a breakfast to be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 22, during the college’s annual Celebrate Agriculture Weekend October 21 and 22.

The award is given annually to indi viduals or couples who are engaged and well-respected in the state’s agricultural community. Recipients are those who have impacted many people with their accom plishments, have a lifetime of achievement in agriculture, are industry leaders or inno vative producers and are actively involved in the agricultural community.

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“We are thrilled to honor Jay as this year’s Outstanding Agricultural Leader,” said Sreekala Bajwa, MSU’s vice president of agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture. “Jay embodies everything this award stands for. Through two decades of work with key associations in the state and lobbying, Jay strives to help the cattle in dustry thrive and continues to play a crucial role in the state’s economy and beyond.”

Bodner was nominated by numerous individuals and organizations, including the Montana Stockgrowers Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Montana Department of Livestock. He has been described as someone who works with everyone from local, state and federal of ficials to ranchers and industry leaders and has a proven record of impacting agricul tural policy for over two decades. Bodner is revered as an individual who serves cattle producers with dedication, passion and collaboration, according to his nominators.

“This is certainly a surprise. When I look at the list of past winners of this award and can now be in that category is very special and very much an honor,” Bodner said.

In the brands division, Bodner helps administer brand records, annual livestock inspections, investigations and more func tions that help continue the strong integrity and compliance of the division.

Prior to the Department of Livestock, Bodner spent 20 years with the Montana Stockgrowers Association. He was execu tive vice president of the association in 2018 and had previously served as the director of natural resources since March 2002. During his tenure as director of natural resources, Bodner focused on policy and natural re sources issues as MSGA’s lead lobbyist. He was the executive secretary for the Montana Association of State Grazing Districts as well as the secretary and treasurer for the Montana Public Lands Council from 2002 to 2018.

As executive vice president of the Mon tana Stockgrowers Association, Bodner worked on policy and natural resources

with an additional focus on organizational effectiveness. He was engaged in issues most heavily impacting the agriculture industry, such as the “Waters of the United States” portion of the Clean Water Act, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Compact, market transparency, tax relief and trade issues.

In one nomination letter, Bodner is de scribed as someone whose view of the cattle industry is more than just ensuring the needs of Montana producers.

As an example, Bodner does a lot of work regarding brucellosis in cattle, an infectious disease caused by bacteria that spreads rap idly from infected animals. He has worked with state agencies, the National Park Ser vice, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Congress and other groups to bring aware ness to the disease and help find better ways to manage it.

“Jay also understands the national and global view of cattle and beef production,” the letter continues. “I find this to be a rare trait in our industry, so this just further so lidifies Jay’s role as a national agricultural leader.”

Outside of his work with the Montana Department of Livestock, Bodner is in volved in his community as well as his family’s ranch near Raynesford. Along with his brother, John, the family continues to run cattle and operate the fourth-generation ranch. Bodner was a 4-H program leader for many years, coached youth sports teams, helped develop a community park for a local school and more.

“I certainly think it’s important to be a good community servant,” Bodner said. “Everybody is busy in their lives, but if you can take a little time to provide for your community, that goes a long way.”

“I have tremendous respect for Jay, and I know firsthand how his leadership and engagement has protected the rights of cattle producers in Montana and across the United States,” read one nomination letter.

“He is a true ambassador for Montana, and his ability to identify problems and craft solutions has made him an influencer whose knowledge is sought out by others. I have no reservation in saying that the U.S. cattle industry is better because of Jay Bodner’s leadership and engagement.”

Civil War–Era Presidents

Fought primarily by young people, wars exert great influ ence in shaping a person’s character and sometimes even his or her life path. The Civil War was no exception, serving as a proving ground for no fewer than six U.S. presidents.

Ulysses S. Grant

Grant rose to prominence during the war and was elected president in 1868 based on his service. He ran as a Repub lican in the first presidential election to follow his victory at Appomattox.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Almost 40 when the war broke out, Hayes volunteered and nearly lost his left arm to a musket ball in 1861. Follow ing a miraculous recovery, he saw action in the Shenandoah Valley and ended the war as a major general. In 1877, he became president.

James Garfield Garfield served under General Don Carlos Buell in Ken tucky and at the Battle of Shiloh. In early 1862, he person ally led a charge that drove Confederate troops out of the eastern part of the state. He left the army after the Battle of Chickamauga to take a seat in Congress in 1863, and he was elected president in 1880. Shortly after he took office, however, he was assassinated.

Chester A. Arthur

Although Arthur served the Union cause, he was nowhere near the front lines. He served as quartermaster general for the state of New York and was thus responsible for obtain ing and delivering supplies to New York soldiers. He was ultimately awarded the rank of brigadier general. Elected vice president in 1880, he became president upon James Garfield’s death.

Benjamin Harrison

Harrison raised a unit of volunteers in the Indiana Infantry and served as their colonel, later receiving a brevet promo tion to general. Harrison was elected president in 1888, interrupting Grover Cleveland’s two nonconsecutive terms.

William McKinley

The bloodiest single day of the war occurred at Antietam in 1862. Serving as a wagon driver under heavy enemy fire was one Sergeant William McKinley from Ohio. In the heat of the battle, he coolly drove two mule teams into the field at considerable personal peril to disperse food rations to hungry troops. His bravery that day won him a promotion to second lieutenant by his commanding officer–Rutherford B. Hayes. McKinley was elected president in 1896 and 1900.

Grover Cleveland

The one Civil War-era president who didn’t serve in the miliary was Grover Cleveland. His widowed mother’s sole support, Cleveland hired a substitute to serve in his place. Although perfectly legal, this didn’t endear him to Grand Army of the Republic veterans who were quite politically influential during Cleveland’s burgeoning political career. Nevertheless, he won election in 1884 and 1892.

How can we improve soil health in potato cropping systems?

Taking a systems approach can steadily improve soil health even with underground

Minimizing soil disturbance is one of the key tenets promoted to build soil health in agricultural systems. Many farmers across the country have adopted reduced and notill systems to build soil carbon, a central component to healthy soils. The Soil Sci ence Society of America’s (SSSA) August 1st Soils Matter blog explores options to improve soil health for crops that grow underground – like potatoes.Cover crop of a grass-clover mixture in green field

According to soil scientist and blogger Deirdre Griffin-LaHue, in the US, overall, the potato industry was a $4 billion industry in 2020. Americans will eat their potatoes fresh, frozen, fried, chipped, canned, and dehydrated. Potato products are also used as food ingredients, like potato starch.

Potatoes are a valuable crop in Washing ton state. It is the second leading producer of potatoes in the United States (after neigh boring Idaho). Central Washington grows Russet potatoes primarily for french fries and other processed potato products. North western Washington is known for colorful,

typically grown in a par ticular field every 3-5 years. Soil improvement strategies are really focused on what happens before and after the potato crop.

One practice many grow ers are experimenting with is using cover crops. Cover crops are grown between cash crops to provide agro ecosystem benefits relat ed to 3 of the 4 main soil health principles: cover the soil, increase diversity, and maximize continuous liv ing roots, which help feed microorganisms in the soil.

Farmers in the area are using two methods. One is winter cover crops, planted in fall and terminated in spring. The other is multiyear cover crops that are mowed and continuously provide organic carbon in puts to the soil.

Washington’s cold, wet fall and spring seasons can be a challenge to establish ing winter cover crops. This is due to harvesting potatoes through October. But hav ing cover crops between all other rotational crops may still benefit the soil.

The team is also study ing potato-growing systems that reduce soil disturbance. They are looking at whether it’s both feasible and ben eficial to rotate in wheat or barley planted with no-till seeders. Minimizing soil disturbance between potato crops could improve soil health and future potato yields.

Ultimately, growers need to take a systems approach to improving soil health with potatoes and with any crop. It is not just about one crop. It’s about how the whole cropping system is managed over time. By find ing those intervention points to introduce a soil-building practice, growers can steadi ly improve soil health even with underground crops.

fresh-market potatoes.

The potato industry in Washington rec ognizes the importance of healthy soils for long-term, sustainable production of the crop. One issue with growing potatoes: they are a tuber crop, growing belowground. Thus, planting and harvesting them disturbs the soil more than a crop like wheat or barley, which are harvested aboveground. Growers and researchers are working on strategies to promote soil health in this typi cally high disturbance system.

Through Washington’s new Soil Health Initiative, Griffin-LaHue’s team and col laborators recently set up a long-term rotational experiment to explore some of these strategies in potato-based systems. The strategies represent the typical rotations and soils of the area. The trial is designed with methods that use changing levels of: soil disturbance (i.e., tillage), organic matter inputs, internal (cover crops and residues) and, external (compost).

This allows the team to study multiple soil health principles and how they interact with one another.

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How do crop plants combat athogens?

By Scott Elliott, ARS Office of Communications

Fungal pathogens represent a large and economically sig nificant challenge to crops worldwide. The challenge is so great, in fact, diseases caused by fungal pathogens can cause crop losses of 10-20% (worth $100-$200 billion) each year.

Historically, a variety of biological, chemical, and me chanical methods have been used to fight fungal diseases, said Roger Wise, a plant geneticist with the ARS Corn In sects and Crop Genetics Research unit in Ames, IA. Lately, though, researchers have focused on molecular methods to develop disease-resistant crops, which would reduce the need for, and damage caused by, chemical fungicides.

For these methods to be effective and durable, researchers need a thorough understanding of the molecular interactions between crops and their pathogens. To achieve that, largescale sequencing of genomes now provides unprecedented access to the networks that underlie plant-pathogen interac tions. Wise said it’s like using an online app to find a specific street address anywhere in the world.

“In this case,” he explained, “you could look at the United States as equivalent to all plant-pathogen interactions; then zoom down to a particular state, which would be like a spe cific farm; then zoom in further to a county, which would be a particular plant; then down to the city, which would be a cell within the plant; and finally zoom in to the street ad dress – the specific subcellular compartment.”

Wise and his team of researchers are using these power ful genomic technologies to study how powdery mildew, a fungus that can reduce crop yields by as much as 40%, affects barley and wheat at the molecular level. “Much of the research centers on effectors, or proteins, secreted by the fungus that sabotage or weaken plant defenses and how they interact with host protein targets to cause disease,” he said.

In collaboration with Iowa State University, Wise used custom “big data” methods to identify over 66,000 proteinprotein interactions and then modeled cellular responses to powdery mildew infection (big data refers to very large, diverse sets of information that are analyzed using com putational methods to reveal new patterns, trends, and as sociations). In the process, they identified 15 new barley mildew-interacting proteins that they predict will localize to five diverse cellular locations over the course of infection.

“These results anchor new disease-resistance interactions within the cell during immune response and will enable fu ture work to understand key components of disease defense,” Wise said. “This will promote new investigations from lab to fields, which will be critical to breeders and growers to produce better crops.”

Soybeans for forage

By Brad Schick, Extension Educator, UNL

With drought plaguing Nebraska and surrounding states this year, producers may want to salvage soybeans as forage instead of for grain. Many can remember when soybeans were only used for forage many decades ago, so it can defi nitely be done

Grazing, haying or ensiling can all be done with soybean plants. Grazing is very simple and has a relatively low risk of bloat; however, if there are many bean seeds themselves, high oil consumption can cause issues in cattle, especially calves. Young calves should not be allowed access to beans. For mature cattle, providing some grass hay can help reduce this risk. Use strip grazing to force the use of the entire plant.

Hay from soybeans will have a similar quality to that of alfalfa. However, drying and rolling up hay is difficult with soybeans. The leaves become very fragile while the stems can take a long time to dry. Crimp the stem heavily and resist the urge to rake the windrow unless done only one day after cutting to limit leaf shatter

Soybean silage is easier than haying. The moisture content needs to be between 60% and 70%. In the past, soybean silage has been packing while corn silage is being packed at a ratio of one ton soybean silage to three or four tons corn silage. This improves fermentation and will make the overall silage pile have higher crude protein. If doing only soybean silage in a pile, wait until the leaves begin to turn yellow and be sure to use an inoculant. Adding a bushel of rolled corn per ton of silage can help fermentation and as always, be sure to get a very good pack.

Using soybeans other than for grain can be done. Be sure to make a plan and stick to it for the best results.

Solar flares, other activity may disrupt GPS signals

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service

Among the many issues farmers must balance when planting or harvesting crops, one would think that the sun’s energy is not one of those.

Terry Griffin thinks differently.

That’s because Griffin – a precision agriculture econo mist with K-State Research and Extension – has studied the potential impact of space weather on agriculture, and specifically how solar flares and other activities in the solar system affect GPS signals to farm equipment.

The bottom line: “Space weather does impact our ability to use GPS for agricultural purposes,” he said.

In fact, in a paper now available from K-State’s Depart ment of Agricultural Economics, Griffin concludes that U.S. farmers stand to lose big if they no longer have access to GPS technology, also known internationally as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

“If we assume that we lose GNSS access for an entire year, it could be a billion dollar loss in efficiency just for the Midwest,” Griffin said.

The agriculture industry has evidence to show the effec tiveness of using GPS monitors on planting and harvesting equipment. Decades ago, Griffin notes, farmers would use visual row markers to guide those two chores.

“GPS guidance was cheaper than having physical row markers,” Griffin said. “It became one of those technologies that was just a good idea.

“Fast forward to today and we have planters that are really big and we do not have markers on those. So what would happen if we did not have access to GPS on the day we are trying to plant?”

The answer: “We would have inefficiencies. We can still do some things, but just not as efficiently. Add all those (inefficiencies) up across large regions, and it becomes a lot of money.”

Griffin admits there is nothing that humans can do about events on the sun, or other space phenomena that affect satellite signals, so the most sensible approach for farmers is to plan for the unexpected.

“Ask yourself, ‘how would I do things if I did not have access to GPS? And do I have a Plan B?’” Griffin said

“I’m not suggesting farmers go out and buy row markers for all of the 48 row planters out there, but I am suggesting having a conversation with their partners, service providers, manufacturers and dealers about things they can actually get done if they don’t have a GPS (signal).”

Alfalfa evaluation and renovation

By Ben Beckman, Extension Educator, UNL

Were you expecting more from your alfalfa yields this year or had a disappointing spring seeding? Is it time to renovate or move on?

Before we make any decisions, measuring our stand to accurately determine health is our first step. We can either measure plants or stems per square foot, but stem count will more accurately predict yield. To assess, take a 17x17-inch square or a 19-inch diameter circle and set it down in a field. Count the plants or stems that would be harvested, then di vide those by two to get stems or plants per square foot. Do this in several spots around the field for accurate assessment.

For established stands, four to five healthy plants per square foot or 55 stems per square foot warrants a productive and healthy stand. Stem counts below 55 see a significant decrease in dry matter production.

For spring established stands, 10-15 plants per square foot is a perfectly healthy stand as the alfalfa begins to age. Plants will continue to branch out, so 35-55 stems per square foot is the goal at this point.

If our stand does appear to be lacking, we have a few op tions. In fields established this spring, alfalfa autotoxicity has not yet set in, so interseeding thin patches is an option. For older fields, interseeding with a high-quality forage grass may be a way to maintain productivity for a few more years. Orchard grass is a tried-and-true option to consider but remember grass/alfalfa mixtures are very limited for weed control options. For either alfalfa or a grass, plan on drill ing seeds rather than broadcasting for proper establishment.

Spencer Walahoski wins Elite Showmanship

The Dawson County Elite Showmanship Contest took place following the completion of the 2022 County Fair livestock shows. Winning first place and a belt buckle was Spencer Walahoski, son of Jared and Kris tine Walahoski of Overton. There is no Elite Showmanship Contest at the Nebraska State Fair.

Finishing in second place was Emma Peterson, daughter of Paul and Shannon Pe terson of Gothenburg. Emma also received a belt buckle.

The top two Senior Showmanship contes tants from the feeder calf, beef, sheep, and swine shows came together to determine an elite showman. All eight contestants took a livestock knowledge test and then had their showmanship skills with swine, sheep, and beef, evaluated by judge Holly Heckendorf, Agriculture Education major

at Colorado State University in Fort Col lins, Colorado. Contestants were: Helene Keiser, and Emma Peterson, all of Gothen burg; Spencer Walahoski, Overton; Jacie Wolfinger and Jaelin Wolfinger, Lexington; Eli Boryca and Gracie Schneider, Cozad; and Gage Schledewitz, Oconto.

Elite Showman Committee members were: Dave Schledewitz, Oconto; Taryn Vonderschmidt, Farnam; and Paul and Shannon Peterson, Gothenburg. Sponsors included: Maline Seed & Fence, Gothen burg; Andersen Ag Services, Gothenburg; Tyson Fresh Meats, Lexington; Peak Perfor mance Nutrition, Derek McConville; Lex ington; Paulsen Inc., Cozad; Performance Truck & Trailer, Gothenburg; Laird Feed, Gothenburg; 1st State Bank, Gothenburg; Caraway Red Angus Ranch, Lexington; and Farm Credit Services of America, Kearney.

(From left to right) Spencer Walahoski, Overton; and Emma Peterson, Gothenburg; were awarded belt buckles for winning the Elite Showmanship Contest at the Dawson County Fair. Walahoski won first place and Peterson took home the second-place honors.

(From left to right) Gracie Schneider, Cozad; Emma Peterson, Gothenburg; Gage Schledewitz, Oconto; Spen cer Walahoski, Overton; Eli Boryca, Cozad; Jacie Wolfinger, Lexington; Jaelin Wolfinger, Lexington; and Helene Keiser, Gothenburg; participated in the Elite Showmanship Contest at the 2022 Dawson County Fair

Insurance coverage for double cropping

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reducing the eco nomic risk of raising two crops on the same land in one year, making it easier for U.S. farmers to grow food in America, increase food supply, and lower food costs for American families. This action is part of a broader set of commitments made earlier this year by President Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to increase domestic food production amid potential global food shortages related to the invasion of Ukraine.

To reduce the risk of raising two crops on the same land in one year – a practice known as double cropping - USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding double crop insurance opportunities in nearly 1,500 counties where double cropping is viable.

“In May, I joined President Biden at the O’Connor farm in Kankakee, Illinois, to announce a series of actions to help farmers do what they do — grow food for American fami lies and the rest of the world. Today, USDA is making good on one of those commitments and making it easier to plant double crops and sharing some of the financial risk by mak ing crop insurance more available in over 1,500 counties,” said Secretary Vilsack. “We live in a challenging time, but I put my trust in the American farmer and U.S. agriculture to help keep the food we need affordable and available. The Biden administration and USDA will continue to find ways to ease burdens on American farmers and lower costs for American families such as expanded double crop options through crop insurance.”

Improvements include:

For soybeans, double crop coverage will be expanded to or streamlined in at least 681 counties, including all of those that were initially targeted for review. While some ad ditional counties were permanently added to be double crop counties, the majority of expansion removed barriers such as requiring production records and streamlined the process to get personalized coverage through a written agreement.

For grain sorghum, double crop coverage will be expanded to or streamlined in at least 870 counties that were initially targeted for review. Similar to soybeans, most of these changes included streamlining the administrative burden and requirements to obtain written agreements. Written agree ments provide the producer with the maximum flexibility by allowing them to obtain crop insurance coverage, but not requiring the coverage of both the spring and winter crops as in permanent double crop counties.

RMA will also work with the crop insurance industry and farm organizations to highlight the availability and improvements in written agreements as an option for any farmer that grows a crop outside the area where a policy is automatically offered.

This expansion of coverage was guided by extensive out reach to nearly 70 grower groups covering 28 states. This includes a wide array of stakeholders such as producers, agents, university extension and other agricultural experts, commodity associations, state departments of agriculture and insurance companies. USDA may add additional counties as it explores these options with farmers this summer, with the final rules being locked in by the fall. Since farmers need to plan ahead for adding a winter crop to a rotation, USDA wanted to make sure they had time to consider this option and consult with local extension and agriculture experts and their crop insurance agent.

The Black Babe Ruth

Josh Gibson would undoubtedly have challenged majorleague home run records had he been given the chance to swing his mighty bat against white contemporaries. The “Black Babe Ruth” is said to have hit as many as 962 home runs in his career, though some came against semipro com petition.

In Negro League games, the number is in the vicinity to 800–nearly 40 more than Barry Bonds’s major-league record of 762. In 1936, one year before he traded his Pitts burgh Crawfords jersey for the Homestead Grays, Gibson is said to have hit 84 round-trippers, 11 more than Bonds’s big-league record.

It was not only the frequency of Gibon’s home runs that stood out, but also the power. One story holds that he once hit a ball right out of Yankee Stadium. A taller tale has him hitting a ball so far in Pittsburgh that it dropped into an outfielder’s glove in Philadelphia the next day. The umpire declared, “You’re out–yesterday in Pittsburgh!”

small indents in the bottom of frozen pizzas are there to prevent air bubbles from forming inside the dough.

Proposals sought for Potato Research & Market Development Program

The Montana Potato Advisory Committee

Potato Research

relevant research already available to Montana potato producers. If rel evant research is available, the applicant must explain how the proposed research will build upon the previous research.

the 2022-2023 funding cycle:

The committee has established

Management of potato viruses and their vectors;

and tuber diseases caused by fungi and bacteria (such as blackleg, scab, soft rot, and ring rot); and

as alternate hosts for potato pathogen

The committee will review proposals at the first regular meeting of the year. It will review all applications and make recommendations to the department for funding. Projects must be innovative and not duplicate

Yet to be harvested, Montana’s 2022 potato production is valuated at $70 - $80 million, solidifying the state as a leader in the production of potatoes and seed potatoes.

Questions on applications should be directed to the Montana Potato Research & Market Development Program, PO Box 200201, Helena, MT 59620-0201 or by contacting Dani Jones at (406) 444-2402 or via email at Danielle.Jones@mt.gov.

#####

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It was a record setting livestock sale at the 2022 Marias Fair and Joe Flesch was kept busy taking bids along with Dean Lerum, Travis Clark, and Andy Van Haur. The sale was

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Awards from International Precision Agriculture Society

By Meaghan MacDonald-Pool, MSU News Service

A Montana State University doctoral student and Ph.D. graduate recently received honors for their research on preci sion agriculture in Montana.

Sasha Loewen and Paul Hegedus in the College of Agri culture received Graduate Student of the Year awards from the International Society of Precision Agriculture. Both were recognized at the organization’s annual meeting held at the end of June in Minneapolis. ISPA is a nonprofit professional scientific organization with a mission to advance the science of precision agriculture globally. Hegedus graduated in May with a Ph.D. in ecology and environmental sciences, and Loewen will graduate in December.

“These awards are a significant international recognition of the quality of research conducted by these students and for MSU as an agricultural research institution” said Bruce Maxwell, professor in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences. Both Hegedus and Loewen were researchers in his lab.

Loewen and Hegedus research seeding and nitrogen fertilizer rates, respectively, and how producers can use that data to precisely manage their fields. Both seed and fertilizer can be tailored for the most appropriate amounts for specific places in a field. For instance, if there is a weed patch, producers can raise seeding rates there to increase competition. Or if there is a hilltop with poor growth, they can decrease seeding rates.

Additionally, Loewen and Hegedus have developed an on-farm precision experiment framework since 2015. The framework is a digital decision support tool where produc ers can upload data from their fields and receive manage ment recommendations. Hegedus oversaw the process of organizing and storing producer information and putting it into analysis-ready data sets so that he and Loewen can model crop yields and grain protein numbers. The team also measured crop yield and grain protein data at harvest time to add to the accuracy of what the field is producing. With this information producers can make educated decisions on how to manage their seed and fertilizer input for future seasons.

“We also gather a bunch of satellite imagery data. One of the principles of this framework is we only use freely available data producers would gather from their day-to-day operations or online sources,” Hegedus said.

Both Loewen and Hegedus came to MSU after switching from a different program and into the ag world. Loewen, from Manitoba, Canada, received his bachelor’s in anthro pology and a master’s in molecular genetics. He focused on agriculture for his Ph.D. when the farm he and his father run went organic in 2016. He said the switch was a very eyeopening process for him, and he had to essentially relearn everything he knew about the farming business. He worked in an ag research lab at the University of Manitoba before landing in Maxwell’s lab.

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Hegedus, originally from Seattle, received his bachelor’s from MSU in Environmental Science with a land rehabilita tion focus. He worked with Maxwell on genotype modeling of weed populations. Hegedus said he liked working with data and modeling and found the transition into his doctoral program seamless.

Both Hegedus and Loewen believe in the possibilities that precision agriculture present and are passionate about showing Montana producers how effective they can be if they applied it to their farms.

“A lot of farmers we work with are older, over 50 or 60, and view digital technology as something a younger demo graphic enjoys. However, it’s interesting that these older farmers are still willing to work with their data and use it not to replace their decision making but to augment and complement it,” Loewen said.

“At Montana State, we believe in the power of precision agriculture and how it can take Montana farming into the future,” said Sreekala Bajwa, vice president of agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. “Sasha and Paul’s awards are examples of how researchers at MSU work direct ly with producers and how their research can have positive outcomes with saving people money, expanding their yield and beyond. Congratulations to them both and we thank them for their contributions to the precision agriculture field.”

by Jeff Flesch and Ryan Perry. Photo by Kari Lewis.

NASA scientists visit Kansas farm on information seeking mission

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service

Of all the folks that might visit his central Kansas farm, Ray Flickner probably never figured a group from the nation’s space agency would be among them.

Yet, there they were: A small group of NASA scientists pulling up in SUVs to quiz Flickner about his farm just west of Moundridge.

In these parts, Flickner is pretty well known. He’s the fifth generation owner and operator of what is known as the Flickner Innovation Farm, a partnership with Kansas State University to implement and test such leading agricultural technologies as moisture sensors, GPS guidance systems, drones and more.

But this is NASA, right? Space suits and rocket ships

“Well, NASA does some great things in space,” said Brad Doorn, the program man ager of the agency’s agriculture and water resources program, which is part of the earth science division, “but NASA also spends a lot of time providing information about Earth. And we have an agriculture program.”

Doorn was among five scientists who came to Flickner’s farm in late August to better understand the challenges farmers face related to agriculture and using water resources.

“We want to learn the decisions they’re facing, the technologies they’re work ing with…so that we can get better acclimated to those challenges,” Doorn said

The program he leads fo cuses on “reaching down to end-users in agriculture and water” to understand how the information gathered daily from 22 satellites orbit ing the Earth can be used for the benefit of farmers.

Group standing and talk ing near farm field

“We then reach back to NASA and explain the pos sibilities,” Doorn said. “It could be that it’s a future (space) mission, 10 years down the road. It could be something that we’ve already developed; we just need to say, ‘hey what’s been done over here, we need to bring over here.’”

“The Flickners and all agricultural producers and industry need to understand that they have an agricul tural program in the nation’s space agency.”

Deann Presley, a soil management specialist with K-State Research and Exten sion, was among those who came to listen and share with the NASA scientists.

“I just think it’s fantastic that they’re willing to listen and have that conversation with farmers,” Presley said. “They (NASA) are the ones taking these measurements of Earth; they’re the one’s helping with drought pre diction and looking at food security around the globe. But they want to take it far ther; they want to learn what kinds of tools and products can be useful to farmers.”

Flickner said it’s impor tant that farmers are active in the partnership.

“What I can offer them is I might be able to ‘ground-

truth’ some of their findings,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of information that they’re getting from satellites, but is that information legitimate? Is what I’m seeing on the ground the same thing they’re seeing on the satellites?”

During the visit, Flickner’s grandsons –Owen, age 8, and Miles, age 5 – showed up wearing shirts that read “NASA” across the chest, eager to meet the group that had come to their grandpa’s farm. Owen proudly pro claimed he wanted to be a NASA engineer one day. The boys left with shiny ‘NASA’ pins and a backpack full of other gifts.

“NASA is super excited about engaging youth all the way up to college,” Doorn said. “We need agricultural expertise in the space agencies. One of our satellites coming up in the next decade…is a hyperspectral satellite in which many of the requirements came from the agricultural industry.”

“So,” he added, “we need those agronomy departments, biology departments (and oth ers)…all to be thinking that there’s a capa bility available for assessing our vegetation and understanding our Earth. We want to get students engaged in that (type of work).”

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Make every day

‘Better Breakfast Day’

By Julie Garden-Robinson,

NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist

September 24 is Better Breakfast Day.

Before going to a mid-morning meeting at work, I usually quickly grab a granola bar or a cup of yogurt to eat.

Who wants to interrupt a meeting with a growling stom ach?

That is kind of embarrassing.

My mid-morning snack attack hits when I do not have enough protein in the morning.

Breakfast has been called the “most important meal of the day” for many years. Breakfast literally “breaks the time of fasting” during sleep.

Early references to breakfast date back centuries. The food served for breakfast often related to the amount of wealth you had.

Centuries ago, people with less money had hot cereal (gruel) made from rice and oats. Their wealthier counterparts often had eggs and meat

A combination of protein-rich and fiber-rich foods is now the recommendation for a healthful breakfast.

Now that school is back in session, breakfast becomes important to spur learning. Children who skip breakfast have trouble staying on task. Feeling hungry can make children and adults feel tired and irritable.

Many schools offer breakfast programs. Participating in school breakfast can help fill potential nutrition gaps and potentially boost learning.

September 24 is designated as “Better Breakfast Day.” The goal is to inspire regular morning meals with healthful options

Nutrition researchers have reported nutritional advantages with eating breakfast. People who have breakfast have a higher-quality diet. In fact, skipping breakfast makes you less likely to meet the daily recommendations for vitamins and minerals. Children who eat breakfast are more likely to meet their daily needs for calcium, iron, riboflavin, folic acid, iron, vitamins A and D and other nutrients.

Eating a healthful breakfast has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. People who consume breakfast have a lower risk for diabetes and are less likely to be overweight or obese. Eating breakfast also helps with mental alertness

According to recent research, many people do not eat enough protein in the morning. Ideally, adults should have about 30 grams of protein at each meal.

In other words, a donut and a cup of coffee is not the best breakfast. Usually, one donut has less than 3 grams of protein and a lot of added sugar

Protein is available from eggs, cheese, beans (such as black, white, red beans), nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, soy butter), Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and meat or poultry (including lean beef, pork and chicken)

Having protein throughout the day helps you build or maintain your muscle strength. Adequate protein also helps keep your blood sugar levels normalized.

Studies have shown that people who skip breakfast usually more than make up for the calories later in the day.

When choosing breakfast, aim for variety. Choose foods from at least three of the five food groups: grain, protein, fruit, vegetables and milk. How about an omelet stuffed with veggies, black beans and melted cheese?

Cooked or dry cereal is a convenient breakfast option. Be sure to read and compare the Nutrition Facts labels on food packages. Aim for whole-grain cereal with less added sweet eners and more protein and fiber. Top with milk and berries.

When shopping for cereal, look high on the shelves instead of at eye level where kids’ cereals usually are placed. Kids can exert a lot of “pester power” when it comes to food. Young readers can be food detectives and help you choose healthful options by comparing different products

Tecumseh

While Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, was no stranger to battle, he is often recognized for his diplomatic efforts. Born in Ohio in the late 1760s, Tecumseh was an impressive and charismatic orator. In 1809, when the Treaty of Fort Wayne signed over 2.5 million acres to the United States, Tecumseh was outraged. He tried to get all the Native American na tions to join together, claiming that the land belonged to the people who were there first, and no one tribe could buy or sell any part of it. Techumseh’s idea came too late. Tecumseh eventually joined forces with the British and was killed in battle in 1813.

Make every day

‘Better Breakfast Day’

If you are not in the mood to flip individual pancakes, how about making pancakes in a sheet pan? This recipe combines whole-wheat and white flour, so they have more fiber than typical pancakes. Pair with lean sausage, top with yogurt and enjoy a glass of milk to boost your protein intake. Visit www.ag.ndsu.edu/food for more information about nutrition and health.

Sheet Pan Pancakes

1 ⅓ cups whole-wheat flour

1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour

2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder

1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups low-fat buttermilk

3 large eggs

1 tablespoon maple syrup, plus more for serving ¼ cup margarine, melted

Assorted toppings (vanilla yogurt, fruit, syrup, butter, sugar, cinnamon)

Preheat oven to 425 F. Coat an 18-by-13-inch rimmed bak ing sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk buttermilk, eggs and maple syrup in a medium bowl. Whisk wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Gently whisk in melted butter. The batter will be lumpy. Let stand for five minutes. Spread the batter in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Add desired toppings (fruit, nuts, granola, chocolate chips, peanut butter, etc.) Bake for 15 minutes. Pancake should be golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. Cut with a pizza cutter and serve.

Makes 12 servings. Each serving has 200 calories, 6 grams (g) fat, 6 g protein, 28 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber and 640 milligrams sodium.

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requirement

• Contains other essential nutrients targeted for each specific crop, ie. Boron to aid pollen tube growth, Zinc to help produce Auxin, to ensure healthy pollen tube growth.

Cliff notes for fall sheep work

By Brent Roeder,

MSU Extension Sheep and Wool Specialist

Inventory available feed and pastures

Sample and test hay and feeds

Develop a marketing strategy

Mouth and bag ewes and palpate rams

Schedule ultrasound and eye and tag

Vaccinations, deworming and flushing

When grazing dormant pastures, there are three trigger points that tell you when to move: 1) when you reach a 7080% utilization average across grass varieties and parts of the pasture, 2) when grass stubble height has fallen to two inches, and 3) if you can see 50% soil when you look straight down with no rocks, rooted vegetation or loose litter, you have dropped below 50% cover. Once you reached any of the above thresholds in a pasture, it is more efficient to dry lot ewes and protect the range resources. Spring bunch grass growth depends on buds formed in the fall. If fall grazing is too severe, you will get almost no spring growth even if precipitation is good and once you drop below 50% cover, wind erosion accelerates, and pastures have difficulty recov ering during rain events.

To measure grain on the ground left when grazing stubble, build a wire frame that is twelve and half inches by twelve and half inch’s square. Randomly drop this frame on the ground in twenty spots across the field and count the grains in each frame to get an idea of usable grain residual. You have roughly 90lbs of grain per acre if you have the fol lowing number of grains by crop: wheat and oats 28 grains per square, barley 25 grains per square, field peas 5 grains per square and chickpeas 5 grains per square. On an irri gated barley field we lease, I averaged 53 grains per frame. (53/25) =2.12*90= 191lbs of barley per acre. Digestibility of stubble grazing falls about one percent per week as the finer leaf materials start to weather and degrade. If you have multiple crops available, it is recommended to graze canola first, followed by any peas and save the cereals for last as they hold up better.

Many producers have called asking about feeding alterna tive feeds to sheep this year with the high price of traditional grain and hay sources. One of the best publications is an NDSU Extension Bulletin: https://www.ndsu.edu/agricul ture/extension/publications/alternative-feeds-ruminants Most available products are either peas or oil seeds that didn’t make quality requirements or are too heavily con taminated with weed seeds. Chickpeas, yellow and green field peas and lentils are all high protein feed sources with minimal acidosis or bloat issues. They generally work best for fall and winter feeding of ewes up to 30% of their diet or roughly a pound per head per day. They may be a little too hard and should be processed if fed to freshly weaned lambs. Oil seeds like canola, camelina, flax, safflower and edible dry beans should be limited to roughly 10% of the diet due to the high oil content impacting rumen microbial growth. They are excellent sources of protein and fat. Screenings are another cheap source of feed but tend to be extremely variable in nutrient content. Producers should collaborate with their nutritionist or county extension agent to sample anything you will be feeding, but especially these novel alternative feeds and screenings which can vary a great deal form the book values.

Large price swings and drought have always been an un pleasant fact in the sheep industry and unfortunately, they tend to go hand in hand. This summer, I’ve discussed with several producers their options for liquidating flocks due to drought, prices or labor issues. As this is the third time in the past 25 years this has happened, producers need to focus more on the future with knowledge that the market will come back and have sympathy for producers facing challenging decisions. Montana producers faced market disruptions in 2000, 2011 and now 2022 or about every 11 years. You could probably throw 1988 into the mix also. These disruptions tended to be associated with higher US dollar values, stock market falls, imports and drought which created fat lamb supply buildup. It will take about a year to reset the supply balance and be able to again offer a product the cash-strapped consumer will want in terms of quality and price. With the high price of corn, reduced harvest capacity, and backup of heavy lambs, there is very reduced demand for lambs over 100 lbs. As direct sales have been slow, spreading your mar keting over a couple of months while creating more work for you, will ensure we don’t create a glut of feeder lambs that will further depress the market. If you have grass and

Cliff notes

minimal predator issues, consider holding light lambs and ewe lambs into the fall and early winter to maximize value especially if you sold extra ewe lambs in last year’s great market. The market for cull and aged ewes is still strong and they are bringing more per head than ewe lambs, so culling heavier into the ewes is also an alternative strategy. No one can say with confidence when prices will recover, so make sure you have the feed and financial resources to follow through with a marketing plan for up to 6 months.

If you haven’t already done so, running ewes in and check ing teeth and palpating udders is the best way to solve future issues during next years lambing. Broken mouth ewes, ewes above six years of age, and ewes with knots in their udders or plugged teats may create issues at lambing by losing weight over winter, having reduced milk production and more mas titis. These issues create more bum lambs and slow the flow through the jugs requiring more labor and inputs with little return to producers. To ensure maximum coverage of your ewes, turning out 1 mature ram per 35 to 45 ewes is optimum. Having more than 50 ewes per ram may significantly reduce your lambs born per ewe exposed. Palpating rams to ensure they have no knots, a minimum sack circumference of 34 cm on mature rams and a good epididymis on the bottom of each testicle is imperative. When in doubt, rams should be examined by a veterinarian and a semen test should be performed. Excessive numbers of dry ewes at the end of lambing are either due to rams with B-Ovis or an endemic reproductive disease in the ewes’ causing abortions. There are plenty of good rams left this fall at reasonable prices compared to past years.

With the cost of feed and lack of labor, many operations are again turning to ultra-sounding for pregnancy detection in their flocks. There are several veterinarians and technicians providing this service in Montana currently at a reasonable price for larger producers. Smaller producers may want to take advantage of their local veterinarian for ultrasound or their ability to use a blood test (Alertys Ruminant Pregnancy Test, IDEXX Pregnancy Test Kit or bioPRYN Test Kit). If you are pulling blood; many producers have taken advantage of the new Sage Labs in Idaho. They offer not only pregnancy detection, but a test combining detection of OPP, CL, Johne’s and Q-Fever. If you have some unexplained issues in your flock, sampling cull ewes prior to shipping is an effective way to assess for these diseases. If you have an issue with wool blind sheep, scheduling a crew to fall eye and tag your ewes might be beneficial. Generally, we see better concep tion rates, cleaner wool at shearing, easier working sheep and less snow-blind sheep that lose weight over the winter. You probably also want to call your shearer when you turn rams in as schedules keep getting tighter with attrition in the industry. I’d also expect an increase in the price with fuel, equipment, and labor increases shearing contractors are experiencing like everyone else.

Finally, lets discuss vaccinations, deworming and flushing. First let’s start with flushing. Flushing is the practice of tem porarily increasing the plane of nutrition (turning onto better pastures or feeding grain) prior to turning in rams to increase the ovulation rate of ewes. Two points to remember is it only works on thinner ewes under a BCS 3, so it has no effect on heavier conditioned ewes. Second, many producers have discovered that flushing older ewes creates numerous issues with them having lots of twins and triplets and only milk for singles, so use this management tool wisely. Treating your ewes with an anthelmintic or deworming them after a good frost and prior to turning in rams will sometimes supply a flushing effect. We generally wait till after a good frost to kill the internal parasite larvae still waiting on pasture grass for ingestion. It is especially important to deworm any lambs you overwinter and young ewes in the fall. Many Montana pro ducers have adopted the FAMACHA eye scoring technique instead of blanket drenching everything. If you do drench, you need to rotate drenches about every third time. Research is also showing that combing two full doses of drenches with different modes of action is more effective and reduces the build-up of resistant parasites. Vaccination management re ally depends on your operation and should be discussed with your health care professional or veterinarian. Lambs should be vaccinated for Clostridial diseases like over-eating and tetanus, especially if they will be put on a concentrate feed. Vaccinating ewes is also recommended if they will be fall grazed on standing grain crops. Vaccinating for reproduc tive diseases is highly recommended if you have diagnosed a specific organism causing abortions in your flock, have excessive dry ewes at the end of lambing or are bringing new ewes into your flock. Timing of these vaccinations can start a month prior to ram turn-in, so ordering vaccine as soon as possible is imperative. Major reproductive diseases in Montana include Campylobacter (Vibrio) and Chlamydia (EAE). I hope this article helps and let it snow.

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New genome within the tomato family

Hidden beneath the delicate, red skin and juicy flesh of a tomato is a wealth of nutrients and genetic makeup. With recent research on the first genome of a species in the tomatillo tribe (part of the tomato family), we now have a better idea of how this vital plant family came to be.A green plant with purple flowers above waterfall in Ecuado

Put simply, a genome is a complete set of DNA (genetic material) in a plant. The genome contains all the informa tion needed for a plant to develop and grow. When scientists assemble genetic sequences to build an entire genome– a lot like completing a puzzle – this helps them predict things like how a plant will grow (straight or crooked) and what the fruit might look like (thin or thick skinned.) This information is important for understanding how different varieties come to be and is key for breeding better crops.

“The tomato family is simply the most fascinating family. It consists of plants that are major crops, invasive weeds, important medicines, beautiful bedding plants, and many wild species that are crop relatives,” says Stacey Smith, a professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

This research was published in The Plant Genome Jour nal, a publication of the Crop Science Society of America.

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Smith led the work on the sequencing the genome of Iochroma cyaneum, a wild shrub in the tomatillo tribe of the tomato family. Iochroma displays striking blue flow ers but isn’t widely grown. Scientists like Smith can learn how important plant families evolved by collecting many genomes from different sub-species.

“Unlike most plants in the family with sequenced ge nomes, it is not a crop species. It’s also the only member of its entire tribe with genome assembled to the level of chromosomes,” says Smith. These unique traits make the new genome even more valuable to understand how the broader family evolved.

After sequencing the Iochroma genome and assembling the sequences into chromosomes like a puzzle, Smith’s research team compared it to other members of the fam ily. The broader tomato family has almost 3,000 species. Some of these species, like belladonna, are poisonous to humans. Forty species have been domesticated, which in clude potatoes, eggplants, and hot peppers, in addition to tomatoes. All of these plants belong to the family are also called “nightshades.” In the puzzle example, this means that they all have a similar set of puzzle pieces, up to a point. From there, their puzzle pieces are different

The genome told researchers that Iochroma was part of the family known as the “berry clade.” This subgroup forms “berries” which are juicy fruits with many seeds, like tomatoes and hot peppers. But the scientists were surprised to find that the family relationships within this clade were far from clear. The genetic evidence was uncertain about which species were most closely related. Biologists call this kind of disagreement “discordance.”

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“This kind of disagreement often arises when lineages reproduce quickly within different species,” says Smith. “That may be what happened tens of millions of years ago when fleshy-fruited berries from this family burst onto the scene. As a result of this discordance, we can’t make definitive statements about which species are more closely related.”

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Still, the new genome gives a new look into the evolu tion of the family. One clue is how the genes have moved around. As species evolve, genes can move from one chromosome to another. Plants adjust efficiently to these changes. But Iochroma offered up a surprise. Its genome shuffling didn’t closely resemble any other sequenced genome, meaning the shrub has had its own unique evo lutionary path.

“With the addition of the lochroma genome, we are work ing towards understanding how genes have been shuffled around during the evolutionary history of the berry clade,” says Smith. “We have only scratched the surface in terms of understanding how this diversity evolved.

While the new research won’t produce a tastier tomato or tangier tomatillo right away, Smith says the family already offers a lot of flavors to the bold gardener. And, perhaps, an appreciation for the diversity offered by evolution.

“I would encourage anyone who is curious about night shades to get to know some of the lesser-known crops — try out golden berries, ground cherries, pepinos, wonderber ries, or naranjillas!” says Smith. “There are even species that can be eaten as greens. Many of these will happily grow in northern climates and bring a lot more flavor than any tomato you can find on the grocery store shelf.”

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Father and son to be recognized for conservation

The Daake family has been farming in Nebraska for generations. Today, Dave Daake and his son, Alex, continue that tradi tion by farming and practicing conservation on the family’s 1,100 acres, which lie be tween Goehner, Utica, and Beaver Crossing.

Due to their commitment to smart stew ardship of the land, the father and son farm ing team will be recognized in September with an Outstanding Soil Conservation Award, presented by the Nebraska Associa tion of Resources Districts at their annual conference.

“The way that the Daakes farm, with an emphasis on practical conservation, soil health and sustainability, is just what we would like to see all producers in our district do,” said NRD General Manager David Ei genberg. “They are a great example of how conservation can work hand in hand with profitable land management. We are proud that they are partnering with the NRD on programs to improve their land as well as protect our natural resources.”

Dave and Alex grow a rotation of crops including soybeans, corn, alfalfa, and grasses. They are considering adding wheat to the rotation as well, as they are always looking for ways to improve the diversity of the operation. Dave used to raise sheep and hogs, but currently Alex is trying out a small cow-calf operation on the land to improve their soil health as well as profit ability. The animals graze on the forage mix cover crops, which benefits the cattle and the soil, as the grazing practices break up compaction and recycle nutrients.

Soil health has been important to Dave for decades. Trained in horticulture at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska, Dave started no-tilling 25 years ago on a portion of his fields and is now 100 percent no-till in their opera tion. About 15 years ago, he started adding turnips and then later rye grass as a cover crop to reduce erosion and compaction. He’s been steadily adding cover crops to more and more acres each year. Alex en joys researching cover crop mixes and ex perimenting with planting options including timing and row spacing, looking for ways to maximize on the investment. “We’re planting more cover crops each year,” said Dave. Alex plans to have cover crops on all of their row cropped acres eventually.

The team has increased the soil organic matter measurements on many of their fields to be 4.5 to 5 percent, which has reduced their need for fertilizer inputs. The increased levels of soil organic matter provide essen

tial nutrients for plants and microbes, as well as increasing water holding capacity.

“It saves us a pass or two each year with the pivot,” says Dave, “and in drought years like 2012, we aren’t impacted as much. You don’t see the dirt blowing in the spring.” The cover crops suppress enough weeds that there is also a reduction in herbicide inputs needed. Dave sees the many active earthworms in his fields as evidence that the soil health continues to flourish.

The majority of the family’s acres are irrigated cropland with center pivots. They also have a small number of acres using gravity irrigation, which they are consider ing turning into a mixed vegetation pasture. Dave is proud of a 46-acre wetland under conservation easement on the property that is a habitat for a great number of waterfowl annually. Dave has worked with Pheasants Forever and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District to convert some harder to farm pivot corners to native grasses to provide Corners for Wildlife habitat. In the 20+ years since some corners have been planted to native grasses, the property has become a haven for game birds as well as other animals.

Tree planting has been a passion for the pair as well. “Trees are my weakness,” said Dave, who estimates he has planted several hundred trees on his property through the years. He likes oaks best, but he has planted for diversity, including about 80 tree variet ies. Alex recently worked with the Upper Big Blue NRD to install a new half-mile windbreak that will shelter the cattle herd when the trees are mature.

The Daakes also maintain three small dam structures which provide erosion and sediment control, as well as wildlife ben efits.

Dave says the farm has competitive yields, which he sees as a testament to the power of the conservation practices they have incorporated over the years.

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), the trade association for Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), works with individual districts to protect lives, property and the future of Ne braska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska, and act as local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect Nebraska’s natural resources. Major Ne braska river basins form the boundaries of the 23 NRDs, enabling districts to respond to local conservation and resource manage ment needs. Learn more about Nebraska’s NRDs at www.nrdnet.org.

Alex and Dave Daake stand in a conservation easement wetland on their property where Alex’s cattle herd grazes contentedly in the background.

Youth place in North Dakota 4-H Consumer Decision Making contest

Teams from Walsh and McKenzie coun ties took first place in their respective divisions in the 2022 North Dakota 4-H consumer decision making contest.

The Walsh County team of Hannah Myrdal, Andrew Myrdal and Owen Zik mund placed first in the senior division. The team will represent North Dakota 4-H in the national consumer decision making contest in 2023.

McKenzie County’s junior team of Gwen Signalness, Kyle Best, Gracyn Darrington and Jaden Murphy took first place in the junior division.

These teams were among 82 youth who participated in the contest. Fifty-one com peted in the junior division and 31 competed in the senior division.

The contest is designed to educate youth about making better consumer decisions. This year, the youth judged classes of back packs, fast food and wireless headphones, and gave oral reasons for why they placed the items in a certain order in some of the classes.

In addition to judging the classes, both ju nior and senior teams participated in a group think component. Each team was given the same scenario, and each team’s members had 10 minutes to work collaboratively to evaluate the situation and make a final deci sion based on given standards. Teams were scored on how well they worked together and presented their solution.

“Decision making, communication and teamwork are important life skills that youth gain from participating in the consumer decision making contest,” says Meagan Hoffman, youth development specialist in North Dakota State University Extension’s Center for 4-H Youth Development.

Eight teams competed in the senior divi sion, and 14 teams competed in the junior division.

Other teams placing in the senior divi sion were:

Second – Barnes County with team members Allison Bryn, Kaidence Harstad, Chesney Thomsen and Alyssa Thomsen

Third – Pembina County with team mem bers Nora Crosby, Malory Kemp, Graesen Helgoe and Madilyn Gauthier

Other teams placing in the junior divi sion were:

Second – Cass County with team mem bers Grace Burchill, McKenna Mohs and Clayton Miller

Third – Stutsman County with team members Emmi Odenbach, Elizabeth Rit tenbach and Annabelle Rittenbach

Paula Meyer from the Stark-Billings County team was the top scoring senior individual, and Tessa Dvorak from Dunn County was the top scoring junior indi vidual.

The North Dakota 4-H Foundation spon sors this contest.

Walsh County placed first in the senior 4-H Consumer Decision Making contest. Team members are (L to R) Hannah Myrdal, Andrew Myrdal and Owen Zikmund. (NDSU photo)

McKenzie County placed first in the junior 4-H Consumer Decision Making contest. Team members are (L to R) Gwen Signalness, Kyle Best, Gracyn Darrington and Jaden Murphy. (NDSU photo)

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4-H’ers honored for learning, practicing healthful habits

4-H’ers from clubs in 15 counties through out North Dakota were recognized for incor porating nutrition, fitness and health activi ties into their club meetings in 2021-2022.

The 33 4-H clubs, with a total of 641 members, earned the special recognition of being “healthy clubs” by meeting the crite ria, which could include having healthful snacks, having food demonstrations during meetings and doing community service. Twelve clubs also earned extra recognition for completing the Family Mealtime Chal lenge.

The program also provided leadership opportunities for teenage 4-H’ers. The teens can serve as role models for younger members.

Adams – Adventurers, 25 members, one year

Barnes – Valley Friends, 12 members, 11 years, completed Family Mealtime Chal lenge

Burleigh – Clover Cakes, 8 members, two years, completed Family Mealtime Chal lenge; Prairie Rose, 7 members, one year; Silver Colts, 12 members, 11 years; Mead owlarks, 18 members, one year, completed Family Mealtime Challenge; McKenzie Magnums, 10 members, 9 years

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To earn the Healthy North Dakota 4-H Club recognition, clubs are required to incorporate at least one nutrition or fitness activity into a minimum of six regular meet ings during the year.

“Many clubs set healthy snack policies for their meetings, and they did a wide variety of community service. Some tracked the number of family meals they consumed,” says Julie Garden-Robinson, North Dakota State University Extension food and nutri tion specialist and Healthy North Dakota 4-H Clubs program coordinator. “These 4-H programs make a difference in their com munities and in their homes. I especially enjoyed seeing the photos they submitted documenting their activities.”

“The Moon Lake 4-H club spent an afternoon packaging over 2,000 complete meals that can be prepared by simply boil ing them in water,” according to Brenda Jarski-Weber, 4-H program coordinator in Stutsman County. “Mercy Meals was started to help feed the hungry in the United States and around the world.”

Cass – Cass County Crusaders, 23 members, 2 years, completed Family Meal time Challenge; Lucky Clover Buddies, 11 members, 2 years, completed Family Mealtime Challenge; Valley Adventurers, 14 members, 14 years; Golden Clovers, 14 members, one year; Rainbow Kids, 12 members, one year, completed Family Mealtime Challenge; Rush River Livestock, 35 members, one year; Wheatland Pioneers, 29 members, 14 years

Divide – Flickertails, 42 members, 15 years

LaMoure – Cloverleafs, 24 members, 10 years

McHenry – Balfour Roughriders, 26 members, 8 years; Velva Guys and Gals, 22 members, three years

McLean – Max Pax 4-H, 34 members, one year

Ramsey – Country Kids, 16 members, one year; 4-Leaf Friends, 19 members, 3 years

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This was the 15th year some clubs were named a Healthy North Dakota 4-H Club. Each club member received a certificate of recognition and a small prize.

The clubs recognized this year are listed by county, number of members and number of years they have received recognition. Twelve Healthy North Dakota 4-H Clubs were recognized for completing the monthlong Family Mealtime Challenge, and par ticipating clubs reported 1,896 family meal times. Eating together as a family is linked to better school performance, healthier meals and less risk behavior.

The clubs provided ideas to expand the number of family meals served. They sug gested having kids suggest the menus, help prepare food and clean up.

Ransom – Tri-Country Ag, 25 members, 8 years; Hill and Valley, 10 members, three years; Heart and Soul, 24 members, 6 years; McLeod Ag, 35 members, one year, completed Family Mealtime Challenge; Aliceton, 29 members, 11 years, completed Family Mealtime Challenge; Sandy Critters, 13 members, 3 years

Richland – Helping Hands, 18 members, five years

Sargent – Busy Bobcats, 8 members, one year

Stark – West River, 28 members, one year, completed Family Mealtime Chal lenge

Stustman – Country Kids, 14 members, 4 years, completed Mealtime Challenge; Moon Lake, 12 members, two years

Williams – Prairie Diamonds, 12 mem bers, one year, completed Family Mealtime Challenge

4-H clubs interested in participating in the 2022-2023 North Dakota Healthy 4-H Clubs program should contact their county office of NDSU Extension.

The Moon Lake 4-H club packaged over 2000 meals with Mercy Meals to help feed the hungry in the U.S. and around the world. (NDSU photo)

Feeding cows while coping with drought and high costs

By Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Extension Educator

Drought conditions influenced forage and grain production for nearly two years. Forage and grain yields are expected to be somewhere between 1/3 and ½ of normal. Pasture yield is also low or already out. Feeding and managing cows while cop ing with these conditions is a challenge complicated further by costs associated with feed delivery. Cow-calf producers must incorporate three considerations that greatly affect cow feeding costs under cur rent economic conditions: feeding group size, energy density of feed and fuel cost. Feeds (or mixed diets) that require ex tensive preparation time (loading, grinding, mixing, and delivering) will create addition al feeding costs not generally considered in least cost ration formulation. Diesel price at $4.50/gallon and fuel use of 4 gallons/hour determine hourly cost of using a tractor to prepare and deliver feed at $18/hour. For an operation running diesel-fueled equip ment for one hour to feed a group of 50 cattle under these conditions, the daily fuel cost alone would be $0.36/cow. Grouping cows or growing cattle in larger groups to maximize feed delivery over groups to feed is an additional consideration under current economic conditions.

Cow-calf operators are not used to feeding high-en ergy diets to cows. Choos ing to reduce fuel and feed costs by opting to feed highenergy diets requires some preparation. Feeding from 2 to 4 lb of hay is also recom mended to manage intake and prevent grain engorge ment.

Protein requirements of mature beef cows, although low, require that, once di ets are formulated, dietary protein concentration is evaluated to determine if it meets requirements. A minimum of 8% is required by mature cows that just weaned a calf to as much as 12% for lactating cows. Incorporating a high-protein co-product, such as distillers grains and solubles, is one way to properly balance the metabolizable and degrad able protein requirements of cows, particularly young cows, while reducing the amount of starch cows are expected to consume.

Although mixing equip ment may not be necessary, allocating at least 12 to 18 inches of space per cow on the feeding trough or space is required to prevent over eating by boss cows. Cows expected to consume 10 to 15 lb of corn grain daily may be able to ingest this amount in fewer than 3 hours. De livering hay in a round bale feeder within a fenced area and then restricting access to this area to less than 4 hours daily would eliminate the need to deliver hay daily in a bunk or rolled out on the ground.

Cow-calf operators are advised to work with their nutritionist to evaluate al ternative energy-dense feed sources and to develop diet and dietary management plans to reduce feed and feeding costs.

Energy density of the feed ingredient se lected is directly proportional to its volume. A full bucket on a 6-foot skid steer contains 800 lb of grain but fewer than 200 lb of hay. Loading 800 lb of hay will require four times the amount of movement (time) than loading 800 lb of corn.

Energy density of the feed ingredient selected also determines daily feeding cost. A bushel of corn grain is currently selling for $7.50 ($13.39/cwt) while a ton of hay may be purchased anywhere from $130 to $200/ton. Assuming a producer would purchase hay at $150 ($7.50/cwt) contain ing 15% moisture and 55% total digestible nutrients (TDN), the cost per unit of TDN would be $320/ton ($16.04/cwt). A ton of TDN from $7.50-per-bushel corn would be $346 ($17.29/cwt) considering corn grain contains 12% moisture and 88% TDN. If the TDN requirement of a cow is 15 lb/day and using feed price examples described above, the daily requirement may be met using 27 lb of hay ($2.41/cow) or 17 lb of corn grain ($2.59/cow). As already pro posed, the difference, $0.18/cow, may be lost if feeding equipment (tractor or tractor and mixer) must run for an additional 30 minutes while feeding hay.

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Farmers and ranchers have the right to repair their equipment.

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For the 14th year, North Dakota State University Extension and the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association of fered North Dakota youth an opportunity to become involved in the sheep industry and build their own flock.

Youth recipients for the Starter Flock Discounted Loan Program receive an interest-free loan to purchase 10 yearling Rambouillet ewes from the association. The association will buy the ewes from NDSU’s Hettinger Research Extension Center. The youth pay back 70% of the value of the ewes. To be eligible to receive ewes, youth must be 10 to 18 years old.

The 2022 starter flock recipients are: Josh Moser, Medina – 18 years old Anton Geller, Ellendale – 16 years old Elly Pearson, Beach – 14 years old Laken Geller, Ellendale – 14 years old Marie Sands, Bottineau – 12 years old Tessa Nelson, Zahl – 11 years old Tyler Hofland, Reeder – 11 years old McCall Dockter, Medina – 11 years old

Arabelle Geller, Ellendale – 10 years old

Teddi Dockter, Medina – 10 years old

“We had an impressive group of 14 appli cants for this year’s starter flock program,” says Travis Hoffman, NDSU Extension sheep specialist. “Sheep production offers opportunity to grow a business for youth, learn record keeping and manage finances.”

Youth receiving the ewes are assigned a mentor, who will be available to answer the youths’ questions and help them with recordkeeping and setting management goals. More than 120 young producers have learned about sheep in North Dakota through this program.

North Dakota starter flock recipients picked up the ewes in Hettinger on Sept. 17 and attended a beginner’s shepherd clinic hosted by North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association leaders and Hettinger Research Extension Center staff. Topics included animal health, nutrition and management for their newly acquired ewes.

Panhandle Friend of Extension Award to be presented to Jech Family

The 2022 Panhandle Friend of Extension Award will be presented to Kevin Jech’s family during this year’s Sheridan County Fair 4-H Achievement Banquet. The Friend of Extension award was initiated in 2015 and recognizes people whose contributions have furthered Extension activities in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Flatbed Dump 330 hp M11, 9 spd., cruise, AC, AR suspension, 16-ft. dump, hitch with air and elec., 80% 11r22.5’s.

$21,500

1998 Volvo Roll-Off

370 hp M11 Cummins, Jake, 5 speed, Allison, AC, PS, lift axle, full lockers, 18,000 lb front, 40,000 lb rears, roll tarp, 22ft. Cascade roll-off, 70% 22.5 tires, 307,000 miles $29,500

Jech, who passed away in 2021, had served as a Shooting Sports instructor since 2003 in Sheridan County and became a State Shooting instructor in 2006. He also served as the Hunting Skills Chief Range Officer for National Shooting Sports and enjoyed coaching youth in his local shooting sports program.

“Kevin was instrumental in growing the shooting sports program within Sheridan County, the state of Nebraska, and the coun try,” said Melissa Mracek, UNL Assistant Extension Educator, Sheridan County. “He took a great pride in helping youth improve their shooting skills and teaching them proper gun safety.”

Jech made the shooting sports program a family affair by involving his wife and children. Even though his children had outgrown the program, they continued to be involved and serve as apprentices. The Jech family helped prepare youth for State BB gun and air rifle competitions as well as the National Shooting Sports competition. Within their practices they helped youth learn about BB guns, air rifles, archery, and hunting and wildlife.

Jech made sure members of the shooting sports program had adequate and safe equip ment for them to use during the practice season. He helped obtain guns and other prizes to raffle off during the season with the proceeds going to the Panhandle Shootings Sports program.

“Kevin and his wife hosted practices and events at their home despite it being a busy time on their ranch,” said Mracek. “He created a huge impact on the program and always went above and beyond to help youth in our community.”

Ten young shepherds received an interest-free loan to purchase a starter flock. (NDSUphoto)

Microwave ovens have long history in kitchens

By Julie Garden-Robinson, Food and nutrition specialist, NDSU Extension

I recall when we got a microwave oven in our home when I was a teenager. It took up quite a lot of counter space. It was a big, complicated-looking appliance.

My parents were a bit leery of this appliance at first. I am not sure why they got it in the first place. Maybe they won it as a prize.

Although reading appliance manuals is not my favorite thing to do, I managed to figure out how to use the micro wave oven. The earlier microwave ovens were less intuitive than today’s models.

As I recall, we only used the microwave oven to reheat foods and melt butter.

The history of the microwave oven goes back to the mid1940s. Percy Spencer was an employee at the Raytheon com pany when he accidentally discovered that microwaves might play a role in cooking food. He later patented his invention.

He was doing radar experiments when he noticed a candy bar in his pocket melted.

He later discovered that microwaves could pop popcorn and blow up eggs.

I am not sure that the egg explosions were planned.

Microwave ovens have been around since the mid-1950s. However, their size and cost were prohibitive for most homeowners

Like the first computers, the first microwave ovens were very large. According to historical information from the Smithsonian Institute, the early models were 6 feet tall and weighed 750 pounds.

Microwave ovens became available for home use in the late 1960s. Affordable, compact microwave ovens for house holds became more widespread in the 1970s.

When I went to college, I received a small microwave oven for my first apartment. Back then, apartments were not equipped with microwave ovens as a standard feature, as many are today

In 2001, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that 90% of households had microwave ovens.

When microwave ovens were first introduced, manufac turers thought they would replace regular ovens. However, that did not happen.

Microwave ovens primarily are used for reheating foods, although they can be used to cook many foods.

A downside of microwave ovens is that they do not brown food. Some combination ovens have been developed that allow for browning to occur.

When cooking in a microwave, remember some safety considerations. Glass, ceramic cookware and items labeled as safe for microwave use can be used.

Anything that comes in contact with microwaved food should be microwave safe, including paper towels and wax paper used around your microwaved food.

Some containers should not be used in a microwave oven. Carry-out containers from restaurants and plastic foam containers should not be used to reheat foods unless they specifically state they are microwave safe.

For example, margarine tubs, whipped topping bowls and other disposable plastic containers are not safe for microwave cooking or reheating. The containers might melt and/or allow harmful chemicals from the plastic to migrate into your food.

Do not thaw meat on the foam-insulated tray that may be used with meat. Remember, too, that containers that come with microwaveable meals are meant for one-time use only.

Keep these food safety tips in mind when using a micro wave oven to cook or reheat foods.

Know the wattage of your microwave oven and compare to the wattage stated in the packaged foods’ cooking direc tions. Adjust cooking times accordingly.

Read and follow package cooking directions. Foodborne illness outbreaks have been associated with undercooked microwaveable meals that were not prepared according to the package directions.

Microwave-thawed meat should be cooked to doneness right after thawing. The meat might be warm enough to allow for bacterial growth. Do not put microwave-thawed meat back in the refrigerator to cook later.

Use a food thermometer to determine doneness. Some times microwaveable foods have added coatings that make them look “brown” but that does not mean the foods are done.

Stir and rotate your food half way through cooking to pre vent cold spots or areas where harmful bacteria can survive.

Prevent burns by removing your food from the microwave carefully. Use potholders and uncover foods away from your

your harvest not go as

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2019 John Deere S790, IF520 duals, Ac tive Yield, Combine Advisor, Contour Master with fore/aft (90mm cylinders), 28.5-ft. unloading auger, powerfold top, Premium residue, Premium cab with leather, dual display with Premium Ac tivation 6000 receiver (SF1) small grain wind board, sidehill performance kit. Stock #73398 $427,000 (3)

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Microwave ovens have long history in kitchens

face so steam can escape.

Observe recommended “standing time.” Food continues to heat to a higher temperature after it is removed from the microwave.

Use a food thermometer to be sure your food is cooked to the proper temperature.

When time is short, here’s a nutrient-rich food that can be ready in under 10 minutes.

Microwaved Sweet Potato

1 medium-sized sweet potato

Scrub the outside of the potato with a vegetable brush un der cool running water to remove dirt. Puncture a few times with a fork to allow the steam to escape. Place the potato on a microwave-safe paper towel in a microwave-safe dish. Cook on high for three minutes. Turn the potato over and rotate the dish (unless you have a rotating turntable). Continue cooking for about 3 to 4 minutes until the potato is soft

Top with butter, cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste.

Makes one serving with 150 calories, 0 grams (g) fat, 2 g protein, 38 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber and 70 milligrams sodium.

John Ross

Though only one-eighth Cherokee, John Ross was a chief in the Cherokee Nation from 1828 until his death in 1866. Over the years, Ross owned a farm (and slaves) in North Carolina and served as a translator for missionaries and a liaison between the Cherokee people and Washington politi cians. By the early 1820s, things did not look good for the Cherokee people. Ross took legal action to prevent the forced exile of the tribe. He was president of the Cherokee Constitu tional Convention of 1827 and, for the next ten years, worked with the U.S. government to seek assistance and justice for the Cherokee. Even though several court rulings found the Cherokee to be the rightful owners of land, they weren’t enforced, and Ross’s efforts went largely unrewarded. Ross is known for leading the Cherokee to Oklahoma on what is commonly referred to as the “Trail of Tears.”

COMBINES

John Deere S780 with IF520 duals, 750 rear, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, no receiver, 4600 display (no extended monitor), power folding covers, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, advanced PowerCast tailboard, LED lights, leather seat, Con tour Master with fore/aft. Stock #79284

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John Deere S780 473 hp, 2WD, Pro Drive transmission, advanced Power Cast tailboard, TriStream rotor, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, Combine Advisor, Pre mium 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 combine, no re ceiver or extended monitor, 4600 dis play with AutoTrac Activation, Contour Master with fore & aft, 580/85R42 duals, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, power folding grain tank, 28.5-ft. unloading au ger, advanced tailboard, TriStream rotor (standard wear), LED lights, cloth seat, premium radio, sidehill performance kit, small grain cleaning shoe. Stock #80883 $427,500 (14)

2020 John Deere S780 combine with Pre mium Activation, Combine Advisor, Gen 4 extended monitor, StarFire 6000 SF1, LED light package, leather swivel seat, advanced PowerCast tailboard, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, extended wear grain handling system. Stock #79034 $417,500 (12)

EQUIPMENT

2019 John Deere S780 combine with ex tended wear package, Premium cab, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, Pro Drive transmission with Harvest Smart, TriStream rotor with extended wear package, power folding covers, 28.5ft. unloading auger, fine cut chopper, side hill performance package. Stock #79043 $358,000 (1)

2019 John Deere S780 combine with ex tended wear package, Premium cab, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, Pro Drive transmission with Harvest Smart, TriStream rotor with extended wear package, power folding covers, 28.5ft. unloading auger, fine cut chapper, side hill performance package. Stock #79041 $339,000 (1)

2021 John Deere S770 combine with 520/85R42 duals, 600 rear singles, Command Touch feederhouse with fore and aft, 4600 display with AutoTrac activation, no receiver, Combine Advi sor, Active Yield, extended wear rotor, extended wear grain handling, power folding tops, 26-ft. unloading auger, PowerCast tailboard, LED light pack age. Stock #80604 $437,500 (14)

2013 John Deere S670 Premium cab and radio, HID lights, AutoTrac ready, 7” armrest display, 3 speed transmis sion, 2WD, TriStream rotor, 26-ft. au ger, manual vane tailboard, 520/85R42 duals and 28L-26 rear tires, small wire concaves, comes with a receiver and AutoTrac activation (assuming AutoTrac activation is on the armrest display).

Stock #81471 $114,000 (11)

2018 Case IH 7240, small grain com bine with luxury cab, 2WD, singles, HD planetary, chopper, Yield Monitor, full GPS, NavII controller, lateral tilt. Stock #81667 $252,000 (12)

4WD and ROW CROP

2002 John Deere 9520 4-wheel drive tractor with new LSW1100/45R46 single tires, not a scraper tractor, Ag use only, standard 48 gpm flow, 4 hydraulics, no PTO or 3-point, includes ATU200, SF3000 receiver, 2630 with AutoTrac SF1 activation. Stock #82203

$125,000 (14)

1990 John Deere 8960 4-wheel drive tractor with partial PowerShift, 3 SCVs, 20.8R42 duals, Outback GPS guidance included, Case drain. Stock #81299

$59,500 (1)

1981 John Deere 8640 4-wheel drive tractor with 280 HP, QuadRange trans mission, PTO, duals, 3 SCVs. Stock #80489 $22,000 (2)

1985 Steiger P IV KM325 4-wheel drive tractor with 325 hp, 855 Cummins en gine, 20 speed transmission, 4 ScVs, 24.5-32 duals. Stock #81246

$25,000 (2)

2016 John Deere 6120, IVT (40K) with LH reverse MFWD (no suspension) Pre mium cab, 4600 display with AutoTrac activation, no receiver, 540/1000 PTO 3 rear remotes, Cold Start I, loader with bucket. Stock #80565 $135,000 (14)

2013 John Deere 6150M 150 hp row crop tractor with cab, MFWD, PowrQuad Plus 20/20 speed transmission with LH reverser, 540/1000 PTO, 2 SCVs, Cat 3N/2 3-point hitch, 480/80R-42 rear tires, 420/85R-28 front tires, JD 360 loader with bucket and grapple. Stock #80495 $99,500 (14)

2021 John Deere 6155M with MFWD, 20/20 PowrQuad transmission, 3 SCVs, 540/1000 PTO, Cat 3/3N 3-point hitch, 480/80R42 single rear tires, 420/85R28 front tires, loader ready w/JD640R load er-bucket and grapple. Mid ind. 3 func tion valve. Stock #81865 $169,000 (4)

2021 John Deere 6155M row crop trac tor, MFWD, 20/20 PowerQuad trans mission, 3 SCVs, 540/1000 PTO, Cat 3/3N 3-point hitch, 480/80R42 single rear tires, 420/85R28 front tires, loader ready with JD 640R loader/bucket and grapple, Mid ind 3 function valve. Stock #81867 $162,000 (4)

2014 MTZ tractor with loader/bucket, cab with heat/AC, 122 hp, 3 SCVs, 540/1000 PTO, front weights, 24 speed transmis sion, MFWD, 18.4Rx38 rear tires. Stock #80539 $50,000 (3)

2021 John Deere 8R280 row crop tractor with PowerGuard 6-year/4000 hour, IVT, 540/1000 PTO, Cat 4 3-point with quick coupler, dual 480/80R50 rear tires, dual 420/85R34 front tires, 6 SCVx, air seat with cab suspension, large hydrau lic pump, 1400# rear weights and 22 front weights, GPS-AutoTrak complete. Stock #79610 $325,000 (4)

2021 John Deere 8R310 row crop tractor with extended warranty 4000 hours/6 years to October 2027, IVT, full GPS, 5 SCVs, air seat with cab suspension, large hydraulic pump, 1000 PTO, Cat 4 3-point with quik coupler, dual 480/80R50 rear, dual 420/85R34 front, 22 front weights, 1400# rear weights. Stock #79612 $365,000 (4)

2020 John Deere 8320R, 320 hp, IVT transmission, 6 SCVs, 85 GPM hy draulic pump, 4600 processor/Star fire 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)

2020 John Deere 8320R, 320 HP, MFWD, IVT transmission, ILS, Command View III cab, RH reverser, 85 GPM hydraulic pump, 1000 PTO, Cat III 4N 3-point, Quik coupler, front 420/85R34 tires with duals, rear 480/80R50 with duals, 6 SCVs, front/ rear weights, 4600 monitor, 6000 receiver. Stock #75678 $320,000 (15)

2006 John Deere 8130 row crop tractor with MFWD, cab, IVT, 4 SCVs, 1000 PTO, 3-point, hi-flo hydraulic pump (60 gpm), 320/90R54 duals rear tires, 1 pair 1400# rear weights, front weights. Stock #81100 $139,000 (4)

2002 John Deere 8320 row crop tractor, 250 engine hp, 215 PTO hp, GreenStar ready, AutoTrac ready, 4 SCVs, Cat 3 3-point, 1000 PTO, 42.5 gpm hydraulic pump, 118” axles, rear tires 480/80R4610%, inside (1) 1400#, outside (1) 165# wt. per side, duals 480/80R46 - 10% outside (1) 165# and (2) 450# wt per side, MFWD, 20 front weights, engine block heater, instructional seat. Stock #81800 $71,500 (16)

AIR DRILLS

Check out our large selection of good used air drills and planters.

planting is just around the corner.

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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, de luxe cab, work lights, 22 front weights, 80” track spacing, no GPS included. Had rebuilt transmission, hydraulic pump, and engine harness completed this winter. Stock #79965 $139,000 (4)

2007 John 1890, 42-ft. 10” spacing, single shoot, standard wear seed boot, nar row gauge wheel, no blockage, 1910 tow between cart, SN A01910T725906. Stock #81011

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2017 John Deere 1895 air drill, 42-ft. 10” spaciing with side band fertilizer, 90 Se ries opener, narrow solid gauge wheel, smooth closing wheel, JD All Run Block age, 430 tow between card (double shoot with dual fan), no section control, 10” auger, 520 duals. Stock #78577

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2010 John Deere 1895 air drill with 43ft. double shoot drill with 10” spacing, new stainless meter housing, new seed boots/tabs, serrated cast closing wheel, Pro Series firming wheel in spring of 2022 (less than 1000 acres since new), 430 bushel tow behind ground drive cart with variable rate and power calibration. Stock #82204. $125,000 (14)

Case IH AXT 4012 40-ft. air drill with 12” spacing, 6” sweeps, primary blockage,, tire packers, ADX2230 bu tow between cart (CBJ0004329), 8” fill, variable rate. Stock #81835 $30,000 (1)

SELF PROPELLED SPREADERS & SPRAYERS

Several used John Deere and competitive self-propelled and pull-type spreaders & sprayers in stock! Variety of boom makes and widths available. Several units are ready to roll with turnkey GPS!

2018 John Deere R4045 with 132-ft. car bon fiber booms, Exact Apply nozzles, 20” spacing, 5 sensor BT boom air purge, eductor, front fill, auto solution control, wheel slip, hydraulic tread ad just, radar, LED lights, Premium cab/ radio, VF420/95R50 tires includes arm rest display with AutoTrac and section control. Does not include a receiver. Stock #78946 $380,000 (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)

2013 John Deere 4830, 100-ft. 20” spac ing, 5 sensor BoomTrac, 380/80R46, 1000 gallon steel tank and plumbing (2” fill), single flow meter, hydraulic tread adjust, traction control , auto air, air leveling, no receiver, 2630 display with auto trac and section control activa tions. Stock #80778 $135,000 (14)

hours. Stock #74434 $425,000 (12)

2018 John Deere R4045 sprayer with 132-ft. carbon fiber booms, ExactApply, full GPS system, auto solution control, VF 420/95R50 tires, eductor, boom air purge, LED lighting, premium radio, 5 sensor boom leveling. Stock #74435. $435,000 (4)

Apache AS1220 with 120-ft. booms, 20” spacing, boom leveling, Raven Viper 4 rate controller, VF380/90R46 tires. Stock #81278 $118,900 (1)

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2015 Case IH Patriot 3240 with 90-ft. boom, 20” spacing with 3-way nozzle body, Aim Command Pro, 800 gal lon stainless tank, chemical eductor, 380/85R46 tires, auto boom height con trol (Norac), 372 receiver, NavII control ler, AFS Pro 700 monitor, luxury cab. Stock #80849 $185,000 (15)

2021 John Deere R4060, sprayer with 132-ft. carbon fiber, 20”, CVIII cab, Ex act Apply,

100% American Made

Master Gardener

By Jeanne Yeoman, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Overwintering Tender Perennials

Many tender perennials can be overwintered indoors. Cut the plants back by one third, repot them and place them in a sunny window. Another way is to take cuttings: remove the leaves from the lower halves of three to six -inch cuttings and insert the stems in a small container of moist potting mix. Or place the cuttings in a jar of water and pot them up when they have developed healthy roots.

Saving Seeds

You can save some of your garden seeds for next year. Make sure you are collecting from open pollinated varieties, not hybrids. Let both vegetables and flowers mature before you harvest them. Remove the seeds from the fruits and flower heads and dry them. After the seeds are dry, they will need a cold dry spot for storage. To learn more about sav ing seed, check out the Seed Saving Resources on the Seed Savers Exchange website: https://www.seedsavers.org/learn

Plant Perennial Flower Seeds in the Fall

Fall is a great time to plant flowering perennial seeds. Many native plant seeds require a cold treatment before they will germinate. The chill of winter and the warm-up in spring triggers them to break dormancy. Prepare your planting area and add some organic matter such as compost. Wait to plant seeds until after the first killing frost, but before the ground freezes, about the same time of year as you’d plant daffodil and tulip bulbs.

Maintain Perennial Beds into Fall

Roots continue to grow until ground temperatures are below 40 degrees, so now is a good time to mulch perennial beds with organic material such as bark chips or leaves to suppress weeds, preserve moisture, and give roots a longer time to grow. Applying compost in the fall will add nutrients and has other beneficial soil effects. And be sure to keep watering until the soil freezes. Roots surrounded by moist soil are less likely to suffer cold temperature injury.

Start a Garden Journal

Fall is a good time to reflect on your garden and start planning for next year. A Garden Journal is a place to keep notes, observations, plans, and anything that relates to your garden. Keeping a garden journal gives you a record of your garden layouts, plans, successes and failures. There are no rules! It is what YOU make it. Keep it simple so you are more likely to stick with it and record the important things as soon as possible so you don’t forget.

By Laurie Zitterkopf, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Conserve Water, Plant Native Plants

The water we put on our lawns is equal to thirty-two gal lons of water every day for every man, woman and child in the country. Because this is more water than is replaced by rainfall in most areas of the country, watering our lawns is clearly an unsustainable practice. Why do we have lawns, our neighbor has one? If we plant native plants, once established they need little to no additional water.

Starting a New Perennial Bed

Starting a new perennial bed? Create your new planting beds in the fall and plant them in the spring. To start a new bed on existing turf, smother it first with up to 4-6” of a top soil/compost mix to kill the grass. No need to dig down into the sod. A 10’ x 10’ spot can take a couple small shrubs; a few perennials and add in a few annual seeders for faster color.

Attracting Pollinators

Perennials are more appealing both visually and for at tracting pollinators when there’s multiples of the same type of plant. We must plant the host plants, native plants, of the caterpillars, so that we can enjoy the butterflies and feed the birds. Remember to allow for insect damage. Rule of thumb, take ten large steps back from your planting, now what do you see? We must embrace natures artwork, the leaf-cutter bees.

Creating an Ecosystem

Instead of lawn or mulch under our trees, we need to cre ate an ecosystem, plant in layers (shrubs and perennials). A large number of our butterflies and moths spend the caterpil lar stage in the trees and need a soft landing with soil that they can get down into so they can become that butterfly or moth we love to watch. Less lawn, less hassle, Go to nwf. org/nativeplantfinder to help you choose.

Starting Your Own Ecosystem

Our planted landscapes need be able to sustain plants and animals through all life stages. Our lawns/turfgrass, flower beds and privacy rows (tree rows) should be planted with the host plants (native plants) of the caterpillars, so that we can provide an ecological functioning ecosystem. Start this

DEERE JOHN DEERE JOHN DEERE JOHN DEERE JOHN DEERE JOHN DEERE JOHN DEERE JOHN DEERE JOHN DEERE

DEERE

Master Gardener

fall by smothering part of your lawn to plant in the spring. Fall is a great time to plant a tree, choose a good host tree, to start your own ecosystem.

By Kirstee Schutte, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Nematodes

Have you ever encountered a parasitic nematode? Rootknot nematodes are microscopic roundworms that pierce the roots of plants and lay their eggs inside the roots, giving them a “knotty” appearance, while the plant itself may appear wilted or stunted. Plants growing in nematode infested soils are typically stunted and have galled decaying roots. Plants with infected roots are more susceptible to other diseases caused by fungi and bacteria and tend to stop producing early. It is important for control steps to be taken before planting such as carefully sourcing soil and plants. There are many nematode resistant varieties of vegetables available through Johnny’s Selected Seeds and other sources.

Solarization

Solarization is a technique that utilizes heat to decrease harmful organisms and weed seeds. By covering soil with transparent plastic sheets, you allow short wave radiation from the sun to penetrate the plastic. Once the light passes through the plastic and is reflected from the soil, the wave length becomes longer and cannot escape through the plastic. The trapped light facilitates the heating of the soil to tem peratures detrimental to most living organisms. The plastic must be sealed to prevent air movement underneath which would prevent temperatures from rising. The soil should remain covered for a minimum of four weeks but increasing solarization time improves effectiveness.

Chlorosis

Have you observed yellowing of leaves in the landscape? Chlorosis describes a condition in which leaves, or needles develop an abnormally light green or yellow color. Causes of chlorosis include a deficiency of iron, over-watering, and high pH (or alkaline) soils. When iron and other mi cronutrients are present in the soil in sufficient quantities the high pH may be rendering them unavailable to plants, and trees. In this case sulfur applications are appropriate to achieve and maintain lower pH levels. Because roots need oxygen to function overwatering and compaction can leave low levels of oxygen in the soil affecting the ability of roots to pick up iron.

Nebraska Natural Resource Districts

Are you familiar with Nebraska’s Natural Resource Districts? Established in 1972, Nebraska’s unique Natural Resources Districts were created to solve flood control, soil erosion, irrigation run-off, and groundwater quantity and quality issues. Nebraska’s NRDs are involved in a wide variety of projects and programs to conserve and protect the state’s natural resources. NRD boundaries are organized based on Nebraska’s major river basins making 23 differ ent districts. Located near the Western Nebraska Regional Airport, the North Platte Resource District includes Sioux, Scotts Bluff, Banner, Morrill and Garden Counties.

Windbreaks

Did you know that a windbreak doesn’t just compliment your property, but it can also be an energy saving tool that has positive effects on soil health. By planting a row of trees on your property you can reduce heating costs by lowering windchill as dead airspace between the windbreak and your home provides insulation during the winter. Windbreaks positively influence microclimate on an area much greater than the space they occupy. These influences extend into fields about twenty times the height of the windbreak.

Tashunca-uitco, aka Crazy Horse

At the tender age of 13, this legendary warrior was steal ing horses from neighboring tribes. By the time he was 20, Crazy Horse was leading his first war party under the instruction of Chief Red Cloud. The Lakota warrior spend his life fighting for the preservation of his people’s way of life. He amassed more than 1,200 warriors to help Sitting Bull defeat General Crook in 1879. After that, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse joined forces eventually defeating Custer at Little Bighorn. Crazy Horse continued to tirelessly defend his people’s rights, but by 1877, there was little fight left in him. After Crazy Horse left the reservation without authorization in an attempt to get his sick wife to her parents, Crazy Horse was killed during a struggle with officers sent to arrest him.

Fall application deadline for NAP

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Montana reminds producers of approaching application deadlines for purchasing risk coverage for some crops through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).

NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no permanent federal crop insurance program is available, including forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, flori culture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, and more. Coverage varies by county and by crop, so interested produc ers contact their county FSA office for more information.

Upcoming application deadlines for NAP coverage for the 2023 production season in Montana include:

December 31: Honey

March 15, 2023: all Spring Crops except Spring-Seeded Canola, Rye, Speltz, Triticale, Wheat and Mixed Forage

“Natural disasters that are considered eligible causes of loss for NAP include floods, drought, freeze, hail, and exces sive moisture, among others,” said State Executive Director Maureen Wicks. “Given the variability of weather in Mon tana, we want to remind producers of the availability of NAP as a potential risk management tool in 2023.”

All producers who receive Emergency Relief Program (ERP) phase one payments are statutorily required to pur chase crop insurance, or NAP coverage where crop insurance is not available, for the next two available crop years, as determined by the Secretary.

Coverage requirements will be determined from the date a producer receives an ERP payment and may vary de pending on the timing and availability of crop insur ance or NAP for a producer’s particular crops. The final crop year to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage to meet the second year of coverage for this require ment is the 2026 crop year.

NAP basic coverage is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50 percent of expected pro duction. Buy-up coverage is available in some cases. NAP can protect against losses associated with lower yields, destroyed crops or prevented planting. The 2018 Farm Bill allows for buy-up levels of NAP cov erage from 50 to 65 percent of expected production in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average mar ket price. Buy-up coverage is not available for crops intended for grazing.

For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per coun ty, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. Premiums apply for buy-up coverage.

Producers qualifying as beginning, underserved, or limited resource farmers or those who can meet eligibili ty requirements as a military veteran are eligible for the basic level of NAP cover age at no cost and have the potential for reduction in the cost of buy-up premiums.

To learn more about NAP visit fsa.usda.gov/nap or contact your local USDA Service Center. To find your local USDA Service Center, visit farmers.gov.

Samantha

Samantha Yearry perceives life through the lens of her camera with an invigorating passion for the mo ments she captures. With her kids and aspirations as her motivating forces, Samantha seizes every oppor tunity in life to work hard and live intensely. As a thirdgeneration Montanan, Samantha grew up in the Helena area and continues to reside there today. Samantha joins the Corder and Associates real estate team with a desire to connect with clients looking for their dream land or home. She seeks to help those looking to sell as they navigate through the next step on their life’s jour ney. Just as she tells a story through her photographs, Samantha appreciates being a part of another’s narra tive! With her knowledge and experience, Samantha invites you to share your story with her so that she can assist you in your journey. Her determination and op timism make her a quality partner for all of your real estate needs!

PATRIOT

Released in 2019 by Montana State University, Bobcat is a solid stemmed hard red winter wheat with improved yield potential rela tive to other solid stemmed varieties. Bobcat is an awned, whiteglumed, semi-dwarf wheat with medium to late maturity. Bobcat is the top performing line in locations where sawfly cutting has occurred. Stem solidness is excellent, significantly higher than to Warhorse. Bobcat has above average test weight and aver age protein, and average winter hardiness. Bobcat is resistant to prevalent races of stripe and stem rust, but suseptible to leaf rust. Bobcat has above average mill and bake properties. Bobcat is well adapted to all areas of Montana!

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Farms

Greg Woods (406) 399-0488 • Matthew Woods (406) 399-3640 P.O. Box 807 • Inverness, Montana 59530 gwoods@itstriangle.com

National Meatloaf Appreciation Day

Date When Celebrated: Always October 18th National Meatloaf Day is here and now! This humble, if not healthy entree, has a special day all to its own. I betcha can’t wait to make a meatloaf and serve it to your family. Meatloaf is a budget friendly meal, that can use just about any meat. Hamburger is by far the most popular. Some recipes call for pork, veal, turkey, or even deer and other game meat. Use whatever suits your family tastes.

Meatloaf is the culinary butt of many jokes. However, we feel it deserves both a lot of respect and certainly its day of recognition and celebration. It may not be the healthiest meal you can eat, but it sure tastes good. It certainly helps to stretch the family food budget, too.

To celebrate this National Meatloaf Appreciation Day, dust off your favorite meatloaf recipe, cook it up and watch your family wolf it down!

NEW HEAVY DUTY FLATBED GOOSENECK TRAILERS

Diamond C 40-ft., (2) 12,000 lb. axles, hydraulic beavertail. $31,395

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