Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 239
Soil samples in North Dakota indicate increasing levels of overwintering wheat midge larvae (cocoons) for the 2020 season, says Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University Extension entomologist. A total of 1,900 soil samples were collected from 20 counties in the fall of 2019 to estimate the statewide risk for wheat midge in the 2020 field season. The distribution of wheat midge is based on unparasitized cocoons found in the soil samples. "About 1% of the soil samples had very high population...
Because of difficult harvest conditions last fall, grain may have been stored with higher than normal moisture content, which could pose a danger to anyone working around the grain. "High-moisture grain storage leads to bin unloading problems," warns Ken Hellevang, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural engineer. "Grain may be in clumps due to high-moisture grain and foreign material being frozen together, or due to crusted grain flowing in chunks that block grain flow into the...
Planning and preparing for the calving season can help not only minimize calf losses but also improve calves' performance, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists. The nutrition status of the calving herd is one issue to consider in preparing for the upcoming spring calving season. "Although this should be an earlier concern, throughout the last trimester of the gestation, it is still possible to split the calving herd according to the body condition of the fem...
Poor growing and harvesting conditions this year have North Dakota producers concerned about the test weight of their corn. "Many factors influence the measured test weight of corn, including the physical characteristics of the kernel such as size, density, shape and surface of the kernel," says Ken Hellevang, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural engineer. Hybrid differences can affect test weight. As grain dries in the field or the dryer, test weight naturally increases as long...
North Dakota State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) are hosting a webinar Thursday, Dec. 5, to provide producers with information on available disaster recovery assistance. The webinar will begin at 2 p.m. Central time. "Because of flooding and the October blizzard which impacted growing and harvesting conditions in the state this year, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue approved a secretarial disaster declaration request for 47 counties...
The 2019 growing season has not been conducive for corn grain production in many areas of the northern Plains. The late planting season, combined with cooler temperatures, has left many fields unharvestable or not cost effective for harvesting corn for grain, especially with late-season varieties. Alternative uses for corn include grazing, chopping it, harvesting as earlage or harvesting high-moisture corn and using it for livestock feed. However, producers must take precautions when grazing unharvested corn to assure animals don’t develop h...
The sign-up period for the 2019 Market Facilitation Program is now open, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural finance specialist. The program provides aid to farmers growing specified crops in the form of a county-wide payment rate as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The county payment rates were released at the end of July and varied from a minimum of $15 per acre to a maximum of $150 per acre. Many North Dakota counties in the...
Anthrax continues to be a concern for cattle producers in North Dakota. "Recently, a case of anthrax was positively identified in a southwestern North Dakota county," says Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian. "This is a reminder to our cattle producers that the threat of anthrax is still present. It appears that during times of high rainfall and/or very dry conditions, the spores are uncovered and cattle are at risk of infection." Anthrax is a disease in cattle ca...
Planting cover crops is increasing in popularity each year, and this is not surprising considering the benefits. However, those potential benefits will be quickly negated by the use of untested or unlabeled seed says Jason Goltz, North Dakota State Seed Department regulatory programs manager. North Dakota seed law requires that all agricultural seed offered for sale, or sold for planting purposes, must be labeled. Proper labeling requires seed testing and without proof of testing, there is the...
Don't invite botulism to your dinner table. Botulism is a deadly form of food poisoning. The toxin, or poison, causing the illness commonly is associated with improperly processed home-canned vegetables, such as peas, peppers, corn, lima beans, green beans and mushrooms, as well as other low-acid foods that are canned at home, including soups, meats, fish and poultry. If canned food isn't processed properly, spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum aren't killed. Even a taste of...
The third in a four-part webinar series hosted by gerontologists from North Dakota State University Extension and South Dakota State University Extension will take place on August 14. It will discuss aging, how aging is different from disease, and barriers and strategies to aging well. The webinar begins at noon CDT. Most people think aging happens to someone in their 60s or 70s, when in fact, all adults are aging, says Jane Strommen, NDSU Extension gerontology specialist. While chronic disease...
The snowy, frigid winter may have left cattle producers short on forage for their livestock, and they are itching to get the cattle out on grass. "Proceed with caution when turning livestock out on range and pasture," advises Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. "The long, cold winter may result in a delay in grazing readiness, especially considering the cool temperatures we have experienced so far this spring. Grazing too early...
Beef cows that have been underfed during gestation and lactation will be less productive than cows fed adequate diets. "For adequate production, a beef cow's daily ration must meet nutritional requirements," says Karl Hoppe, North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center. "Cows will lose body weight when consuming less energy than needed for maintaining body functions and production demands." Extreme cold temperatures or wind...
Landowners will have an opportunity to discuss their concerns and experiences with brine spills during a series of informal meetings North Dakota State University Extension is hosting this spring. These meetings are open to all landowners to discuss their concerns and experiences with brine spills. NDSU researchers will provide an update on the current brine remediation research being conducted in the state. The goal of these meetings is for everyone to share information and voice their concerns...
This year's Leadership Awareness Weekend (LAW), a statewide 4-H civic engagement event, was a worthwhile experience for several North Dakota youth. "4-H LAW is a wonderful opportunity for youth to make new friends, learn how to become a strong leader and become more connected with our government," says 4-Her Marie Kraemer of Grand Forks. She was among youth from 12 counties who participated in parliamentary procedure activities, break-out sessions and a service project, and met state and local...
Piled-up stress can lead farmers and ranchers to develop physical or mental health issues, but they can take steps to reduce stress and create healthy ways to manage it, says a North Dakota State University Extension expert. "Farm and ranch families often experience pressure, conflict and uncertainty, especially during harvesting and planting," says Sean Brotherson, Extension family science specialist. "If feelings of frustration and helplessness build up, they can lead to intense family...
Abortions can be a major concern for cattle producers. An "abortion" is the discharge of the fetus prior to the end of the normal gestation period, according to Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist. Many abortions occur within the first 45 days of conception (called early embryonic death), and the embryos or fetuses are so small that they may not be seen. Other abortions may occur near normal calving time, and determining...
Producers will be able to learn more about grazing cover crops and forages during a workshop North Dakota State University's soil health team is holding on March 4 at the Astoria Hotel and Event Center in Dickinson, N.D. "This workshop is designed to show the latest research findings on grazing cover crops and the impacts on the soil and livestock, while incorporating alfalfa management in western North Dakota and using precision agriculture to help map lands using these alternative land...
Planning for the future can be a very frustrating process especially in times of tariffs and market volatility. Planning typically pays high dividends. For most farm and ranch managers, developing realistic commodity price expectations is one of the most difficult and complex tasks of the planning process. To make the planning process easier, North Dakota State University Extension has released its 2019 short- and long-term agricultural planning price projections for North Dakota, says Ron...
The seventh annual North Dakota Reclamation Conference, "Reflecting on Reclamation," will spotlight the progress in reclamation policies, soil remediation and vegetation establishment. It will be held Feb. 25-26 at the Astoria Hotel and Events Center in Dickinson, N.D. "When we talk about reclamation, we often focus on the improvements needed to achieve successful remediation of lands impacted by energy development while losing sight of the strides that have been made in terms of knowledge,...
A calculator developed by North Dakota State University Extension to help producers estimate the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments they may receive in 2019 is available online. Visit https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/farmmanagement/farm-bill or search for “NDSU farm bill.” The payments are for the 2018 crop year, but final determination and issuance of actual payments are not made until the last three months of 2019. Producers face a challenging profit environment for 2019 and any source of revenue will be important...
Agricultural producers should do tax planning before the end of the year. "In tax planning, it is best to start with year-to-date income and expenses, and estimate them for the remainder of the year," says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University Extension farm economist. "Estimate depreciation and include any income that was deferred to 2018 from a previous year." Haugen adds, "It is best to try to spread out income and expenses so producers don't have abnormally high or low income or...
Farmers and ranchers in the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program's North Central Region (NCR-SARE) have until Dec. 6 to submit grant proposals to explore sustainable agriculture solutions to problems on the farm or ranch. "Proposals should show how farmers and ranchers plan to use their own innovative ideas to explore sustainable agriculture options and how they will share project results," says Karl Hoppe, a North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist...
If you love gardening and sharing your knowledge with others, you are encouraged to enroll in the Master Gardener course offered in McKenzie County through an online program with North Dakota State University Extension. Application deadline is October 29. The NDSU Extension Master Gardener Program is a volunteer service organization that beautifies communities, educates the public about gardening, works with youth and encourages conservation of natural resources. This year’s Master Gardener online training program will run for 10 weeks b...
Soybeans can be used as a protein supplement for beef cattle, as long as the beans are a small part of the cattle's diet. North Dakota producers having trouble selling soybeans for the export market this year should consider feeding the soybeans to beef cattle, North Dakota State University Extension livestock experts say. Soybeans can be used as a protein supplement for beef cattle, as long as the beans are a small part of the cattle's diet, according to Karl Hoppe, Extension livestock systems...
