Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 189
Stored grain needs to be cool and dry during summer storage, a North Dakota State University Extension Service grain-drying expert says. “Cold or cool grain has been safely stored through the summer for many years,” notes Ken Hellevang, an Extension agricultural engineer. “Keeping the grain as cool as possible should be the goal of summer grain storage.” Allowing grain to warm to average outdoor air temperatures during the summer can lead to insect infestations and mold growth. The optimum grain temperature for insect activity is approxi...
The North Dakota State University Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) will showcase dryland agronomy and horticulture at its annual field day on July 13 and host an irrigation field day on July 14. The July 13 event begins with coffee and rolls at 8:30 a.m. CDT. The dryland crops tour starts at 9 a.m. Topics to be highlighted during the dryland crop tour are: * Durum wheat breeding and genetics * Foundation seed increase program overview * Interseeding demonstration plots * Northern...
Yellow patches of leafy spurge are beginning to pop up in road ditches across North Dakota. "Leafy spurge is the most recognized noxious weed in the state, infesting approximately 746,183 acres, followed by Canada thistle (824,659 acres) and absinth wormwood (608,414 acres)," says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension Service livestock environmental stewardship specialist. "These species are the most common noxious weeds found on rangeland and pastures across the state."...
Using estrus synchronization and artificial insemination to control breeding in cattle has several benefits, according to North Dakota State University livestock experts. "Artificial insemination (AI) offers the opportunity to use semen from high-accuracy, genetically superior sires at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a herd bull of similar genetics," says NDSU Extension Service beef cattle specialist Carl Dahlen. "In addition, using estrus synchronization and AI can increase the number of...
A cow herd's nutrient requirements are greatest from immediately after calving through peak milk production. "Inadequate nutrition during this time may have immediate impacts in terms of lower calf birth weights, weak calves and/or increased death loss, and decreased milk production," says Janna Kincheloe, the North Dakota State University Extension Service's area livestock systems specialist at the Hettinger Research Extension Center. "However, the consequences of low body condition at calving...
Many North Dakota ranchers are faced with a continual lice infestation in their herd this winter, even though they have treated their cattle. “Some have even treated more than once and are still seeing the effects of lice in their livestock,” says Ashley Ueckert, a North Dakota State University Extension Service agent in Golden Valley County. Unfortunately, lice populations are much more difficult to control than they were 10 years ago, according to Gerald Stokka, NDSU Extension veterinarian. “We cannot be sure of the reason for reduced lice co...
Soil samples in North Dakota indicate low levels of overwintering wheat midge larvae (cocoons) for the 2017 season, according to Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University Extension Service entomologist. A total of 201 soil samples were collected from 21 counties in the fall of 2016 to estimate the regional risk for wheat midge in 2017. The distribution of wheat midge is based on unparasitized cocoons found in the soil samples. "Only 2 percent of the soil samples had economic population...
Cattle producers will have an opportunity to learn how expected progeny differences (EPDs) can help them buy the right bulls for their operation during workshops the North Dakota State University Extension Service is holding this winter. The Buying Bulls by the Numbers workshops will be held Dec. 9, and Jan. 20 and Feb. 3, 2017, at NDSU’s Dickinson Research Extension Center. The same workshop information will be presented at the North Dakota Beef Commission offices in Bismarck on Dec. 16, and Jan. 3 and Feb. 10, 2017. The workshops will focus o...
Like most cattle producers, Darwin Chesrown of Turtle Lake wants to improve his operation, but he's reluctant to commit the entire herd to trying something different. So when the North Dakota State University Extension Service developed an annual feedout project in conjunction with the Dakota Feeder Calf Show, he took advantage of it. The project allows producers to see what can happen if they keep and feed calves after weaning instead of selling them. Each producer may consign two or three...
Cattle producers will have an opportunity to learn how expected progeny differences (EPDs) can help them buy the right bulls for their operation during workshops the North Dakota State University Extension Service is holding this winter. The Buying Bulls by the Numbers workshops will be held Dec. 9, and Jan. 20 and Feb. 3, 2017, at NDSU’s Dickinson Research Extension Center. The same workshop information will be presented at the North Dakota Beef Commission offices in Bismarck on Dec. 16, and Jan. 3 and Feb. 10, 2017. The workshops will focus o...
Elgin-ND is the first North Dakota State University hard red spring wheat cultivar that combines high yield and good quality. Elgin-ND hard red spring wheat is available for general distribution to growers for the second year after its release by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Results from hard red spring wheat variety trials showed Elgin-ND had excellent performance. Elgin-ND's average yield from 2008 to 2014 was higher than Barlow, Glenn and SY Soren, three popular North...
Seminars for sugar beet growers are scheduled during February in Grafton, Grand Forks, Fargo and Wahpeton. The seminars are sponsored by the North Dakota State University Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension. Topics include: Subsurface water management Integrated management of aphanomyces Challenges and solutions for sugar beet insect pests Weed management Strategies to manage sugar beet diseases Using the NDSU Extension pest management app The seminars at each location will begin at 9 a.m. Dates and locations are: Feb. 5...
A positive is that projected yields for most crops have increased. Many projected crop budgets show a negative return to labor and management for 2015, according to Andy Swenson, North Dakota State University Extension Service farm management specialist. Crop prices have declined but total production costs have resisted this decline. A positive is that projected yields for most crops have increased and some cost items, most notably fuel, will be lower. About half the regions project a positive...
Seminars for sugar beet growers are scheduled during February in Grafton, Grand Forks, Fargo and Wahpeton. The seminars are sponsored by the North Dakota State University Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension. Topics include: Subsurface water management Integrated management of aphanomyces Challenges and solutions for sugar beet insect pests Weed management Strategies to manage sugar beet diseases Using the NDSU Extension pest management app The seminars at each location will begin at 9 a.m. Dates and locations are: Feb. 5...
The NDSU Extension Service is piloting the program at six sites this winter. Have you thought about what your family farm or ranch business will look like when you retire or after you are gone? More than 80 percent of farm and ranch families hope to pass the family farm or ranch on to the next generation, but research shows only 30 percent of family farms and ranches survive to the second generation, and only 12 percent survive to the third generation. A successful transition takes planning. To help North Dakota farm and ranch families start...
Characteristics of ND1406HP include 0.6 maturity, purple flower color, gray pubescence, yellow hila with dull seed coat luster and brown pod color. Producers in the soybean specialty market may be interested in ND1406HP, a new variety developed by the North Dakota State University soybean breeding program. ND1406HP is a conventional (non-GMO) soybean that was released this year from the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. "ND1406HP is intended for the high-protein, tofu or soymilk...
The days of going to the local elevator and buying common oats or barley to spread as a cover crop are gone. Increasing interest in cover crops, especially mixtures of crop varieties, is generating questions from producers, seed retailers and seed variety owners. All seed sold for use as a cover crop must be labeled according to state seed laws. “Most varieties of cereals and legumes utilized in cover crops are protected by intellectual property laws,” says Ken Bertsch, North Dakota’s state seed commissioner. “Plant variety protection (PVP) a...
All storage options should keep the grain dry and provide adequate aeration. With a considerable amount of last year’s grain crop still in storage, and a bumper crop and low prices this year, the demand for grain storage is high. “Grain can be stored in many types of facilities,” North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer Ken Hellevang says. “But all storage options should keep the grain dry and provide adequate aeration to control grain temperature.” Grain must be dry and cool (near the average outdoor temperatu...
Several North Dakota 4-Hers have gained a lesson in citizenship. The 41 4-H youth gathered in Bismarck on Feb. 16 and 17 for the North Dakota State University Extension Service Center for 4-H Youth Development's annual Citizenship in Action program. This event gives youth an opportunity to learn about the executive branch of state government, showcase citizenship and leadership exhibits, share ideas on impacting their community and learn how to become a change agent for the future. Activities...
Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension Service farm economist, has some items to note for your 2013 income tax preparation. Agricultural producers have until March 3, 2014, to file their 2013 income tax returns without penalty if they have not made estimates. “Producers have until April 15 to file without penalty if they have paid their estimated tax by Jan. 15,” says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University Extension Service farm economist. Items to note for 2013 income tax preparation: New for 2013 is an additional Medicare tax of 0.9 percent on wag...
This winter’s frigid temperatures and high heating costs are putting a big dent in North Dakotans’ budgets. For example, the cost of filling a 500-gallon propane tank jumped from about $750 to $2,250. “Families struggling to pay for heating bills and keep up with other expenses shouldn’t panic, but they should take steps to manage the hit their family budget is taking this winter,” says Lori Scharmer, North Dakota State University Extension Service family economics specialist. Scharmer recommends sitting down with a calculator to get a real pic...
Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension Service farm economist, has some items to note for your 2013 income tax preparation. Agricultural producers have until March 3, 2014, to file their 2013 income tax returns without penalty if they have not made estimates. “Producers have until April 15 to file without penalty if they have paid their estimated tax by Jan. 15,” says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University Extension Service farm economist. Items to note for 2013 income tax preparation: New for 2013 is an additional Medicare tax of 0.9 percent on wag...
Projected crop budgets generally show some return to labor and management for 2014, although the price of most crops declined significantly in 2013 and are not expected to improve, according to Andy Swenson, North Dakota State University Extension Service farm management specialist. A reduction in total costs per acre provides a slight cushion to the impact of lower crop prices. “The overall decline in costs was accomplished because of a 20 to 25 percent decrease in nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer prices and lower fuel prices,” Swenson says....
The North Dakota State University Extension Services has updated the Crop Compare program, which is a spreadsheet designed to compare cropping alternatives. The program uses the direct costs and yields from the 2014 projected crop budgets for nine regions of North Dakota, but producers are encouraged to enter the expected yields and input costs for their farm. The user designates a reference crop and enters its expected market price. Depending on the region, a broad selection of nine to 18 crops are compared. The program provides the prices...
Ranchers and land managers will be shown how to manage grasslands with biologically effective grazing strategies that increase available soil mineral nitrogen and generate greater wealth from grazing land’s natural resources without depleting future production. A biologically effective pasture and harvested forage management workshop will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 7-9, 2014, at the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center. Traditionally managed grazing land pastures are chronically deficient in available m...
