Sorted by date Results 1420 - 1444 of 2265
The Roundup held its annual Make It With Sugar Contest October 24 at Reynolds Market in Sidney, in conjunction with Harvest Festival. Judges from Sidney Sugars sampled all the entries and judged the winners....
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 29th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.41, a 37-cent increase from last year’s average of $49.04. The big ticket item – a 16-pound turkey – came in at $21.65 this year. That’s roughly $1.35 per pound, a decrease of less than 1 cent per pound, or a total of 11 cents per whole turkey, compared to 2013. “Turkey production has been somewhat lower this year and wholesale prices are a little high...
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...
I pushed my cart around the mountains of baking ingredients on pallets in the grocery store aisles the other day. Many of the store shelves were empty, especially the shelves that noted a coupon was needed. The store had just gotten a large shipment of bags of flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar and chocolate chips. Yes, holiday baking season is upon us and cookies often top the list of holiday food traditions. Of course, you can buy cookies readily in grocery stores, but they usually do not...
The great fall weather psyched us into believing it will last into December. However, recent cold weather changed plans because I could not keep up with providing ice-free water. Even though the calves had been weaned I felt the light covering of snow was not enough for cows about to enter the third trimester of pregnancy when fetal growth is rapid. Good nutrition during the last trimester has many consequences. Fetal growth must be met with greater levels of energy and protein feeds. If extra...
The use of the word “sustainability” often is an indication that someone is searching for a simple, normal approach to life. In other words, the ability to fit in without the pressures of uncertainty. Is that possible? Can a cattle operation be “sustainable” in the long run or are the dynamics of the world around us too strong? Instead of sustainability, what we really may need is an organized response to ever-present change. As cattle producers, how we respond to the environment is key to our survival. The world is covered with water and pla...
All mammals are susceptible to rabies. North Dakota State University animal health experts are warning people to be on the lookout for rabid bats. “Recently, a number of bats have been submitted to the NDSU diagnostic lab for rabies testing,” says Neil Dyer, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. “One of six bats came up positive for the rabies virus.” Being exposed to and infected with the rabies virus is very serious, and all mammals are susceptible, according to Gerald Stokka, NDSU Extension Service livestock stewardship special...
The Montana Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have selected the recipients of the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grants. Overall, eleven entities involved with specialty crops met the grant qualifications and will receive some $986,000 in grant funds to help advance agriculture in Montana. Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, horticultural, and nursery crops, including floriculture. Plants must be intensively cultivated and used by people for food, medicinal purposes and/or...
Megan Van Emon, a beef specialist and assistant professor in MSU Extension and the College of Agriculture’s Animal and Range Sciences Department, works with beef programs on campus and at the USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City. Van Emon interacts with constituents throughout Montana and serves as a resource for beef producers and Extension agents. Van Emon can be reached at (406) 874-8286, or [email protected]. Emily Glunk, a forage specialist and assistant professor in Extension and the Animal a...
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farm owners and producers that the opportunity to choose between the new 2014 Farm Bill established programs, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), began Nov. 17, 2014, and continues through March 31, 2015. The new programs, designed to help producers better manage risk, usher in one of the most significant reforms to U.S. farm programs in decades. “USDA is committed to keeping farm owners and producers well informed on all steps in this pro...
Peak tornado activity in the central and southern Great Plains of the United States is occurring up to two weeks earlier than it did half a century ago, according to a new Montana State University study whose findings could help states in "Tornado Alley" better prepare for these violent storms. Tornado records from Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and northern Texas -- an area of high tornado activity dubbed "Tornado Alley" -- show that peak tornado activity is starting and ending earlier than it...
After 34 years at Sidney Sugars, Randy Jones is working his last harvest. He will be retiring from his position as the Ag Finance Superintendent to enjoy his family, hobbies and volunteer work. “I’m 67 years old and it’s time to step aside and do some of the things I’ve missed out on like pheasant hunting which is always during harvest season. It’s time to let younger people step in and take over,” says Jones about his decision to retire. The factory employs about 230 people during the harvest...
The Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS) out of Bozeman visited Brorson Elementary on Monday, October 13th and Tuesday, October 14th. MOSS is a privately funded science program that goes into schools across the state teaching the global leadership concept of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. MOSS brings a hands-on approach pairing lab studies in the classroom with field science. The no-textbook method encourages kids to explore science in the world around them. "MOSS's main goal...
Dale Edam, a fourth generation wheat farmer in the area, is still working the land that his father and grandfather worked before him. The original homestead of his great-grandfather is about a mile away from the current farm which is located west of Crane, MT. In 1912 Edam’s great-grandfather Bert Edam established a homestead and farmed 160 acres near Crane, MT as well as owning the first tractor and threshing machine in the area. Edam’s grandfather, Wilbert Edam, and his brother George beg...
Farmers have a multitude of variables to consider when planting their crops. For example, they must decide what to plant and when, what and how much fertilizer to use if any, what kind of tillage to use if any, and when and how much water to apply if irrigating. The carry-over effects of previous crops and their residues, the impacts of microorganisms in the soil, likely disease and insect pest pressures, equipment needs and, of course, the weather can make decisions to move to new management...
The entries for the annual beet decorating contest were fantastic again this year, making the judges work hard to pick only three in each age group. A huge Thank you to The Powder Keg, Lori Yadon (Avon), Fairview Super Valu and Kayla Watters (Something About a Cupcake) for providing great prizes, and Fairview SuperValue foir providing space for the contest....
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will improve farm loans by expanding eligibility and increasing lending limits to help more beginning and family farmers. As part of this effort, USDA is raising the borrowing limit for the microloan program from $35,000 to $50,000; simplify the lending processes; updating required “farming experience” to include other valuable experiences; and expanding eligible business entities to reflect changes in the way family farms are owned and...
Do not miss your chance to attend Montana’s largest ranching industry Convention and Trade Show. The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and Montana CattleWomen invites you to join us for our 130th Annual Convention at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana in Billings, December 11-13. This year’s Convention will be bigger than ever with an extended line up of Cattlemen’s College courses and live entertainment from Wylie and the Wild West. “2014 marks 130 years for the Montana Stockgrowers Association and we will be closing out the year in a big w...
For the first time in recent history, Montana State University has hired a dedicated livestock judging coach who will also teach applied coursework and manage a program that is designed to give students hands-on experience in the beef industry. Hannah DelCurto recently joined MSU's animal and range sciences department as an instructor and coach of the MSU Livestock Judging Team and the Steer-A-Year program. "These programs provide valuable experiences for students that will help them in their...
The Montana Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grant funding from the Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF). Grant applications are due by December 1, 2014. The Trust Fund, established in 1985 by the Montana Legislature, can provide grant awards up to $75,000 for eligible noxious weed research projects, state and community education or development projects, and local cooperative landowner cost share grants. Over $1 million dollars from the NWTF program will be available for the development and implementation of noxious weed...
Guided by their research, experts at Montana State University have developed guidelines for soil sampling to help growers get the maximum benefit out of their fertilizer. Soil sampling can increase yield and/or save on fertilizer costs and decrease environmental risks. The worth of soil testing is influenced by when the sample is taken. Soil testing as late in the fall as possible or even in the spring improves the reliability of fertilization recommendations. In Montana, soil sampling is often conducted from late summer to late fall because of...
USDA North Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA) is partnering with the North Dakota State University Extension Service to host a series of informational meetings to discuss the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014. The 2014 Farm Bill authorizes three program election options: PLC, ARC-County (ARC-CO) and ARC-Individual (ARC-IC). Producers must make a one-time decision to retain or reallocate crop bases, to retain or update program payment yields and select the type of...
Montana State University Extension, in partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture, will be visiting 28 Montana communities this fall to conduct a series of informational meetings about important new programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014. The meetings will focus on the price-loss coverage and agricultural-risk coverage that will be administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency and the supplemental-coverage option administered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency through federal crop insurance providers. MSU Extension will exp...
Anna Downen has been working at the High Plains Veterinary Clinic in Sidney since May, 2014. Downen and her team competed and placed 2nd in the National Animal Science Competition in July. The 24 year old Columbia Falls native recently graduated from MSU- Bozeman with a BS in Animal Science with a focus on equine. While Anna is working at the front office she also gets to help with the animals that are brought in and hopes one day to become a Certified Veterinary Technician. (Photo by Susan...
The 2014 sugar beet crop is shaping up to be a good one according to Sidney Sugars agricultural manager Russ Fullmer. The latest root samples indicated big tonnage. “They were pretty good,” Fullmer said. “The tons will be there.” The earlier light frosts should help with sugar content while not affecting growth. Fullmer said there are more yellow fields this year than in the past few years, indicating that the beets are making sugar. Sugar content has been an issue recently, but Fullmer predicts better sugar this harvest. The root samples...
