Sorted by date Results 1806 - 1830 of 2265
The National Weather Service will be holding Skywarn Spotter classes in May. The course teaches volunteers to spot severe weather conditions such as flash floods, hail, lightning, thunderstorms and tornadoes. In an average year, 5,000 floods and over 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States, threatening lives and property. The course covers the storm structures, safety precautions, how to identify a severe weather condition and how to properly report severe weather. The classes are free...
USDA Montana Farm Service Agency reminds producers of several important upcoming deadlines. For more information regarding FSA programs and/or loans, contact your local county FSA office located in 48 USDA Service Centers across Montana and visit us online at www.fsa.usda.gov/mt. Upcoming 2013 Dates and Deadlines: May 1: USDA Claims Filing Deadline for Hispanic & Women Farmers and Ranchers (For claims assistance, contact: 1-888-508-4429 and/or www.farmerclaims.gov.) May 14: Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Managed Spring Grazing Period Ends...
Sidney FFA had chapter participants at the recent State FFA Convention where over 1500 members and guests participated in some fashion. James Topp, Travis Obergfell, Duran Vigesaa, Emily Schaff and Marianne Gartner were the participants from Sidney FFA Chapter. Emily participated as chapter delegate, public speaking, extemporaneous speaking and leadership scholar. Her results were: Scholarship recipient of $400 from the Holt Family Scholarship (for attending National convention in 2013), $500 from State FFA Alumni Association for attending a...
Montana State University students who drive draft horses for a hobby know their animals. George, for one, is the cat that lives at the Miller Pavilion where students gather for their weekly practice. George is supposed to catch mice, but he prefers sandwiches and occasionally slips into backpacks to find them. Omen and Juniper are the Blue Heelers that wait outside the pavilion when their owner is inside. Brandy and Star are the Belgian horses that members of the MSU Driving Team say make them...
Summertime is almost upon us. For most Americans, the warmer weather brings picnics in the park, BBQs and grilling out with family and friends. It also brings the increased chance for foodborne illness to occur if safe food preparation and handling is not given full attention. Because food safety is such an important issue to farmers, we’ve worked hard to ensure that the food that reaches your table is safe. Thanks to voluntary farmer-led initiatives, strict government monitoring and consumer food safety education, foodborne illness has d...
Montana Farmer’s Union (MFU) 2013 camp season at Arrowpeak Lodge in the Highwood Mountains is just around the corner and offers lots of fun lasting memories for youth across the state. The MFU Senior Youth Advisory Board chose “Cooperation, Education, Exhilaration” as the theme for camp this year. The camp schedules provide age appropriate activities and workshops with the goal of making memories, encouraging cooperative teamwork and growing tomorrow’s leaders. The camps provide lots of time for campfires, dances, theme nights, art & crafts,...
Weather conditions have been dry for more than a year in parts of North Dakota, and sump pumps may not have run in a while. However, with the heavy amount of snow still on the ground, the threat of flooding this spring means homeowners should check their sump pump now to make sure it works properly, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer Tom Scherer says. Sump pumps are available in two basic models: upright (commonly called a pedestal) and submersible. Either works well with proper maintenance, according to...
Every five years, various sectors of the US government update a technical report on the foreseen climate changes and the challenges it may present. The USDA was asked to evaluate the impact in regards to agriculture. Dr. Robert Srygley, insect ecologist with the Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory in Sidney, was a contributing author on the 2013 report. Dr. Srygley, during a lunch session on March 22, presented the public with an overview of predicted climate changes and its possibl...
Does a higher salt concentration in water affect a plant’s growth? That is what Sidney Middle School student, Justin Candee, took a look into for his science fair project this year. The amount of salt greatly affects the amount of absorption. You would think that the less the salt, the less water you need which will in turn lead to more growth. That is exactly what Candee set out to find out. The accumulation of salt in the soil can happen both naturally and due to humans. The natural p...
Reservation Telephone Cooperative (RTC) is a proud supporter of local organizations and their projects. Most recently RTC donated $1,000 toward the local film project titled, “Cowboys and Crude.” “Cowboys and Crude” is Vawnita (Hovet) Best’s project for Rural Leadership North Dakota. After assessing the needs of the community, Vawnita saw a need for a professional film to serve as a recruitment piece explaining community values, services, quality of life and recreation. Jan Dodge and Jessie Veed...
A weed is defined as any plant that interferes with management objectives for a given area of land at a given point in time. Invasive weeds are one of the greatest threats to Montana’s environment. When these invaders are allowed to spread, they cause a reduction in wildlife forage, degrade fisheries through erosion and sediment buildup and reduce property values. Currently, Montana has approximately 7.6 million precious acres infested with state-listed noxious weeds, and several new and p...
The American Farm Bureau Federation and other members of the Coalition for Animal Health hosted an educational briefing for congressional staff on meat production, public health and the importance of antibiotics. The briefing focused on helping legislators understand how and why farmers and ranchers use antibiotics. Presenters included Dr. Scott Hurd, a veterinarian and epidemiologist at Iowa State University; Dr. Christine Hoang with the American Veterinary Medical Association; and Dr. Rich Carnevale from the Animal Health Institute. The risk...
According to research and feedback from the ranching community, there is an increased risk of problems or death to exposed newborns during situations of wind chill, rain or wet snow, high humidity (because it makes it more difficult for wet newborns to dry off), or a combination of these elements. Across the United States it has been estimated that nearly 100,000 calves die of cold stress each year. Because of this, the National Weather Service has researched and discovered that the normal...
The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) is now taking applications for participants in the 2013 NILE Internship Program. The Internship program provides the opportunity to gain training and work experience in the livestock and equine industries as well as events based business through The NILE Stock Show and Rodeo. New this year is the opportunity for interns to earn financial scholarships through the NILE Foundation. Scholarships will be awarded to interns upon successful...
Weeds have long been a challenge to farmers attempting to efficiently produce food products and maintain profitability. At first the only options of controlling the moisture robbing pests were tillage and hand labor. Approximately 50-60 years ago the agriculture community was introduced to herbicides that would attack the weeds, mostly broadleaf, but not harm the crop. Since then, weed control practices have drastically changed. For most crops, farmers rely very little on tillage as the primary...
Come along on a cattle drive through the historic Brink ranch. Lay out your bedroll under a pine tree beneath the starry skies of Montana, as coyotes howl from the rimrocks, cattle graze nearby, and horses nicker softly and stamp their feet in the darkness. The spirit of the west comes alive in a unique new book, Montana Stirrups, Sage and Shenanigans:Western Ranch Life in a Forgotten Era, in stories of working cattle, horses, wildlife and western humor. In this old west epic with a modern touch, sisters Francie Brink Berg, Anne Brink Krickel...
The Richland County Senior Division Livestock Judging Team won first place for team judging at the Keith Steinbeisser Memorial Livestock Judging Contest held in Sidney March 16....
Emily Schaff of Sidney FFA Chapter was a 1st place winner of Prepared Public Speaking and a 2nd place winner for Extemporaneous Public Speaking. She will represent the 12 school, Big Muddy District, at the State Convention in Billings this April. Emily has been a multiple speaking winner for Sidney FFA for three years. Emily accompanied Travis Obergfell and Jimmy Topp in Job Interview event as well. Each placed in the top ten over 30 other contestants from the district. Garret Leland participated in the FFA Creed for Sidney FFA as an 8th...
Throughout my tenure as State Executive Director for the North Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA), I have met several small and beginning farmers and ranchers, military veterans and disadvantaged producers interested in making a living in production agriculture. For many, the high cost of purchasing land and equipment can be prohibitive, compelling newcomers and those struggling against odds to take risks to finance their dreams by relying on credit cards and personal loans with high interest rates. I am keenly aware, too, that the average age...
The annual Donkey Ball game will be held at Sidney High School April 11 starting at 6:30 pm. The event is a fundraiser put on by the Sidney FFA to support local FFA chapters. Four teams of FFA members and alumni will play a basketball game that’s a little different, they ride donkeys. One team from each of the Richey, Lambert, Savage, and Sidney FFA chapters will be participating. Tickets may be purchased from a FFA member from the attending chapters or purchased at the door....
University of Montana Research Scientist Erin Sexton recently was awarded the 2012 Conservation Achievement Award. At its Feb. 7 annual meeting, The Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society presented the highly coveted award to Sexton for her work in developing a long-term solution in protecting the Flathead Basin ecosystem. Sexton served as the transboundary coordinator for the state of Montana and is a research scientist at UM’s Flathead Lake Biological Station. During the past 10 years, Sexton has been a leader in protecting the i...
As the weather slowly gets nicer, the focus at Sidney Sugars is now on the next season. Although they are currently still in the middle of getting contracted acres all lined up, agricultural manager Russ Fullmer is predicting the acreage will be down. Considering last year was a dry one, Fullmer says they are in “a lot better seat than last year.” Fullmer is content with the amount of precipitation received over the winter. If the spring produces many powerful winds, some precipitation will be...
The Richland County 4-H Junior Leaders will be holding their annual dinner and dance on April 12. The dinner will begin at 6:30 with a choice of steak or shrimp catered by Leroy Strasheim. Following the dinner, there will be a dance with a dance from 8:30 until 10 pm. The event will take place at the VFW at 124 2nd Ave NE. Tickets are $25, which can be bought from 4-H Jr. Leaders or the Richland County Extension Office. Only 150 tickets are being sold, so get yours now. All proceeds will be...
The National Weather Service will be holding Skywarn Spotter classes in April and May. The course teaches volunteers to spot severe weather conditions such as flash floods, hail, lightning, thunderstorms and tornadoes. In an average year, 5,000 floods and over 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States, threatening lives and property. The course covers the storm structures, safety precautions, how to identify a severe weather condition and how to properly report severe weather. The classes...
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will launch its “StrikeForce” initiative in 10 additional states, including South Carolina. The primary goal of the StrikeForce initiative is to increase partnership with rural communities and leverage community resources in targeted, persistent poverty areas. Vilsack noted that through the StrikeForce initiative, USDA will do more to partner with local and state governments and community organizations on projects that promote economic development and...
