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Fairview resident Rob Breuer just returned from Bozeman as part of REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership). For Breuer and other members of REAL Montana Class VI, this was the first of ten seminars in their two-year educational program. Breuer said he was approached by his employer, AgWest Farm Credit Services, about applying for the class since others from the organization had done so and found it valuable. He agreed, with the goal of furthering his leadership skills and bringing them back to Eastern Montana to use in the...
This year presented a significant challenge for soybean producers due to cool and wet conditions causing prolonged iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) symptoms in North Dakota soybean fields, says Ana Carcedo, North Dakota State University Extension broadleaf crops agronomist. NDSU conducts annual research on soybean varieties to determine their tolerance to IDC. This information is crucial for farmers who deal with IDC in their fields annually. Choosing soybean varieties less susceptible to IDC is...
Tim Klasna and his son, Dylan, closed out another successful harvest this fall on their dryland farm 25 miles northwest of Lambert. They raise wheat, oats, and triticale (a wheat/rye hybrid forage or grain crop) to feed the cattle portion of their operation. Oats can be purchased from Klasnas by the bag or truckload. They bale the straw from their winter wheat and oat fields to bed their cattle, and save some of the triticale seed to plant the following year. Their combination of crop rotations work well to keep soil nutrients and quality...
This fall, 2024, the agricultural weed management group at Montana State University is conducting a survey of Kochia herbicide resistance in the northeastern corner of Montana. The objective of this study is to collect kochia seeds this fall and test them for herbicide resistance this winter. The study is seeking producers willing to participate in this screening. Do you have some fields with kochia populations? Would you like those kochia seeds tested for resistance? If so, you can get your name on the list by calling the Richland County...
A question we commonly get here in the Extension Office is, “What is hay worth?” The answer to this question usually is, it depends. The price of hay depends on multiple factors including cost of production and quality. Hay quality varies based on management, storage, and type of hay. Different forage types will be higher in protein or energy, and this greater quality is worth more than other forage that is low in protein or energy. Hay high in nitrates would be worth less than hay that is not. These quality factors can only be determined by...
Jeff Bieber, Fairview, is a life-long farmer and has been a seed dealer most of his adult life. His son, Justin, joined him in the business in 2015 when they added Pioneer corn, soybean, canola, sunflowers and forage products to their seed line. In 2022 he also brought in Westbred spring and winter wheat seeds. Now the duo is expanding even further with the creation of Texas Red Ag Services in an effort to better serve their customers. With a commercial seed treater, additional sales agent, new products, new partners, and a corn grain drier,...
BOZEMAN — Youth across Montana who would like to enroll in Montana 4-H are invited to do so during October. Montana 4-H is the youth development program of Montana State University Extension. It offers a range of choices and opportunities for youth to learn and grow, such as learning how to bake, knit and raise an animal, or learning about beekeeping, photography and robotics. In all, Montana 4-H offers more than 200 different projects and experiences that engage youth in learning. Montana 4-H is the largest out-of-school youth development p...
Have you ever wondered about the agronomic and environmental benefits of cover cropping? Or have you considered planting cover crops in your operation but are unsure where to start? North Dakota State University Extension will host cover crops field days at three locations on Sept. 10, 11 and 12. The dates, locations and links to detailed information are: - Sept. 10 in Minot at the North Central Research Extension Center - ndsu.ag/covercropsncrec - Sept. 11 in Dickinson at the Dickinson...
The profitability of any business is crucial, and livestock production is no different. With most revenue originating from the sale of calves produced, retaining non-pregnant cows in a cow-calf operation is hard to justify. Therefore, this time of year is traditionally pregnancy detection season. "Cattle producers have or soon will be removing bulls from their spring-calving cow herds, bookending another breeding season, and will need to identify which cows will calve next year before winter...
A *Calf Roll-Over Auction* will be held Sept. 18 at the Sidney Livestock Market Center at 1 p.m. for Randy Searer. Randy Searer started retaining water in April 2024. He wasn’t feeling his best and thought for the first time ever “hey, maybe I should see a doctor.” His first stop on his journey was to the emergency room at Billings Clinic. Here, through lots of visits, tests and a good team of doctors, he was diagnosed with end stage liver failure. Billings Clinic quickly hooked him up with a doctor and transplant center in Denver. On Tuesday,...
Now is a good time to be on the lookout for any suspicious pigweeds that could potentially be Palmer amaranth or waterhemp. Both species are very difficult to control and have limited management options, making prevention as well as early detection very important. Vectors of potential introduction of Palmer amaranth and waterhemp include contaminated seed, especially millet, farm equipment, sunflower screenings, bird seed, and more. Be sure to scout areas where these vectors could potentially introduce Palmer amaranth or waterhemp. Look for...
They’ve talked about it for years and now Ira and Amy Lake are taking the plunge into the restaurant business. “We’ve talked about it over the years, ever since the M&M closed. We wanted to get back into the restaurant business but with a smaller venue. Then we started wondering who was going to take over the sale yard. And here we are. This is ideal,” Ira explained. They hope to have the Cattlemen’s Cafe at Sidney Livestock Market Center open by Aug. 27. It’s a natural fit for Ira whose grandparents Martin and Myrtle Lake, then his parents...
Fall bird migration has begun, and now is the time to review and reimplement biosecurity protocols to reduce disease transmission from wild to domestic birds. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a disease carried by wild birds that can affect domestic birds. Avian influenza is caused by the influenza Type A virus (influenza A). The virus is shed in the feces and respiratory secretions of infected birds and is able to survive for weeks in cool, damp environments. Migration can be...
In between running a tractor, feed truck, or managing livestock while working on his parent’s farm and ranch operation, Corbin Steinbeisser manages to raise a quality 4-H steer, and helps his younger siblings with theirs, as much as they allow him to, that is. In his first year of showing, he won Reserve in Novice Showmanship with his market steer, so he certainly knows how to get one in the winner’s circle. Maintaining a reliable feed schedule and lots of time are his keys to a good animal to present at the Richland County Fair. The son of Jim...
Helena, MT – The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is now accepting donations for its Wildfire Relief Fund which benefits Montana livestock producers affected by fires. Currently, donations are focused on the Remington Fire in southeastern Montana, which as of last Tuesday morning has grown to over 196,000 acres. In addition to financial support, which is the most immediate need, the Wildfire Relief Fund page also offers a form that can be filled out for in-kind donations like hay, feed, pasture, fencing supplies, etc. In-kind donation s...
(Miles City) - Stockman Bank has set up a fire relief fund with a $10,000 matching grant to assist those affected by the massive Remington fire, which started in Wyoming last week and has now crossed the state line into southeastern Montana. “Damage from the Remington Fire has been devastating. Many in the area have lost land and livestock,” stated Brian Cooley, Stockman Eastern Montana regional manager. “As Montana’s largest ag bank, we need to do what we can to help our neighbors who have lost much of their livelihood to this fire, as well...
Marett Schieber, one of Richland County’s graduating senior 4-H members, knows the power of consistency. In her novice years, she earned the title for the Richland County Fair’s Grand Champion Market Hog, but overall is extremely proud to have always been “in the blue” with her ribbons. Starting with lambs, Marett had her own breeding ewe group at one point but has since moved onto steers and has shown them for the last 7 years. This year, she will have a market steer and possibly a breeding heifer to show at the Richland County Fair. The dau...
BOZEMAN - Montana State University's Steer-A-Year program will return for the 2024-25 academic year and is seeking donations of young cattle and feed. A program housed in the College of Agriculture's Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Steer-A-Year combines academic courses with hands-on experience and exposes students to the many aspects of raising cattle. Students spend the year feeding, caring for and managing steers through the winter and spring, collecting data on feed efficiency and...
"We are deep-rooted in our community and want to focus mainly on connecting local customers to our local ranches." claims C.J. Thorne and Luke Taylor, Watford City. "We both live near Watford City and chose to form a partnership," they stated. "Our families have always had our custom processing done locally and we know how handy that is to help the farmers and ranchers," Thorne chimes in. The young entrepreneurs purchased Yellowstone River Beef, 6 E. Dakota Parkway, Williston, in May and were...
As temperatures remain high, it is important to consider not only the quantity of water that your livestock have access to, but also the quality of the water source they are on. The amount of water livestock require depends on the animal’s size, production stage, moisture content of their diet, and temperature. For example, a 1,300-lb. mature beef cow requires approximately 9.2 gallons of water when temperatures are at 40°F, and this requirement increases to 14.3 gallons a day when temperatures are 90°F. When cows are lactating, water req...
As the Fair quickly approaches, 4-H members and their families often reflect on past Fair experiences. Last year Liam Steinbeisser raised a Charolais cross market steer to exhibit at the County Fair. In the live show Liam did well, receiving a blue ribbon, however, he exceeded his expectations in the carcass contest. He placed first place in the Richland County Market Beef Carcass Contest. He then went on to win the Steer of Merit contest for the entire. This is a great achievement. When Liam was asked about placing first in the entire state...
OMAHA, Neb. -- The 2024 flow test from Fort Peck Dam was the first in a series of test flows intended to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion. The 2024 flow test was comprised of the following: An attraction flow, which began April 26 and continued through early May, and was intended to encourage Pallid Sturgeon to enter that reach of the Missouri River. A retention flow of release rates lower than the attraction flow and designed to keep the fish in the designated river reach. Then, a second spawning peak release took place in late June...
The Montana Department of Agriculture’s pesticide container recycling program provides pesticide applicators with the means to recycle their clean and rinsed HDPE plastic pesticide containers. The mobile grinding unit and a 40 ft. drop down trailer will be making a stop in Sidney at the Richland County Weed District on Aug. 13 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. It is required that all pesticide containers be rinsed of product, adjuvants, and oils, that containers are dry, and that foil seals and label booklets are removed. Larger 30-50-gallon drums must be c...
Proactive management of livestock prior to and during heat events is critical in protecting livestock from heat stress. North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists encourage livestock owners to monitor weather forecasts and anticipate when conditions may pose a significant risk to livestock. Such conditions exist when above-average temperatures collide with increased humidity. These conditions are expected to hit many parts of North Dakota this week, with many cities...
