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Plans for the 62nd Annual National Hard Spring Wheat Show are nearly complete. The dates are February 2nd, 3rd and 4th with the site being the Grand Williston Hotel. As in the past, almost 20 speakers are scheduled to present new information that can be applied to profitable food production. One of the keynote speakers will be Dr. Mike Boehlje, Distinguished Professor of Agriculture Economics and the Center for Food and Agricultural Business at Purdue University. Dr. Boehlje is involved in...
The E-rase your E-waste committee would like to thank everyone who helped us reach our e-cycling goal earlier this month in celebration of our 10th year of providing e-cycling opportunities to the MonDak region. Our goal was to reach 175 tons of e-waste collected for reuse or proper disposal over the past 10 years, and we made it with a ton and a half to spare! Thanks to the 144 individuals, businesses, agencies and organizations participating in our Sept. 5-6 event who brought in more than 24,800 pounds of e-waste for recycling to put us over...
A frequent question this time of year is, “Should I fertilize my lawn in the fall?” The answer is yes. All lawns whether they are high maintenance (Kentucky Bluegrass) or low maintenance (Crested Wheatgrass) will benefit from a fall application, especially the high maintenance usually found in town where they receive supplemental water during the growing season. Fertilizing now will promote vigorous blade growth and stronger root systems. The amount to apply is around one pound of actual nit...
Why has Governor Bullock gone mute on the important issues facing Montana’s energy economy?Energy jobs are critically important to the economic well being of all parts of the state, east and west, and are a vital pillar to our tax base.Our vast energy resources hold the potential for an economic boost in our state that no other sector can currently replicate. The Obama administration’s war on coal, (and Montana’s energy future) has been steadily ramping up over the past several months.Yet for all we’ve seen out the Governor’s office, one would...
I think this is an appropriate statement for my first weekly Column since retiring exactly one year ago. Also, just a few weeks ago a group of great friends presented me with a beautiful, custom fit, hand tooled saddle as a retirement gift made possible by them and many, many others. The saddle proudly has been displayed at the Williams County Extension Office for people to see and remind me of the kindness so many people have given to me this past year. For that matter, this kindness started...
Dear Lambert and Richland County, I've been gone from Lambert and Richland County since the spring of 1973, but even to this day when people ask me where I'm from, I'll say Lambert, Montana. Nine out ten people will always ask where that is and I'll say Richland County, Montana. I proudly wear these belt buckles, one at a time. I'm proud to say I'm from Lambert and Richland County. I was especially proud of my mother, father, brothers and sisters. I started out with six brothers and eight...
On the one-year anniversary of the Department of Agriculture’s announcement of finding an unapproved, genetically engineered (GE) wheat in an Oregon field, farmers and allies are demanding an end to the approval of GE traits until measures are adopted to protect non GE-farmers and their markets from contamination by GE crops. A 2013 FOIA request uncovered up to 483 total field trial violations, demonstrating the serious potential for future contamination episodes. “We’re still waiting for answers,” says Clint Lindsey, an Oregon wheat grower...
The family of Kirstin Wiseman would like to thank everyone for all the flowers, cards, food and support including FCCLA, Key Club, Blue Rock Dist. Co., Sidney High School students, staff, and choir, also Central, West Side, and Middle School, Fulkerson Funeral Home, The Rush, Video Hot Spot, Father Jim O’Neal, St. Matthews, and our amazing community. You have all helped us through this tragic time. Kirstin will be deeply missed by all. Kirstin touched a lot of hearts and it goes to show through the outpouring of support from this community. S...
I attended the meeting regarding Intake Dam and the fish bypass last Thursday evening at the Sidney High School, and I left that meeting shaking my head in disgust. The pallid sturgeon mess is just one more project in a long series of events that seem designed to ensure the extinction of one more species in our country: the American farmer. The American farmer is supposed to step aside for everything and anything: the farmer is to take a back seat for the pallid sturgeon, the American farmer is expected to step aside while Mt Fish and Game...
Andrew Carnegie said that “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” Richland County has certainly created uncommon results through many years of teamwork. In a time of increasing demands and decreasing resources it is even more important to work together to solve issues in creative ways. The Richland County Quality of Life Strategic Plan is unique. This is a plan tha...
Throughout the state of Montana, there are men and women who are currently serving or have served our county to preserve our way of life and the freedom we enjoy. Many of these Veterans come to the Medical Center at Fort Harrison or Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) around the state for their health care. The employees and volunteers who work for VA Montana Health Care System are privileged to provide care to these Heroes. During the week of February 10 through February 14, VA Montana would like to invite you to visit the Medical...
I attended the predator control meeting in Lambert on Jan. 8th, 2014. After listening to Michael Foster representing Wildlife Services, a federal agency, I have a few thoughts to share with Richland County Livestock Producers. I will not support a “petition” to tax ourselves forever. I believe this idea has two strikes before it gets off the ground. First: There is no sunset clause in this law. If this tax is imposed whether effective or not, it says on the tax assessment until another “petition” removes it. In my lifetime I have seen many taxe...
How best to protect Montana’s sage grouse population has been a top priority for agriculture and industry groups alike. Finding a solution that sufficiently protects these birds, while not posing an undue burden on those trying to make a living is no easy task. To make the issue even more difficult is the looming threat of Endangered Species Act listing that could result if a sage grouse management plan is not put into place that satisfies the federal government. In short, it is in the best interest of all Montanans to be proactive in p...
The promise of Obamacare was too simple. It was supposed to provide more affordable access to quality health care to more people at a lower cost. Unfortunately instead of increased coverage we have 5 million Americans who have already seen their coverage canceled and new reports surface everyday showing that number could grow by up to 100 million additional policies canceled by next fall. I could list all of the failures, but there are articles in every corner of the internet pointing to them. Too often I hear people comment that conservatives...
The Montana Department Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is on a strange mission to impose a free-roaming bison herd in Eastern Montana. It’s puzzling because it’s a plan that few Montanans want, and a large, diverse majority oppose. Yet, inexplicably, Governor Bullocks’ administration and FWP Director Jeff Hagener seem determined to give us a dose of a bitter medicine we don’t want or need. The opposition to free-roaming couldn’t have been more evident at a recent FWP meeting on the issue in Lewistown. One after another, ranchers, sportsmen...
Last year I devoted part or all of my weekly column describing trees that are found in this area. A couple of readers suggested I do the same for shrubs and smaller trees. Recently a wonderful lady who is enthused about promoting shrubs that bare edible fruits asked for information about chokecherry. She reminded me that, like her, there are many new people now living in this area who know very little about plant life adaptable to northwest North Dakota and northeast Montana. So, my lead-off...
This past week I had the opportunity to drive through the eastern two-thirds of the county. The countryside has a beauty we do not see often. On the negative, the number of acres planted exceeded my expectations. It looks like there will be a few more acres of corn to harvest this fall, anyway, I hope so. The last time we gave corn a good try on the non-irrigated acres, the summer and fall did not produce enough heat units to make corn again. Compared to wheat, we know that the above ground...
Weed resistance to popular herbicides is a growing concern amongst those of us involved in producing crops for the world’s growing population. I have not heard many crop growers in this region share resistance problems but kochia resistance to glyphosate (Roundup) and fluroxypr (Starane) is moving westward. Just a few years ago high levels of resistance were documented in southern Minnesota. Last year, there was widespread concern in eastern North Dakota that glyphosate was not killing k...
Planting a tree correctly and following recommended practices for early care are extremely important in giving the tree a good start. Besides selecting the right tree for the environment it is very important to plant it at the proper depth. The root collar should be just above the soil layer. The root collar is at the bottom of the main stem which slightly flares out just before the roots begin. When planting trees there is a rhyme that goes as follows: plant too high the tree will die; plant...
As I write this column (May 21) the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network reports there have been approximately 200 accumulated insect degree days in the Williston and Stanley area. This data has some implications as to when we can expect adult alfalfa weevil emergence which is around 250-300 degree days. Degree days are calculated by averaging the high and low temperatures of each day and subtracting the base of 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on day time temperatures, it is possible...
The optimum plant population for corn production has been increasing in recent years. Much of the gains in corn productivity have been attributed to higher populations and corn hybrids that are adapted to these higher populations. Also, in drought prone areas, high populations are needed to reach maximum yield. Based on data from research conducted at NDSU and by other regional entities, plant population in drought prone areas with an expected yield of less than 100 bushels per acre, should be...
If you’re a gun owner, whether it be rifle, pistol or shotgun you undoubtedly have one lingering question: “Where’s my ammo.” Walk in to any spring goods or gun store in search of ammo for your guns and you’re apt to come away empty handed. The problem is so acute that many large retailers (Cabelas, Scheels, etc.) have placed limits on the amount any customer can buy (assuming, of course, that the customer can find it). So where have all the shells gone? Panic buying by those who fear more restrictions on guns and gun owners may be a factor. W...
Spring is here and new homeowners are very enthused about beautifying their new home with trees, shrubs and a lawn. Developing a home landscape plan can be fun but requires a lot of hard labor and patience as plants, especially trees, grow to maturity. When it comes to trees for new home yards and farmsteads we tend to prefer those that grow fast. Years ago, we looked to the Siberian Elm to fulfill growth expectations. Many were planted in field shelterbelts, around farmsteads and homes. It...
Livestock manure has value. It can provide valuable nutrients to crops grown on land where it is applied. However, the exact amount of nutrients can be highly variable. According to data archived at the NDSU Soil Testing Laboratory the nitrogen content of manure from beef cattle ranged from 6.7 to 64.8 pounds per ton. Similar ranges were also found for phosphorus and potassium. These variations in nutrient content are associated with diet, age and storing practices. With such variation in...
Spring must be coming. Anyway, the thought of green grass is on the minds of many people. When is a good time to plant grass to establish a new lawn? What should I seed and should it be fortified? These are frequent questions this time of year. Let’s start with the first question – When is a good time to use Kentucky blue grass as the base species with maybe a sprinkling of fescue which tends to be more shade tolerant. I encourage homeowners to plant the grass just as soon as daytime tem...
