Cavalier County
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Republican
Single Copy Volume 134
cavaliercountyextra.com
News Coverage
Copyright © Langdon, North Dakota
Langdon Area Chamber of Commerce offers an update on Page 3 Turn to Page 8 for photo coverage of girls basketball
Index OPINION YOUTH CHURCH COMMUNITY SPORTS PROF DIR AG/PN PN CLASSIFIED
PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 8-9 PAGE 10 PAGE 11 PAGE 12 PAGE 13
The backbone of the economy within the state of North Dakota has been, and most likely always will be, agriculture. The changing landscape of farming is providing challenges that producers and their supporting industries are successfully adapting to. Gaining the education to assist in that adaptation is now easier than ever. Higher education across the state has responded to the demand by providing curriculum for just about everything in the ag industry. From the basics of agribusiness to advanced technology utilized in every aspect of agriculture, the North Dakota university system has something to offer for every corner of the ag industry. The North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), Lake Region State College (LRSC), and North Dakota State University (NDSU) are some of the most popular choices for Cavalier County students to further their education as they offer ag programs. NDSCS offers seven specific programs for their students to pursue an education relating to agriculture. One program that has substantial local support is the diesel technology program, with Langdon Implement offering scholarships to potential students. “We offer this program as a resource to attract new technicians. It is a great benefit to us as they come out of college trained
and ready to work,” Anthony Roy of Langdon Implement said. At LRSC, two programs are offered for potential students. The standout is their Precision Ag program. Mylee Kenner, Ag Program Coordinator at Lake Region State College, explained that efficiency has spurred the adoption of various forms of precision agriculture technologies. The variability in soils and surrounding ecosystems de-
data generated. Students also work with input costs, budgets and prepare profit/loss statements on the fields that they are working with. “With a degree in Precision Agriculture from LRSC, graduates are prepared to work in production agriculture back at his/her farming operation; join a variety of agri-businesses that work with various aspects of production agriculture; create
mand better use of information to benefit all. LRSC Precision Ag program educates students on the technologies used to find and manage infield variability. LRSC ag students work with software analyzing yield data, soil data and satellite imagery data to build planting and fertilizing variable rate prescription maps. Students learn how fertilizing and seeding equipment work and how to process the
a company/service; or continue on for further degrees,” Kenner said. The program normally takes two years to complete and provides graduates with an Associate of Applied Science degree. Once gained, there is the option to pursue a bachelor's degree. “Some students do go on to a four year degree. We do have articulation agreements with NDSU and Minnesota-
MicroBiome Bars expand their reach nationwide It’s been a little over a year since Food First, LLC located in Walhalla launched their brand new product, MicroBiome Bars, into the health food market. Since then, more and more studies and research shows that the Thornbergs were onto something when they created the tasty prebiotic packed treat. “With a growing awareness of how improving digestive health contributes to overall wellness, consumers are looking for products to address that need. I think ProBiotein and the MicroBiome Bars fill that role nicely,” Jordan Thornberg of Food First said. MicroBiome Bars are made from the company’s first product to hit the market, ProBiotein. The prebiotic powerhouse is made from organic whole wheat, organic oats, organic flax and organic barley malt. Food First uses a special fermentation process to remove the starches, concentrate the proteins, provide nutritional yeast, plus provide four important prebiotic fibers and four digestive enzymes. “These fibers are naturally found in the grains we use, but the fermentation process removes the starches and con-
centrates the proteins and other valuable components, so you don’t need to eat a truckload of wheat to get what your body needs,” Thornberg explained. The four prebiotic fibers used in ProBiotein come from food but are not digestible by the stomach or small intestine. These fibers survive to reach the large intestine where they’re
broken down through fermentation to feed your probiotic bacteria. The blend of four fibers together nourishes the beneficial bacteria more than a single prebiotic fiber can. When first launched in January of 2019, the bar was packaged in a two-piece configuration but with as dense and filling as the bars are, Thornberg explained the need to switch to a single piece package. Now, the bars are available as singles in all of the great flavors. “We also offer a resealable variety pouch that has all four
Farmers & Merchants State Bank 816 3rd Street, Langdon, ND 58249
(701)256-5431 • www.fmbanklangdon.com
Monday, March 2, 2020
Educating the future of agriculture
By Melissa Anderson Republican Editor
Turn your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 8!
Official Newspaper of Cavalier County Published since 1889
flavors, including our newest flavors: choco-cherry walnut and sunny-saskatoon berry,” Thornberg shared. The benefits of having good bacteria outnumber the bad with an increasing number of studies showing just how important having a healthy microbiome can be to long-term health- from regulating the immune system, digesting food, and even synthesizing vitamins within the body. In simple terms, when your good bacteria thrive, you’re at your healthiest, and when they’re diminished by antibiotics, illness or an unhealthy diet, the intricate, internal interactions of your ingenious systems can’t work at their best. By nourishing that beneficial bacteria in the GI tract with a good supply of prebiotic fibers, eating a microbiome bar could be helping them to flourish and reduce pathogenic or bad bacteria. Prebiotic fibers are the fibers found in food that cannot be digested but instead are fermented in the large intestine for the probiotic bacteria to use as nourishment. This is where the MicroBiome bar comes in. Even though there cont. on page 2
Crookston. The transition for transfer is normally a very easy, seamless process,” Kenner shared. At NDSU, Julie Bietz, Student Coordinator for Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, shared information about the Agricultural Systems Management (ASM) program, one of several that has an agricultural focus. The ASM program combines an understanding of the agricultural, biological and physical sciences with economics, managerial and technical skills. This understanding of science, systems management and applications of engineering can be applied to a career in the production and processing of food, feed, fiber and fuel, and the marketing, sales and distribution of agricultural products and services. The instructors within the ASM program provide an education to students who want to work in the field of agriculture at a management level. ASM students typically take several business, accounting, and economics courses along with courses in mechanics, electrical, hydraulics, and commodity harvesting and storage. About 50 percent of the students return to farms, and the remainder typically find career paths in management roles at various agri-businesses. “ASM is a good choice for students that may want to return to manage a farm or be at a higher earning potential in a rural agronomic area,” Bietz shared. “The cont. on page 2
New weed officer ready to roll The weeds of Cavalier County will have a new name to fear as Josh Short has taken on the task of keeping the weeds in check. Short has been a resident of the area for several years now working as a surveyor. “I like helping people which is a big thing,” Short shared. Originally from Wisconsin, Short moved here for a surveying position several years ago. His experience as a surveyor in the county is one of the things that Short believes will help as he is familiar with the area and has a relationship with many landowners in the county. “I was a big goose hunter. I wanted to come up here and stay. There was a survey firm in town. I got job there so I moved up here not knowing anybody,” Short stated. “I’ve never been afraid of adventure.” The learning curve for Short has been extensive. Following
his acceptance of the position three months ago, he has been studying to take the commercial applicator test to gain his license. “Starting from ground zero, I didn’t really know much coming into it. So, just being behind the learning curve and getting to know every facet of it - it’s been a little overwhelming. But it’s been a lot of studying and actually been pretty interesting and a lot of fun,” S h o r t said. Once he gets his applicator license, S h o r t will be ready to tackle the weeds. He admits openly that he is not much of an office person, making the position’s fieldwork a big part of the decision to take on the duties. “I enjoy getting outside. I like doing fieldwork. That’s a big part of things,” Short shared. An added perk to the job cont. on page 3
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