DECEMBER 2025
Vol. XXVI No. 11 P.O. Box 997 Conrad, MT 59425-0997
Phone 406-271-5533 Fax 406-271-5727 website: tradersdispatch.com E-MAIL: advertising @ tradersdispatch.com
NWTF grant program applications now available
The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is announcing the opening of the FY2026 funding cycle for the Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF) Grant Program. Established by the 1985 Montana Legislature, the Noxious Weed Trust Fund grants provide funding for noxious weed research projects, development projects, state and community education, and on-the-ground management through a landowner cost share. Applicants may apply for funding up to $75,000 per project. Applications are due Tuesday, January 6, 2026, via WebGrants. To apply, please visit: https://mtagr.webgrantscloud.com/ index.do. To learn more about Noxious Weed Trust Fund opportunities, please visit the Noxious Weed Trust Fund website at: agr.mt.gov/NoxiousWeedTrustFund or contact Greta Dige, NWTF Program Coordinator, at 444-7882 or greta.dige@ mt.gov.
AUCTIONS
Nov 25 - Dec 18, Smeltzer Auctions & Real Estate, Frosted Flour Bakery, Online..........................................................................................................A6
PRODUCTION SALES
Dec 18, Bobcat Angus, Great Falls MT.......................................................... A5 Jan 9, 2026, Diamond Bar S Simmental & SimAngus, Great Falls MT........ A2 Jan 26 - 31, 2026, Schriefer Red Angus, Online........................................... A3 Feb 7, 2026, Hill 70 Quantock Ranch, Lloydminster, AB CANADA................ A7 Feb 9, 2026, Prickly Pear Simmental Ranch Bull Sale, Helena MT.............. A9 Mar 3, 2026, Apex Angus, Valier MT........................................................... A11
Unit Cost of Production Workshops
Nebraska Extension will host Unit Cost of Production workshops in central Nebraska in December and January to provide hands-on learning experiences for producers in calculating the unit cost of production for a cow-calf operation. Workshops will be held at two locations. Both days will run from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CT. The first workshop will be held on December 8 and 9 at Community Center (small room) in Atkinson, Nebraska. The second workshop will be on January 27 and 28 at the Legion Hall in Burwell, Nebraska. Pre-register one week in advance. Call the Nebraska Extension office in Holt County at 402-336-2760 or email Bethany Johnston at bjohnston3@unl.edu. Each location is limited to 25 people. The cost is $50 per participant and includes meals and materials for both days. Contact Aaron Berger at 308-235-3122 with questions about the workshops. “Having information to make effective business decisions is important for ranch success. Enterprise analysis and unit cost of production (UCOP) are tools that can help ranchers identify where value is being created on the ranch, where costs are occurring, and what changes could be made to improve profit,” Berger said. While it takes time to set up and calculate a UCOP, the benefits are: Knowing what present costs are. Projecting what unit cost of production will be in 2026. Identifying opportunities to improve profitability. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
The crew for Hammond Helicopter LLC loads the Rejuvra herbicide before treating acres in the wildcat Hills for cheatgrass. Photo by Bob Smith. See article on page A8
Getting It Right crop production webinars Farmers and crop advisers looking for up-to-date, research-based crop production recommendations are encouraged to participate in NDSU Extension’s Getting It Right crop production webinar series. The series is sponsored by the North Dakota Soybean Council, Northarvest Bean Growers Association, National Sunflower Association, North Dakota Corn Utilization Council and Northern Canola Growers Association. “From December 2025 to March 2026, these educational webinars will provide research updates and management recommendations to help farmers make informed production decisions for the 2026 growing season,” says Ana Carcedo, NDSU Extension broadleaf crops agronomist. Each session will be held via Zoom and will feature presentations from NDSU Extension specialists, including Brady Goettl, NDSU Extension soil science specialist; Joe Ikley, NDSU Extension weed specialist; Janet Knodel, NDSU Extension entomologist; and Frayne Olson, NDSU Extension crops economist. Topics will include agronomic best practices, pest and disease management, market forecasts and more. Each webinar will conclude with a live Q&A session, providing participants with the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers. Participation is free, but preregistration
is required. Registered participants will receive an email with instructions and a Zoom link to join the webinars. The webinar schedule is: December 3 – Soybeans (ndsu.ag/GIRsoybeans25) December 16 – Corn (ndsu.ag/GIRcorn25) January 13, 2026 – Sunflower (ndsu.ag/ GIRsunflower26) February 14, 2026 – Dry Bean (ndsu.ag/ GIRdrybean26) March 19, 2026 – Canola (ndsu.ag/ GIRcanola26) Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) continuing education credits will be available for those attending the live sessions. For more information, contact Ana Carcedo at 701-831-5796 or email a.carcedo@ ndsu.edu.
PRIVATE TREATY
K.L. Slagsvold Herefords, Lindsay MT.................A18 McMurry Cattle, Herefords, Billings MT..............A18 Wichman Herefords, Moore MT...........................A18 Wyse Genetics, Manhattan MT..............................A2
OTHER DATED
Dec 14, Front Range Wool Pool, Sheep Seminar, Conrad MT.........................................................C36 Jan 31, 2026, Next Generation Conference, Shelby MT......................................................................C20
ADVERTISING DEADLINE FOR JANUARY ISSUE
Wednesday, December 31 Advertiser Index B1
Recipe Patch A34 & A36
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