Trader's Dispatch July 2025

NDSU Research Extension Center field days

The North Dakota State University Research Extension Centers’ annual field days are set. The annual events at the Research Extension Center sites across the state will feature speakers, tours and field demonstrations for farmers, ranchers, crop advisers, landowners, horticulturalists and local stakeholders.

“The agricultural research conducted at our NDSU Research Extension Centers provides research-based solutions that advance agricultural production systems in a variety of areas, including agronomy and crop production, livestock and rangeland management, precision agriculture and valueadded activities,” says Greg Lardy, the Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for NDSU Agriculture. “During the NDSU Field Days, our researchers showcase the work they’ve invested in developing timely, practical solutions for agriculture in North Dakota and across the region.”

The dates and locations for the field days are the following:

July 14 – Central Grasslands Research Extension Center

July 15 – Hettinger Research Extension Center – 5 to 8 p.m. MDT

July 16 – Dickinson Research Extension Center – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MDT

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Nominations open to serve on county committees

Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2025 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by August 1, 2025.

“Serving on an FSA county committee provides producers with a unique opportunity to have a say in local farm program decisions, ensuring FSA policies work, as intended, for producers at the county level.” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Nominations are now open; here’s your chance to support USDA’s commitment to putting Farmers First by amplifying the voices of farmers and ranchers within your community and effectively delivering the economic support they deserve.”

Women-led tractor maintenance and safety workshops

Learn more about tractor maintenance and safety during women-led workshops from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, July 24, at LaLonde Ranch in Missoula.

The free workshops are open to anyone, and are offered by Montana Farmers Union in partnership with Farm Connect Montana.

“By actively including and placing women in leadership positions and creating op-

portunities for them to lead the workshops and training programs for any audience, it really demonstrates from the ground up how we can support and empower women in farming and ranching to reach their full potential, because women have diverse perspectives and leadership styles,” said Carissa McNamara, an MFU Membership Ambassador organizing the event.

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NDSU Central Grasslands REC Field Day

Participants can see the latest integrated grazing on cropping systems at sessions and tours at the 2025 NDSU Central Grasslands Research Extension Center Field Day. (NDSU photo)

Improving soil health of cropland using livestock and controlling buckbrush are among the topics that will be covered during the annual field day July 14 at North Dakota State University’s Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota.

The morning tour will focus on experiments using livestock and winter cereals in a corn-soybean rotation to assess soil health, livestock performance, crop production and economics. Attendees will also look at the role of soybeans as a pollinator and strip graz-

ing cover crops using virtual fence, soil health and livestock performance on cropland.

The afternoon tour will include converting cropland to perennial forage crops for lateseason grazing and a demonstration of soil health in action (a new program developed by NDSU Extension). The afternoon will conclude with a stop to look at a new experiment to manage buckbrush and tour the new livestock facility.

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NDSU field days

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July 16 – Williston Research Extension Center

July 17– Williston Research Extension Center

July 17 – Dickinson Research Extension Center – 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. MDT

July 21 – Agronomy Seed Farm

July 22 – Carrington Research Extension Center – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT

July 23 – North Central Research Extension Center

July 24 – Langdon Research Extension Center – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT

August 7 – Oakes Research Extension Center – 9 to 11:30 a.m. CDT

More information about field days can be found at ndsu. ag/fielddays25.

Central Grasslands Field Day

“Our objective is that participants will leave with practical solutions to incorporate grazing practices on crop land for healthy soils, enhance their crop production and livestock performance and optimize their economic return from their land,” says Kevin Sedivec, the center’s director.

The center’s annual field day will start at 9:30 a.m. with registration, coffee and donuts. The morning tour will start at 10 a.m., and a free-of-charge brisket lunch catered by NDSU Carnivore Catering will be served at noon. The second tour will begin at 1 p.m. and end by 3 p.m.

Participants can learn about the following:

Managing livestock grazing winter cereals in a soybeancorn rotation – Miranda Meehan, Extension livestock stewardship specialist, and Katrina Kratzke, NDSU Department of Animal Sciences graduate student

Using virtual fencing for strip grazing cover crops – Meehan and Josh Wianecki, NDSU Department of Animal Sciences graduate student

The role of soybeans for pollinators – Bethany Roberton, research specialist, and Jason Harmon, former NDSU School of Natural Resource Sciences professor

The afternoon tour includes the following:

Forage value, livestock production and economics of perennial forages (Russian wildrye, Sainfoin, Trefoil) for late-season grazing – Michael Undi, Extension animal scientist

Soil health in action – Carlos Pires, Extension soil health assistant professor; Naeem Kalwar, soil health specialist; and Chandler Gruener, Extension soil health specialist

A new study on western snowberry control, economic and forage thresholds and extent of cover in the Northern Plains –Dillon Fogarty and Vinicius Marcilio da Silva, NDSU School of Natural Resource Sciences assistant professors; Daniel Asplin, graduate student

A tour of the new livestock facility

For more information, visit ndsu.ag/cgrecfieldday25 or contact Lacey Kreft at 701-424-3606 or lacey.kreft@ndsu.edu.

Dickinson Research Extension Center

field days set for July 16 and 17

The North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC) will host a ranch/livestock-focused field day on July 16 and agronomy field day on July 17.

The July 16 event begins at 9 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) at the Manning Ranch Headquarters in Manning, North Dakota, and will conclude with a provided lunch.

Presenters and topics for the livestock tour are:

Drought forage options – James Rodgers, North Central Research Extension Center interim assistant director and Extension forage systems specialist

Fly management – Doug Landblom, DREC associate Research Extension Center specialist

Low mineral nitrogen in rangelands - Llewellyn Manske, DREC rangeland research scientist

Livestock stress – Rachel Gibbs, Extension livestock systems specialist at the Hettinger Research Extension Center and Lisa Pederson, Extension livestock specialist at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center

Ranch finance trends –Thomas Wood, Bismarck State College farm business management education program director

Soil health demonstrations – Chandler Gruener, NDSU Extension soil heath specialist

The July 17 event begins at 4:30 p.m. (MDT) at the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center.

A ribbon-cutting highlighting the opening of the new Wardner Agricultural Laboratory at the DREC and a BBQ supper will kick off the agronomy tour.

Presenters and topics for the agronomy tour are:

Robot weeder – Eshkabilov Agrimechatronics Research Group, NDSU Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Herbicide-resistant weed management – Joe Ikley, NDSU Extension weed specialist

BioChar – Krishna Katuwal, DREC research agronomist

Veris demonstration –Josh Hammond, FarmAssist Consulting

DREC crops research

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I ordered an extension course, “How to Deal With Life’s Disappointments”.

Yesterday, I got the first lesson by post. It was an empty envelope.

update – Victor Gomes, Extension cropping systems specialist at the DREC

Spring wheat varieties – Andrew Green, NDSU spring wheat breeder

Barley varieties – Rich Horsley, NDSU Department of Plant Sciences head Management of forages and cover crops for drought adaptation – Rodgers

Soil health trailer – Carlos Pires, NDSU Extension soil health specialist and Chandler Gruener, Extension soil health specialist at the NCREC

For youth ages 5 to 13, STEM activities and an ice cream-making workshop will be available during the agronomy tour.

The deadline for advertising in the August 2025 issue of the Trader's Dispatch will be July 30th.

Phone (406) 271-5533 or email: advertising @tradersdispatch.com

Nominations open for farmers and ranchers to serve on county committees

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Elections for committee members will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction and may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.

Producers interested in serving on the FSA county committee can locate their LAA through a geographic information system locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections and determine if their LAA is up for election by contacting their local FSA office.

Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they:

Participate or cooperate in a USDA program.

Reside in the LAA that is up for election this year.

A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits. Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages all eligible producers to nominate, vote and hold office.

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Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agriculture community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members play a key role in how FSA delivers disaster recovery, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as making decisions on county office employment and other agricultural issues.

Urban and Suburban County Committees

FSA urban county committees work to promote urban, indoor and other emerging agricultural production practices. Urban committee members are nominated and elected to serve by local urban producers in the same jurisdiction. Urban county committee members provide outreach to ensure urban producers understand USDA programs, serve as the voice of other urban producers and assist in program implementation that support the needs of growing urban communities.

The 27 cities with urban county committees are listed at fsa.usda.gov/elections and farmers.gov/urban.

More Information

Producers should contact their local FSA office today to register and find out how to get involved in their county’s election, including if their LAA is up for election this year. To be considered, a producer must be registered and sign an FSA-669A nomination form. This form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

All nomination forms for the 2025 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by the August 1, 2025, deadline. Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in November 2025.

Women-led tractor maintenance and safety workshops

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The first class runs from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and covers understanding implements and attachments, connecting 3-point hitches, quick attach systems, PTOs, basics of trailering and load safety, and how to use ratchet straps, load binders, and chains.

A second class runs from 1-3 p.m. and will cover routine tractor upkeep, troubleshooting common issues, and safety checks and hazard prevention.

The workshops are free and include lunch.

RSVP here: https://montanafarmersunion.com/newsevents/calendar/.

Questions? Contact Ambassador Carissa McNamara at cmcnamara@montanafarmersunion.com or 406-333-1886.

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Rabbits in the garden?

K-State Research and Extension news service

Rabbits are a common invader of home gardens, especially when plants flower in spring. Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said there are many common-sense ways to keep the hungry critters out.

“This time of year, rabbits gravitate to young vegetables and flowers,” Domenghini said. “But there are some vegetables that are rarely bothered, including potatoes, tomatoes, corn, squash, cucumbers and some peppers.”

Cynthia Domenghini said some methods for keeping rabbits away include:

Fencing

Fencing is often the quickest and easiest method of control. Domenghini recommended the fence be at least two feet tall with a fine mesh of one inch or less. Fencing support can be provided by a variety of products, including electric fence posts. However, fencing may not be a viable choice based on the desired appearance of the garden.

Floating Row Cover

Floating row cover is a light woven material that can be placed over plants yet still allows light, water and air to come through.

“Though most often used to promote early growth by keeping plants warmer than normal, it can also help protect young plants from insects and wildlife,” Domenghini said.

Repellants

Although commonly suggested for rabbit control, repellants must be re-applied frequently. Some can also be poisonous and cannot be used on plants intended for human consumption, Domenghini warned.

Trapping

Domenghini said live traps are usually recommended when the rabbit can be moved to a rural area several miles away from where they were initially caught.

“A number of baits can be used to entice the rabbit to enter the trap, including a tightly rolled cabbage leaf held together by a toothpick. However, rabbits often avoid baits if other attractive food is available.”

Sprinkler

A motion-activated sprinkler can be attached to a garden hose, releasing a short burst of water upon motion. Domenghini suggests picking a product that advertises it can protect at least 1000 square feet: “Such products are available from Contech, Orbit and Havahart,” she said.

Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.

Interested persons can also send their garden and yardrelated questions to Domenghini at cdom@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.

Beware of uninvited party guests: Foodborne germs

K-State Research and Extension news service

It’s the season of outdoor parties, buffets, picnics and gatherings. Amidst the food and fun, Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee said foodborne germs can crash your buffet and make people sick with food poisoning. When cooking, preparing, or serving food for large groups, follow these steps to keep food safe:

Keep your hands and surfaces clean. Washing your hands is one of the most important prevention methods to prevent foodborne illness.

Separate raw meats from other foods. Prevent cross contamination by using separate or clean utensils and dishes. Keep raw meat packed in their own package and even a separate ice chest.

A food thermometer is your friend! Use it to check doneness of meats and to keep foods out of the temperature danger zone between 40-140°F. Keep these three temperatures in mind – 145°F for steaks, roasts, chops; 160°F for all ground meat; and 165°F for all poultry.

Check the clock and use the 2-hour rule to keep hot foods hot and cold foods. A food thermometer is a handy tool for this step! Discard foods left out at room temperature more than two hours. When outside in temperatures above 90°F, discard foods left out more than one hour.

Store leftovers promptly and divide large amounts of food into smaller containers before placing them on ice or in the refrigerator.

Book Your Fall Seed

By Carolyn Applegate, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Have you ever wondered how high or low you should set your lawnmower when cutting your turf? Here’s a tip to help determine your turf mowing height. Mowing at 3 to 3.5 inches is recommended all summer. Also, avoid removing more than one-third of the leaf height at one time, or your grass could become stressed and more prone to disease and weeds.

Speaking of weeds. A weed is any plant growing where it isn’t wanted. Even trees and shrubs can become weeds. Trees can pop up in the most inconvenient places, from fence lines, right next to a home’s foundation, planters, and even in the middle of the lawn. There are many ways to control unwanted trees mechanically (such as digging, hand pulling, or mowing) or chemically by using a herbicide. Be careful with desirable trees and herbicides to avoid an exposed root surface coming in contact with the herbicide.

Maintenance planning can be done for severe weather events. When dark clouds form, gardeners keep an eye on the sky for rain and hail. Protecting your plants can be vital to their survival. Hail netting, burlap sacks, buckets, or pots are helpful. Temporary supports hold the cloth off the plants, such as tomato cages, or other sturdy supports such as long sticks, poles, or PVC pipes, as hailstorms usually come with strong winds in addition to the force of the hail.

If your plants get hail-damaged, all is not lost. They will often survive. If the damage is minor, with holes in the leaves, nothing needs to be done except to provide good basic care for the remainder of the season with deep irrigation when summer conditions turn dry. When major damage occurs, it is best to remove the debris and stems that have been completely broken off and allow the foliage that is torn to remain on the plant.

Your plants are not the only ones that can be damaged. What do you do when high winds damage your trees? For example, trees split down the middle are difficult to brace adequately and should be removed by a professional arborist. Trees leaning from root breakage usually do not survive. If a leaning tree does survive, it often becomes a hazard due to the potential damage if it falls. Removing and replacing it with a well-planted, healthy tree is probably better.

Managing windrow disease in alfalfa

By Jerry Volesky, UNL

Rained-on hay plagues all of us eventually. The ‘windrow disease’ that often follows presents lingering problems.

Windrow disease — that’s the name given to the striped appearance in fields where alfalfa windrows remained so long that regrowth underneath was delayed. Usually, it’s due to rained on hay.

Windrow disease presents special challenges. Weeds often invade, requiring spraying to maintain quality and protect stands. During the next growth period, plants that were not smothered regrow rapidly, while plants underneath the windrow suffer delays. Part of the field often will begin to bloom while windrow-stressed plants are still short and tender. So, when do you harvest? When the first plants begin to bloom, or do you wait until injured plants are ready?

I suggest using two factors to tell you when you should cut — the health and vigor of your stand and the nutrient needs of your livestock. For example, is your alfalfa stand young, healthy and regrowing well? If not, wait to cut until stunted plants begin to bloom so you can avoid weakening them even more.

But, if your alfalfa is in good shape, then cut when it will best meet the needs of your animals. Dairy cows need alfalfa that is cut early, so harvest when the first plants reach bud to early bloom stage. Regrowth of injured plants may be slow after cutting, but this sacrifice is needed for profitable milk production. Beef cows, though, do not need such rich hay. So, if the hay will be fed to beef cattle, let stunted plants recover, and then cut when they are ready to bloom. Hopefully, by next cut, growth will be more uniform, plants healthy, and production back to normal.

All things mulch

By Katie Markheim, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

Mulch is one of the simplest and effective ways to protect plants in the landscape or garden. I’m here to share some benefits of using mulch.

Mulch insulates plants and plant roots during extreme temperature fluctuations while reducing water loss through evaporation. Soil temperature and moisture levels can be regulated throughout the growing season. Be sure to apply mulch to exposed roots, tree trunks, and landscape plants that can be damaged by lawn mowers or trimmers. In those exposed spots, prone to disease, mulch can potentially reduce the transfer of pathogens and rot. Mulch can also reduce erosion, especially on steep slopes, while controlling weeds. Mulch sounds like a good thing. But can there be too much of a good thing? The best answer is, it depends. Mulch depth truly depends on the type of soil, plants, and the mulch itself. The general recommendation is to apply mulch in an even layer two to four inches thick around woody plants and 1 to 2 inches thick around annual and perennial flowers, as well as vegetables. Layers that are too thin may need to be replenished more often, while thicker layers may reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the soil, causing plants to root in the mulch rather than in the ground.

Mulch comes in bagged or bulk options. Here are some pros for each type to help make your decision. Mulch of a single type of wood, such as pine, cedar, or cypress, in bags is easy to handle, and the mulch may be free of weeds, but it is often more expensive. Bulk mulch consists of mixed species (types of wood), is loose, and may require more specialized tools and means of transport to its destination. A pro to bulk mulch is that it may be free in many cities, available through the parks department.

Now let’s look at organic and inorganic mulch. The first is derived from plants and includes wood chips, shredded or chunked bark, pine needles, grass clippings, leaves, straw, and sawdust. Local suppliers may have unique organic mulches that are byproducts, such as soybean hulls, corncobs, shredded alfalfa, or a newer option, sheep wool. Yes, sheep wool! These options are natural, renewable resources that can be effective and sustainable. Organic mulches break down over time, add organic matter to the soil, and improve soil structure. In some soil types, organic mulch can even improve water drainage or retention. Inorganic mulches are materials that are produced from nonliving sources and include both mineral and synthetic products, which rarely break down. Rock is the primary inorganic mulch used. It comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, including round river rock, lava rock, quartz, granite, gravel, or shale chips and fines. You will likely spot rubber mulch as it is becoming popular and widely available in shredded or chunked form. Other options include landscape fabric or plastics. Inorganic mulches can be more stable in the elements, but can be more difficult to be removed. A major consideration when selecting and using this type of mulch is its tendency to release reflective heat and increase soil temperature.

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Scientists discover a new way to convert corn waste into low-cost sugar for biofuel

By Seth Truscott, WSU College of

Agricultural,

Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Scientists at Washington State University have found a new way to produce sugar from corn stalks and other crop waste, potentially opening a new pathway to sustainable biofuels.

Newly published in Bioresource Technology, their experimental process used ammonium sulfite-based alkali salts to convert corn stover — leftover corn stalks, husks, and other residues — into low-cost sugar for production of biofuels and bioproducts, making the process more economically feasible.

“Inexpensive sugar is the key to commercial success for new technologies that make fuels and useful products from renewable biomass,” said Bin Yang, professor at WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering and a lead investigator on the study.

Yang and collaborators at the University of Connecticut, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the USDA

Forest Products Lab in Madison, Wisconsin, and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, sought a cost-competitive way to efficiently turn cellulosic biomass — residues from corn and other tough, lignin- and cellulose-rich crops — into sugar.

Abundant and cheap, biomass holds great potential as a source of energy and valuable chemicals. But its high cost of processing, due to the difficulties in breaking down complex structural molecules like cellulose and lignin, remains a major challenge.

To unlock the vast potential benefits of this resource, it’s essential to develop new pretreatment technologies that can better break down complex polymers to produce affordable sugars.

Developing new and sustainable fuels and products from biomass, Professor Bin Yang works with members of his lab at WSU Tri-Cities. Yang led research into new, economically feasible production of sugar for biofuels.

In the paper, scientists describe how they developed a process that pretreats corn stover with potassium hydroxide and ammonium sulfite at mild temperatures. The treatment allows enzymes to break down cellulosic polymers into sugar, which can then be fermented into biofuels and bioproducts without the need for chemical recovery.

They calculated that, by offsetting the cost of production through byproduct uses or sales, the resulting sugar could be sold for as low as 28 cents per pound, making it competitive with low-cost imported sugar.

“This patent-pending process produces high-quality fermentable sugar for the biorefinery — the industrial process turning plant matter into fuel — as well as fertilizer that can replenish soil nutrients for farmers,” Yang theorized. “There’s no waste stream.”

The study appears in the July 2025 issue of Bioresource Technology as “A chemical-recovery-free ammonium sulfite-based alkali pretreatment of corn stover for low-cost sugar production via fertilizer use of waste liquor.”

The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office.

“In the next phase, we will be advancing our pretreatment technology at a pilot scale,” said Xiaowen Chen, a scientist at NREL and principal investigator on the project

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Let wildlife be wild

By Jacob Klaudt, K-State Research and Extension news service

While that fawn lying alone in a patch of thick vegetation might seem vulnerable and in trouble…odds are, it’s not.

Kansas State University wildlife specialist Drew Ricketts said many species of wildlife, like white-tailed deer, have adapted to hide and hold entirely still when young, which makes it common for people to think they’ve been abandoned.

“Most likely that critter was left there by its mom, and she’s off forging nearby,” he said. “If we pick that deer fawn up and try and take it home, we’re taking it away from where it’s supposed to be and where it has the best chance of surviving.”

Not only can those who intervene possibly upset natural animal processes, but they also risk contracting several diseases that wildlife carry.

“Pretty well all species that folks might encounter out on the landscape can carry diseases that can be passed to humans,” Ricketts said. “Raccoons, foxes, coyote pups – all can carry canine distemper virus, while foxes and coyotes also could have parvovirus.”

Human-wildlife interactions expose domestic pets to the numerous zoonotic diseases wildlife can transfer.

“There are ectoparasites like mange mites and ticks, and lots of wildlife have parasitic worms too,” Ricketts said. “Another concern is that we could bring avian influenza virus home right now if we deal with waterfowl.”

Beyond health concerns, Ricketts reminds those who enjoy wildlife that legal issues may arise if found possessing them without proper licensing.

“It’s not legal in Kansas for citizens who do not have a wildlife rehabilitator license to have wild animals,” he said. “That fine can be up to $1000, so if you want to possess those wild critters, you should become a wildlife rehabilitator.”

Sometimes, those who like observing wildlife anthropomorphize with them; that is, think about animals as though they have the same feelings and experiences as humans. However, Ricketts said they simply do not.

“Even if we don’t do that, if we have pets and those sorts of things, it can be easy to see wild animals though they are pets,” he said. “It’s important to remember that they’re not, and we need to leave them alone because most of them are not very easy to make into pets either.”

Yet, injured animals that are threatened or endangered wildlife species may be reported to and accepted by a rehabilitation facility.

“If you do encounter those sorts of species, reach out to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, so that you can get some instruction from them about what to do with that animal,” Ricketts said.

More information about wildlife reporting and endangered species is available online through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

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Baptisia: A hardy, flowering perennial

By: Kristine Lang, Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist

Baptisia (Baptisia australis) is an herbaceous perennial known for its hardiness and for its early-Spring blossoms. Its other common names include False Indigo, Blue Indigo, and Wild Indigo. The plant is native to the Eastern and Midwest United States. Baptisia are tolerant to drought, heat, poor soil conditions, and are deer resistant. Most Baptisias are large plants that can reach up to four feet in height, with about three-foot spread. They do best in full sun and will tolerate dry conditions after they are established.

Early in the Spring, Babtisias begin to grow with the first signs of their new shoots pushing up out of the soil. These new shoots are fun to watch, because they grow quickly and often don’t have any leaves until they grow to several inches tall, and they almost look like small asparagus stems when they first start to grow. The young stems are smooth and may range in color from dark green to a lighter blue-green color.

Flowers

Baptisia blossoms are typically a deep-blue color, but may also be yellow, pink, or white. The flowers sprout on upright, spike-like stems (racemes), with 4 or 5 petals. The flower spikes can range from 12 inches to 24 inches in length. Large, mature Baptisia plants may support close to 100 spikes of blossoms. Blooms typically last 3 to 6 weeks. The leaves of the Baptisia plant have three leaflets (trifoliate), which grow alternately along the stem. They range in shape from oval to oblong and vary in color from yellow-green and blue-green to gray-green.

After the flowers fade, they are replaced by small seed pods that look like small, rounded pea pods. These pods continue to develop up to about 2 inches in length and about ½ inches in diameter. They are usually a lighter green color throughout most of the Summer but turn dark-brown to almost black in the Fall. Then one of the most interesting aspects of the plant becomes apparent: In most varieties, if the stem with the pods is shaken, one can hear the seeds bouncing around inside, making a pleasant rattling sound that is great for kids and adds a little interest on a windy day. One can cut the stems and use them in a dried-arrangement or alternatively leave them on the plant to add some interest to the garden during Winter.

Selection and Care

There has been a lot of interest in Baptisia in recent years, with several new varieties becoming available. The new cultivars have the advantage of being a little more compact and consequently can stay upright all season long. Sometimes, by mid-Summer the common species, Baptisia australis, will topple unless it is supported. The newer varieties, however, seldom have this problem.

Baptisias can be grown in gardens as individual specimens, or along a border with several plants in a row. They are a host plant for several species of butterfly and thrive in cottage gardens. They are generally immune to pest problems and are long-lived plants that are great additions to nearly any garden.

A planting of Baptisia with light-purple flowers growing in a well-kept garden. (Courtesy: Lucy Bradley, NC State Extension)

Baptisia plant with green, cane-like braches with yellow and purple flowers. (Credit: David Graper, SDSU Extension)

A bumble bee foraging on a light-purple baptisia flower.(Courtesy: David L. Clement, University of Maryland, Bugwood.org)

Natural dyes will challenge food companies

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service

The U.S. government’s move in late April to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply will challenge food manufacturers to use more natural sources of ingredients in colorful foods, said a Kansas State University food scientist.

Karen Blakeslee notes that the source of food colors in the future may come from spices, fruits, vegetables or even cochineal (scale) insects.

“For the home cook,” Blakeslee added, “some colorful foods could be used, but the flavor of those foods would also be included in the final product.”

As an example, grinding up freeze-dried strawberries will provide pink color to a food, but also add a strawberry flavor.

“Another issue is how the natural color reacts with other ingredients in the recipe,” Blakeslee said. “For example, the overall acidity or any heating of a finished product can change color considerably.”

“It is possible that natural colors may not be as bright and colorful as current colors used in food manufacturing.”

On April 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration initiated a process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colors – Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B – within the coming months. Several other colors are expected to be eliminated from the food supply by the end of 2026.

Including last year’s decision to ban FD&C Red No. 3, there are nearly a dozen color dyes that will be removed from food production.

Blakeslee said that natural dyes are expensive and consumers will eventually make the final decision on whether they like the new food products. She added that the FDA just approved three natural colors, including: Galdieria extract blue, a blue color derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria.

Butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color extracted from dried flower petals of the butterfly pea plant.

Calcium phosphate, a white color.

“The methods to make natural food dyes will determine the cost in the end, plus the source availability for that color,” she said. “Research and development programs will also have to conduct consumer sensory evaluations to determine acceptance. These dyes will have to be approved by the FDA for food safety, including the risk for food allergens that may be present.”

Break-even forage production: Is your pasture paying its way?

By Shannon Sand, UNL

Is your pasture paying its way? This is a question I have heard lately with regards to changing input costs. Before your cattle hit the field, here’s a quick way to check if your pasture covers its costs. Let’s run the numbers:

Suppose you fertilize a sub-irrigated meadow on cool- or warm season grasses. Let’s assume after we fertilize, this will boost our forage yield by 0.75/ ton per acre. Let’s assume hay is valued at $60/ton, that extra 0.75 tons is worth $45/ acre, so you must spend less than that on fertilizer to break even. If hay prices rise to $100/ton, your break-even fertilizer investment increases to $75/acre.

But that’s just yield. In continuous grazing systems, livestock typically harvest only 25–35% of the forage, the rest is lost through trampling, fouling, or things of that nature. This dramatically eats into your return on your investment. To get your money’s worth, combine fertilization with good grazing management, with things like rotational grazing across at least 4 paddocks. This not only improves forage utilization, it helps cover those fertilizer costs. Here’s a quick formula, if your total cost per acre is $100 ($X), and your hay value is $60/ton (Y), then: Break-even yield = $100 ÷ $60 or X÷Y or roughly 1.67 tons per acre.

Make sure you’re getting that much forage after accounting for utilization. If you’re falling short, consider cutting costs, boosting efficiency, or renting extra grazing ground to balance the budget.

For additional information about this topic go to beef. unl.edu.

#####

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Better heating method makes legumes easier to digest

By Ella Funk, Canadian Light Source

While they have been part of our human diet for centuries, legumes like peas and beans are ultimately seeds for the next generation of plants. To protect themselves from being eaten by animals and insects, they contain “antinutrients” that are hard for animals – and humans – to digest.

These antinutritional compounds – which include tannins, lectins, trypsin inhibitors, and phytic acid – are broken down when beans and peas are heated. However, the large ovens that food processing companies currently use to heat beans and peas are inefficient. They can burn the outside before the inside has reached a temperature hot enough to deactivate the antinutrients.

Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering have identified a new heating method – using radio frequency (RF) waves – that appears to be both more effective and efficient than the approach currently used in the industry.

Tolen Moirangthem, a PhD student from the group, compares RF waves to microwaves. “When you put a cup of water in the microwave, the water heats up, but the cup doesn’t. The same is true for the pea—the water inside heats up, but the rest of the pea doesn’t.”

Scientists call this process “selective heating,” because it can heat some areas within a material but not others. It seems to help maintain the desirable nutritional properties in pea or bean, which can break down with regular heating methods. And unlike the long heating times of traditional processes, the RF heating method only takes a few minutes.

The team hypothesized that during RF heat treatment, the water inside a legume expands and turns into steam, which would cause the pores inside to explode from the pressure. In turn, this would create larger pores in the samples, as well as more pores in total, as the steam looked for ways to escape.

Using the Canadian Light Source at the USask, the research group confirmed that the beans treated with RF heat did in fact have more pores, and the heating method reduced the amount of an antinutrient (proteins called trypsin inhibitors)—by 81 per cent.

“We know that we have big potential with this project,” says Moirangthem “Animal protein is very expensive in different parts of the world, so we need sustainable plant protein that can be produced at mass volume to feed the world population.”

This new heating method could help make bean and pea crops even more environmentally friendly to process, with the bonus of making legumes easier to digest.

The Music Box

I always wanted to come to this small town again, But my feelings had a way of holding me back. Good memories, but still hurting ones, started coming To me, as I took the dusty road along the railroad track.

Lots of things on the street have changed but Still Grandma’s house wasn’t hard for me to find. I had to stop in front of the house ‘cause sometimes Tears will make you think your going blind.

The root cellar behind the house is gone,

But in my mind I can still see the old unpainted cellar door, In my mind I heard Grandma say ,”Just get what You can eat, then later, or tomorrow you can get ya more”.

There’s the bedroom window to the room where all of us And Grandma, would end the prayer with “our souls to keep”.

The door was always open, so I could see Grandma combing her Hair, and humming Laura’s theme before I went to sleep.

I have her music box with the tune she was humming, and I know now, why at times, while combing her long hair, she would lose a tear.

Sometimes memories are not enough and now I understand her loneliness, and wishing the one who’s on your mind was still here. By Robert Lee Ridgway robertleeridgway@hotmail. com Copyright 2003

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Scout emerging corn for insects; Don’t assume protection

Authored By Robert Wright - Extension Entomologist, Kyle Koch - Assistant Extension Educator, Justin McMechan - Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist

Updated By Kyle Koch - Assistant Extension Educator, Justin McMechan - Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist, Julie PetersonExtension Entomologist

As corn begins to emerge, be alert to the potential for damage from early season insects such as cutworms, wireworms, white grubs, or other insects. A key distinction to be aware of is that soil insects such as white grubs and wireworms can only be controlled with planting time treatments; cutworms and other caterpillars potentially can be controlled post-emergence.Wireworms and white grubs are most often associated with fields that have been in pasture or CRP where grasses were allowed to grow for more than one year. It is rare to see these problems in continuous corn, but exceptions happen. Since wireworms and white grubs feed underground and cutworms feed on or below the soil surface, scout for plant damage aboveground, but then also dig in soil around the plant to identify the insect causing the damage.

Cutworms

Cutworms and other insects may hinder emerging corn plants this spring, even if seed was treated with insecticide or Bt corn hybrids were used. High populations of insects can overwhelm the protection method, regardless of whether it was an insecticide applied at planting (liquid, granular, or seed treatment) or a Bt corn hybrid.

In some cases, products are not labeled for the full spectrum of Nebraska insects. For example, Bt corn hybrids expressing the Cry 1F and VIP3A Bt proteins list control of black cutworm on the label, but only VIP3A lists control of another soil cutworm (dingy cutworm) species. See the Handy Bt Trait Table for a list of which hybrids express which Bt proteins.

Cutworms can cause serious damage to corn in the first of couple weeks after emergence so it is important to scout fields early for damage. Several species of cutworms attack corn. The severity and the area affected will vary greatly, depending on species involved, previous crop history, and weather conditions.

The black cutworm does not overwinter in Nebraska, and infestations depend on moths moving up in spring winds from the south. They are most commonly found in the eastern one-fourth of the state. Fields with winter annual weeds or abundant crop residue are more attractive to the egg-laying black cutworm moths in the spring. Black cutworm moths may also be attracted to dense cover crop vegetation to lay eggs. Black cutworm larvae are light gray to nearly black in color with an overall greasy appearance and reach 1.5 inch long at matu-

rity. When viewed through a hand lens, the skin has a rough pebbly texture. The head has two black stripes and there is a pale band along the top of the body. A key characteristic is that on the top of each abdominal segment there are two sets of paired spots which are unequal in size (Figure 1). After hatching, cutworm larvae may begin feeding on the cover crop and later move to a cash crop when the cover crop is terminated. In 2016, Dunbar et al. captured significantly higher numbers of black cutworm moths in rye cover crop plots from late April through early May in Iowa. A couple of weeks later corn plants were assessed for cutworm damage, but no significant cutworm damage was observed. Such observations reinforce the need to scout fields even when adults have been observed. True armyworm has a similar behavior to black cutworm in that it targets areas of dense vegetation for egg laying.

Several other cutworm species (dingy, claybacked, army, and Sandhills cutworms) overwinter as partly grown caterpillars and can be found more widely in Nebraska. Dingy cutworms are pale gray to reddish brown with mottled pigmentation and light gray with a V-shaped marking on the back of each abdominal segment (Figure 2). In addition, dingy cutworms have two pairs of equal-sized tubercles on each segment, a key distinction from black cutworms where the pairs of tubercles are unequal in size (Figure 1). Because they overwinter as larvae, dingy cutworms are often the first to damage corn in the spring; however, they generally cause less damage than black cutworms because they feed primarily on leaves and do not typically cut stems. In most cases, treatment for dingy cutworms is not justified unless extensive feeding accompanies poor growing conditions.

Army cutworm larvae are generally greenish-grey to greenish-brown with a freckled appearance. The larvae usually CONTINUED ON PAGE A16

Figure 1. Identification characteristics for dingy cutworm and black cutworm larvae.

Figure 2. Dingy cutworm larva.

Scout emerging corn for insects; Don’t assume protection

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A14

have a narrow, pale stripe on top (Figure 3). Mature larvae are approximately 1 ½ to 2 inches in length. The adults migrate to the Rocky Mountains in the summer to avoid high temperatures before returning to the plains in the late summer to lay eggs. Eggs hatch in the fall and larvae begin development before overwintering.

Figure 3. Army cutworm larva.

Army cutworm larvae become active again in the late winter to early spring. Like dingy cutworms, they are among the first cutworms to appear in the spring; however, army cutworms generally climb and feed on leaves, so they typically cause less injury than cutworms that feed below ground on the stem. In addition, because they are most abundant early in the season, they usually only injure wheat and other small grains, as well as alfalfa.

Figure 4. Claybacked cutworm larva.

Claybacked cutworms are generally light along the sides with a darker brownish to reddish broad stripe on the back (Figure 4). At maturity, larvae can reach up to approximately 1 ½ inches in length. However, unlike dingy and army cutworms, claybacked cutworms will cut plants just above soil surface and can be economically important occasionally.

Remember that early detection of a problem is essential because most cutting occurs within seven days of plant emergence.

Treatment

Generally, a post-emergence “rescue” treatment should be considered if cutting is observed on 3-5% or more of plants and the worms are one inch or less in length. Rescue treatments are effective in controlling soil cutworms.

Wireworms

Wireworms (Figure 5) are the larvae of click beetles. The adult beetles prefer to lay eggs in grass and the larvae can remain in that stage for up to six years, depending on the species. Wireworms are our earliest corn

pests each season, as they can feed on the seed before germination, causing reduced plant emergence. Later feeding may kill or stunt small plants.

All wireworm feeding is done underground. Wireworms are white, yellow, orange, or brown with hard shells. They tend to be more numerous in fields that have been in grass or pasture or fields that have had grassy weed problems. Wireworms prefer cooler soil temperatures under 70°F, so fields that were planted early or have heavy surface residue may be at higher risk than tilled fields.

Treatment

There is no rescue treatment for wireworms, so the main decision at this time is whether there is sufficient stand reduction to warrant replanting. Fields with high populations of wireworms should be prioritized for control measures next year if they are to be replanted to corn. The use of seed treatments like Cruiser and Poncho has greatly reduced the incidence of wireworm damage. These products are excellent early season stand protectors.

White Grubs

White grubs are the larvae of May (or June) beetles and Japanese beetles. They prefer to feed on grasses and most commonly damage corn in eastern Nebraska. There are two basic types of grubs: Annual grubs complete their development in one year. Both masked chafers and Japanese beetles have similar life cycles. They do most of their feeding in the late summer and fall and are not considered serious pests of spring-planted field crops. Three-year grubs, however, can damage corn severely in the last two years of their larval stage. The larvae overwinter deep in the soil. As the soil warms, they begin feeding on plant roots. Damage to corn may not occur until the corn is in the 2- to 6-leaf stage. This is difficult because up to the time of feeding, the stand may look fine. Often three-year grub damage is near shelter belts where the adults may congregate to feed and mate.

To identify white grubs, examine the pattern of spines on the underside of the last

abdominal segment (Figure 6). Three-year grubs have two rows of parallel spines in a line; annual white grubs have spines scattered randomly.

Treatment

Like wireworms, there is no rescue treatment for white grubs. Again, high risk areas (e.g., presence of three-year grubs the previous year) need to be treated at planting. Products for white grub control are similar to wireworm control.

Replanting

If wireworm or white grub damage is serious enough to warrant replanting, consider use of planting time insecticide treatments, although the odds of damage diminish with the warming of the soil.

Figure 5. Wireworms.

Figure 6. One way to distinguish three-year grubs from annual white grubs is by the parallel rows of spines. Annual white grub spines are scattered randomly.

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Fire ants may offer insight into crippling honey bee disease

By Jessica Ryan, ARS

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are helping to protect honey bee populations while developing new strategies for managing fire ant populations. Honey bees are a vital part of pollinating our crops, while fire ants – an invasive species -- pose a major threat to humans, animals, and U.S. agriculture.

ARS scientists are getting a better understanding of Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), a major pathogen that can debilitate honey bees and adversely affect entire colonies. They found that the virus also affects fire ants, which could aid in spreading the virus to other species, including bees.

In the United States, imported fire ants have infested more than 367 million acres. These pesky insects can cause over $6 billion in annual losses as they feed on important crops, displace native ant species, and reduce wildlife food sources.

DWV is a serious disease that is transmitted by Varroa mites and affects different insects. In honey bees, the virus causes wing deformities, shortened abdomens, discoloration, and neurological or mobility impairments. The presence of DWV can result in reduced bee populations and colony decline.

A team of researchers from ARS and Mississippi State University’s Delta Research and Extension Center have detected DWV in red and black imported fire ant colonies in Mississippi. In one study, scientists ob-

served that infected red imported fire ants and honey bees exhibited similar symptoms after contracting DWV. A separate study published similar findings for black imported fire ants.

“We determined that the virus is replicating in both black and red imported fire ants, which means these fire ants could potentially serve as hosts for DWV,” said Jian Chen, a research entomologist at the ARS Biological Control of Pests Research Unit in Stoneville, Miss.

“We also observed symptoms of deformed wings and impaired mobility in some infected laboratory and field colonies of both red and black imported fire ants, like those found in infected honey bees. However, whether DWV is causing these symptoms has not yet been determined.”

These findings may be alarming for beekeepers who want to protect their bee colonies. Chen emphasized that this information could help researchers understand how the virus affects different insect species and find ways to control the virus.

“Further research will be needed to explore how DWV impacts fire ant populations and how the virus is transmitted between different species,” Chen said.

“Fire ants and bees often interact in nature, as they share food sources such as honeydew and nectar. Additionally, virusinfected bees may serve as a protein source for ants. While we do not yet know if ants can transmit the virus to bees, fire ants are very common in bee yards in areas where they are established.”

ARS scientists and collaborators have sequenced the genomes of DWV variants. DWV is an RNA virus with several variants, including variant A (the original strain spread worldwide through varroa mites) and variant B (the current increasing strain globally). Researchers have successfully sequenced the DWV genome of variant A (DWV-A) and variant B (DWV-B) in red imported fire ants.

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A side-by-side comparison of red imported fire ants with no wing deformities and red imported fire ants with wing deformities. (Photos by Godfrey P. Miles, ARS)

Red imported fire ant specimens displaying deformed wing (DW) phenotype. (A) Normal winged (NW) adult male ant with wings (also known as alates). (B and C) two DW male alates from different colonies. (D) Two melanized male pupae with DW (bottom) and NW (top). Scale bars are set at 1 mm for all images except image C, which is 0.5 mm. (Photos by Godfrey P. Miles, ARS)

Red imported fire ant specimens displaying deformed wing (DW) phenotype. (A) Normal winged (NW) adult female ant with wings (also known as alates). Image (B) DW female alate with moderate level of wing deformity. Image (C) is a female DW alate with severe wing deformity and (D), is this same female alate under higher magnification. Scale bars are set at 1 mm for all images except image D, which is 0.5 mm. (Photos by Godfrey P. Miles, ARS) #####

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Native plants attract more pollinators than cultivars in OSU study

Planting native plants is a popular way to help support pollinators like bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. But when shopping for native plants, people often come across something called a “cultivar.” This is a special version of a native plant that have been selected or bred to have certain traits, like different flower colors or shapes. These cultivated plants can look and behave a bit differently from the wild versions.

Researchers have been trying to figure out whether pollinators visit wild native plants more than they do cultivars, but past studies haven’t been consistent in their results. According to Jen Hayes, a recent Oregon State University graduate, the findings were all over the map.

For her dissertation on native plants, their cultivars and pollinators, Hayes led a garden experiment at the OSU Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture in Corvallis that used a mix of wild native plants and their cultivated versions.

It was the first study of its kind to look closely at how pollinators like bees and butterflies interact with both wild native plants and their cultivated versions in the Pacific Northwest.

Over three years, Hayes and colleagues in the OSU Garden Ecology Lab watched and collected data on bees, butterflies and flower flies to see whether pollinators preferred one over the other, if certain pollinators favored certain types of plants, and if specialist pollinators — those that rely on specific plants — chose wild natives more often.

It was the first study of its kind to look closely at how pollinators like bees and butterflies interact with both wild native plants and their cultivated versions in the Pacific Northwest. What they found was that pollinator visits depended a lot on the specific plant and insect. When comparing native plants with their cultivars, pollinators favored the wild versions about 37% of the time. Cultivars were preferred only about 8% of the time.

In more than half the cases, there was no clear difference.

“We found that visitation is dependent on the specific pollinator group and the plant group,” Hayes said. “When we did see a difference in vastation rates, more often the native plant had a greater vastation rate than the cultivars. The cultivars that did have higher visitation rates tended to be those minimally developed cultivars.”

The study is published in the journal Environmental Entomology.

Hayes cautioned that the results are based on a specific group of plants and a specific community of pollinators in one location, so that means results might vary in other regions, with different plants or under different environmental conditions.

For example, the researchers observed many specialist bees — those that only visit certain types of flowers — and especially one group that’s common in the central Willamette Valley. That’s not always the case in other studies, Hayes said.

What are native cultivars, exactly?

A native cultivar is one that has been selected from a native population or a cross that’s been developed by humans, said Signe Danler, online instructor for the OSU Extension Service Master Gardener program. Breeders select for characteristics that people are drawn to, such as larger and more abundant flowers, a variety of colors, longer bloom or more compact form.

The cultivars are distinct, uniform and stable, meaning they will remain the same with each generation. The best way to tell the difference is that a cultivar will have its name listed in single quotes after the scientific name as in Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan.’

Pollinators preferred native Clarkia amoena over its cultivars.

Native plants attract more pollinators than cultivars in OSU study

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A20

“When we create cultivars, we create a version of a native as we like it,” Danler said. “And since many are propagated clonally (from one cell) they never change. Genetic variability stops.”

It’s not harmful to grow cultivars in the garden, Danler said, but they should never be used in restoration projects, where genetic variability is key so plants can adapt. Cultivars of native plants are propagated to minimize genetic diversity in favor of uniformity.

Pollinator-preferred plant groups

For the study, Hayes divided pollinators into categories: all pollinators, wild bees, bumble bees, leafcutter bees, longhorn bees, syrphid flies and butterflies to represent the diversity of the pollinator population at Oak Creek.

There were only two plant groups where pollinators seemed to consistently prefer the native plant, including Clarkia amoena or farewell-to-spring, and Eschscholzia californica or California poppy. The plant with the strongest storyline, however, was Clarkia, Hayes said. Pollinators in five groups preferred the species over the cultivar, which could be because the species blooms longer and, in more abundance, so pollinators have more time and flowers to visit.

There were some pollinator groups where yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Douglas aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum) cultivars were more visited by pollinators than the species. Yarrow by honeybees; Douglas aster by honeybees, bumble bees and the all-pollinator group.

“The cultivars we used represent a spectrum of plant breeding modifications,” Hayes said. “Some just had a different flower color or a change in foliage like variegation. Others were more developed, like interspecific hybrids, which are plants resulting from parents of at least two different species. All the cultivars had a wild-type native plant somewhere in its pedigree.”

Don’t ‘villainize’ cultivars

People used to believe that pollinators stuck to specific flower colors — bees to blue and yellow, butterflies to red and so on. But in this study, bees visited a wide range of flower colors, including pinks and purples. What really seems to matter is a mix of traits like nectar quality, bloom time, flower size and even how flowers are arranged on the plant, according to Hayes.

“Some groups are fervently anti-cultivar,” Hayes said. “I don’t think that’s fair. I came into the study thinking that I preferred natives just because I had assumptions about the ecological benefits. There is intrinsic value to planting native plants in the landscape, but it’s not fair to villainize cultivars.”

Hayes said cultivars can be valuable, like in the case of American chestnut trees that were decimated by the chestnut blight in the early 1900s.

“There might not be American chestnut trees left in the country if breeders weren’t working on developing resistant cultivars,” Hayes said. “It was a way to potentially restore a keystone species. In some ways, cultivars can be ecologically important and should be used. Or if someone wants to have their favorite plant in every color or a special cultivar that means something to them, who am I to tell them not to?”

The study was funded by grants from the Native Plant Society of Oregon, the Garden Club of America and Sherry Sheng.

Where did our moon come from?

Not long after humans finally walked on the Moon and samples were brought back and studied, astronomers W. K. Hartmann and D. R. Davis proposed a new theory called the giant impact theory. When Earth was just 50 million years old–some 4.5 billion years ago–a planetary object the size of Mars slammed into it (a slightly off-center hit, they said). The enormous impact resulted in a huge amount of debris–both from the object and from Earth’s mantle–being thrown into space. Much of it was affected by Earth’s gravity and fell into orbit. This material eventually coalesced into the Moon. This would explain not only the different makeup of the Moon but also it’s lack of a large iron core, since the Earth’s mantle was by this time largely free of iron (because the iron was in the core). Today, the giant impact theory is the most widely accepted.

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Strategic supplementation on summer pasture

By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Livestock Educator

A three-year experiment at the High Plains Ag Lab was conducted by Dr. Karla Wilke and a team of researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to evaluate the effects of two distillers grains supplementation strategies on yearling cattle performance and producer returns to management. Yearling cattle were grazed on pastures consisting primarily of crested wheatgrass. The cattle were supplemented either throughout the entire grazing season, only during the latter part of the grazing season, or not supplemented at all. The supplemented yearlings received 3.5 pounds of dried distillers grains with solubles six days per week.

On average, the non-supplemented yearlings had an average daily gain of 1.51 pounds per head per day, and providing the supplement increased average daily gain by 0.5 pounds per head per day. The yearlings supplemented only during the latter part of the grazing season had similar performance to the yearlings supplemented the entire season, with decreased supplementation costs. Providing the supplement through the entire grazing season returned an additional $14.96 per animal. Providing the supplement during the last half of the grazing season returned an additional $32.21 per animal more than the non-supplemented group. In this research study, strategic supplementation from the middle to the later part of the summer, when the quality of grass was declining, increased the weight gain of yearlings and increased the financial return to management.

Everyone’s operation is unique with the resources available to them. However, with the current value of cattle, grass, and distillers grains in Nebraska, the opportunity to supplement yearling cattle on grass this summer for many producers may make sense. Want to learn more? A summary of the research study can be found in the 2023 Nebraska Beef Report article titled “Effects of Strategic Supplementation on Return to Management and Performance of Yearling Cattle” at beef.unl.edu.

Gardeners enter home stretch for onions, tomatoes

K-State Research and Extension news service

If gardeners are crying about their onions right now, it’s not because they’re slicing them in their kitchen. But they may soon.

“This is the time of year that onions grow and develop rapidly,” said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini. “Regular watering – if the soil is dry – and light fertilization help maximize growth.”

In soils that tend to be alkaline, Domenghini suggests using ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) at the rate of ½ cup per 10 row-feet. The number series refers to the rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contained in the fertilizer.

“You can use lawn fertilizer (such as 29-5-5, 27-3-3, or similar) but only use 1/3 cup per 10 row-feet,” she said. “Make sure the lawn fertilizer does not have a weed preventer or weed killer included. Sprinkle the fertilizer 2-3 inches alongside the row and water in. Do not fertilize after the onions start to bulb.”

Domenghini said that as onions develop, as much as 2/3 of the bulb remains out of the soil. She said that is normal and there is no need to cover the bulb with soil.

Tomatoes

Another garden favorite – tomatoes – could benefit from mulching as long as soils are warm enough and not saturated with water, according to Domenghini.

“Tomatoes prefer even levels of soil moisture, and mulches provide that by preventing excessive evaporation,” she said.

Mulch also helps to suppress weeds, moderate soil temperatures, and prevent the formation of hard crust on the soil. Crusted soils restrict air movement and slow the water infiltration rate.

Domenghini said hay and straw mulches are “very popular for tomatoes, but may contain weed or volunteer grain seeds.” Grass clippings can be used as mulch, but should be applied in a thin layer – “only 2-3 inches thick,” Domenghini said.

“Do not use clippings from lawns that have been treated with weed killer until some time has passed,” she said. “With most types of weed killers, clippings from the fourth mowing after treatment may be used.

Navigating farm succession without a family heir

By Jessica Groskopf, Nebraska Extension Ag Economist

“Every day when I would leave for work, and again when I would come home, I would walk past our key basket at the front door and see his keys in there. Walking past that basket was this constant little reminder that he was deployed, (physically gone), you know, overseas, but he was always here with me, (psychologically present), in my thoughts.”

A colleague of mine shared this story with me about her personal experience embracing change and coping with an ambiguous loss during her spouse’s deployment in 2010. Hearing that story got me thinking - what are those transitions, those moments, that give us that same feeling? And especially when we’re looking at big changes, like what happens when there isn’t anyone willing to take over the farm or ranch?

In my work with agricultural families, I’m increasingly encountering a difficult but growing reality: many farms and ranches today have not identified a successor from within their family. This absence of the next generation can simultaneously simplify some aspects of estate planning while deeply complicating others, particularly the emotional side of grieving the end of an era.

This article marks the beginning of a new series aimed at helping farm and ranch owners who are facing this crossroads. Over the coming articles, I’ll explore essential steps such as the legal documents you’ll need, identifying suitable non-family successors, and tools that can make the transition smoother. While I’m not sure yet how many articles this series will include, your questions and feedback will help shape its direction. I do know where I want to begin: with the emotional toll that this situation can take.

For many, the idea of not passing the family operation on to a family member isn’t just a logistical transition, it’s a deeply personal loss. This feeling often manifests as ambiguous loss, a type of grief that lacks clear closure or recognition. Unlike the death of a loved one, ambiguous loss stems from the absence of something we hoped for or envisioned. In this context, the ambiguous loss many farm and ranch owners feel are often

unspoken but profound: the grief of watching a dream, sometimes generations in the making, begin to fade.

If you’re experiencing this kind of grief, please know that you’re not alone, and your feelings are completely valid. Common feelings may be disappointment, frustration, or even guilt that your children or grandchildren have chosen a different path, despite your efforts to prepare them for taking over your operation. These emotions should be shared and discussed with family

members. The intimate feelings deserve to be acknowledged and addressed before you move forward with any formal planning.

Many of us elect to dive into logistics and paperwork of farm and ranch succession, taking time to process the emotional side of this transition is essential in addressing the loss and grief. Here are a few approaches that may help you cope with the grief and gain clarity as you chart your path forward:

Think Outside the Box

Your legacy doesn’t have to end with your family. Step beyond tradition and consider creative succession plans—like mentoring a trusted employee, working with a neighboring producer, or partnering with a conservation group. Legacy is about values, not just lineage.

Talk Honestly as a Family

Have open and honest discussions with your family. Understanding each other’s feelings, values, and decisions can help ease emotional strain and pave the way for constructive planning.

Seek Outside Perspectives

Don’t be afraid to look beyond your immediate circle. Agricultural consultants, extension educators, and estate planners can offer objective advice and resources tailored to your situation.

Listen With Respect

Each family member will process this differently. Be willing to hear what others have to say and acknowledge differing views and emotions.

Take

a Break When Needed

Sometimes stepping away from the issue, whether it’s for a weekend or a season, can provide clarity and an emotional reset.

Understand the Impact of Change

Accept that transitioning to a non-family successor may involve structural, cultural, and operational shifts. Try to view this as an evolution of your legacy, not an end.

Share How You Feel

Whether with your spouse, a counselor, or trusted friend, don’t bottle up your feelings. Talking them through can reduce stress and reveal insights you hadn’t considered.

While the grief of ambiguous loss can feel overwhelming, it doesn’t have to define the rest of your story. In future articles, we’ll explore the nuts and bolts of transitioning your business to an unrelated party. The legacy you’ve built matters, regardless of who carries it forward. With thoughtful planning and emotional readiness, you can shape a future for your farm or ranch that honors your hard work and vision.

Navigating farm succession without a family heir: The question

By Jessica Groskopf, Nebraska Extension Ag Economist

In my work with agricultural families, I’m seeing a growing and difficult reality: many farms and ranches today don’t have a successor within the family. While this absence can simplify parts of estate planning, it often creates deeper, more emotional challenges, especially when legacy and identity are tied to the land. This is the second installment in a series designed to support farm and ranch owners facing this crossroads. In the first article, I addressed the emotional side of succession without a related heir. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to go back—grief and uncertainty often block people from planning ahead.

Once you’re emotionally ready to begin planning, the most important question to ask yourself is: “What do I want to happen to my farm or ranch business when I die?”

I emphasize business because planning isn’t just about distributing property like land, equipment, or cattle. Your true legacy may lie more in the values, knowledge, and opportunities you pass on than in the physical assets themselves. Before reading on, take a moment to write down your answer.

Here are three typical responses I hear from owners in this situation. In each case, “my heirs” can also mean a nonprofit, church, conservation

group, or other entity:

1. “I want my assets to be sold, and the proceeds distributed to my heirs.”

2. “I want my heirs to keep and own this land.”

3. “I want someone to continue the operation - not just sell it to the highest bidder.”

Your answer determines your next step: an estate plan, a transition plan, or both.

If your answer resembles #1: You’re focused primarily on an estate plan, which outlines how your assets should be handled after death.

The benefit of this option is that you can make detailed decisions ahead of time—what gets sold, how proceeds are divided, and how taxes and legal issues are addressed.

If your answer is like #2: You’ll need both an estate plan and a transition plan. An estate plan will ensure the land ends up in the hands of your heirs, but a transition plan prepares them for ownership. This may include establishing ownership structures, teaching lease and contract negotiation, or helping them understand marketing and land management. Keep in mind, if your heirs aren’t involved in agriculture, the land may eventually be sold, especially if multiple heirs can’t agree on how to manage it.

If you relate most to #3: You’re likely looking for a non-family successor—perhaps a long-time employee, your current tenant, or a local young producer eager to carry on the work. This path is the most complex, requiring both a solid estate plan and a carefully thought-out transition plan. It involves identifying the right person, mentoring them over time, and gradually transferring responsibility. When done well, it’s incredibly rewarding—for both parties—but it does take time, trust, and careful legal planning.

In future articles, I’ll dig deeper into the practical steps for each path: drafting essential legal documents, identifying potential successors, and using tools that can ease the transition.

Farm and ranch succession without a family heir is never easy, but it can be done thoughtfully, intentionally, and with your legacy in mind. As we continue this series, your feedback and questions will help shape where we go next.

Stay safe when cleaning up storm-damaged trees

NDSU Extension forester offers advice for cleaning up trees and branches due to storms.

While tree-care companies and others are working to clean up trees and branches after this weekend’s storms, many homeowners are doing the same thing. Joe Zeleznik, North Dakota State University Extension forester, encourages homeowners to stay safe while cleaning up storm-damaged trees.

When working with trees and branches, rule number one is to avoid downed power lines, says Zeleznik. Live power lines can kill or injure a person through direct contact or indirectly, when downed trees and branches conduct electricity into a person working on them. Avoid these situations until the power company declares that it is safe to do so. Let these professionals do their job first, before you do yours.

• Increased early season vigor

• Phosphorus and Zinc to drive rooting & cold start the crop.

• Zinc to help with early season hormone production, ie. Auxin for root and shoot growth.

• Convey Technology to help with early season stresses, such as cool soils and excess moisture. It also improves nutrient use efficiency.

• Other essential nutrients target at each specific crop, ie. Boron for cell wall strength; Manganese for efficient photosynthesis.

• Second chance for a starter fertilizer

• Formulations are targeted at early season root growth (more root = more efficient moisture and nutrient uptake).

• Proactive way of managing the crops nutritional requirement.

• Convey Technology helps with early season stresses such as cool soils, excess moisture, and drought. Also improves nutrient use efficiency.

• Speeds up recovery from herbicide hangover - the correct supply of nutrients helps the crop metabolize the herbicide more quickly.

• Contains novel Phosphorus nutrition, providing increased nutrient uptake and movement within the plant.

• Targeted at the reproductive phse of the plant.

• Proactive way of managing the crops utritional requirement

• Contains other essential nutrients targeted for each specific crop, ie. Boron to aid pollen tube growth, Zinc to help produce Auxin, to ensure healthy pollen tube growth.

Second, be aware of the ways that stems and branches can move once they are no longer attached to each other. Branches or small stems that are being held down by heavier stems can act like springs, releasing a lot of energy once they are free. Other branches may move up, down or sideways, depending on where they are in a pile. Those moving pieces can easily knock a person off-balance or even cause severe injury.

Wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when operating a chainsaw or other power tools, says Zeleznik. Wearing a hard hat, gloves, hearing protection and boots will go a long way towards protecting you from scrapes and cuts. Chainsaw safety chaps provide outstanding protection against the serious harm that can come from this dangerous piece of equipment.

“Know what’s beyond your capacity and hire a professional when necessary,” says Zeleznik. “There are many highly trained and experienced individuals throughout the state who have the equipment and know-how to remove damaged trees and debris safely. Split stems, rotted stems and large unattached branches that are high off the ground can be very dangerous to remove and should be taken care of by the professionals.”

Finally, when hiring a tree-care company, make sure to ask for proof of insurance before entering into a service contract, advises Zeleznik.

For more details about dealing with disasters and stress, visit NDSU’s disaster education website at ndsu.ag/disasterinfo.

Alfalfa weevil feeding on regrowth

By Samantha Daniel, UNL

Since the first cutting of alfalfa has been completed in much of the state, Nebraska producers may be tempted to believe our troubles with alfalfa weevil are over. Unfortunately, this may not be the case. Alfalfa weevil feeding on regrowth has been reported in some fields, so scouting is highly recommended, particularly if you notice that regrowth doesn’t begin within 4-5 days after cutting.

Alfalfa plants usually suffer the most injury and economic damage before the first cutting, however, feeding on regrowth can have impacts as well. While larvae cause the most damage, adults can also cause damage by feeding along leaf margins and leaving irregular notches. Adult beetles are roughly 5mm in length with a blunt snout and a brown body covered in golden hairs. Larvae are 1.5mm to 8.5mm long with a black head, wrinkled green body, and white stripe along the back and will curl into a C-shape when disturbed.

Scouting for Alfalfa Weevil is simple and can help mitigate economic losses. Randomly select 5 sites across the field and collect 10 stems at each site, cutting the stems at ground level. Beat the stems into a deep sided white bucket and count the number of larvae to determine the average number per stem. Economic thresholds for Alfalfa Weevil can vary greatly from an average of 1-7 larvae per stem, depending on a variety of factors. A threshold table that includes alfalfa as short as 4 inches can be found on the Iowa State Extension website.

While there are several insecticides labeled for alfalfa weevil management, in Nebraska there have been reports of some products not performing as well as expected and resistant alfalfa weevil populations have recently been reported in several western states. Therefore, if you believe you have an infestation above threshold, contact your county Extension Office for further guidance.

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4-H Special Gardening Project focuses on Goldie Cherry Husk

By Laurie Zitterkopf, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

The 2025 Special Garden Project will focus on the Goldie Husk Cherry. The Nebraska Special Gardening Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables, flowers, fruit, and herbs. While letting experienced 4-H gardeners grow something fun, new, and different. The project is open to all 4-H youth ages 5-18. The project gives 4-Hers the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique fruit.

The Goldie Husk Cherry is an old-fashioned fruit from the tomato family with sweet berries inside golden husks. Other common names include cape gooseberry, golden gooseberry, and pineapple tomatillo. There are more than 75 different species of husk cherries. Husk cherries are an introduced plant. They are native to South and Central America, where they have been grown for centuries and were eaten by the indigenous people of Mexico.

Husk cherries are very tolerant of dry, hot conditions. The plants will need about 1 inch of water a week. Try to keep the soil barely moist. At each watering, moisten the soil about 6 to 8 inches deep. Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings. Too much water decreases the soil oxygen, which roots need to grow steadily. If you use a sprinkler to water the garden, try to water in the morning. This will allow the leaves to dry off throughout the day and decrease the possibility of disease.

Husk cherries will produce the best when placed in full sun. This is an area that will receive 6 to 8 hours or more of direct sunlight a day. It will tolerate partial sunlight conditions, but it won’t produce as well. Make sure to leave enough room for the plants to grow. The more crowded the plants are, the taller they get as they reach for sunlight. Husk cherries like to sprawl, so leave at least 18 to 24 inches between plants.

The fruits have many uses and can be eaten raw, dried, frozen, canned, or made into tasty treats like pies, desserts, or preserves. Once the youth have eaten this fruit, they won’t make it inside, they are delicious. My grandmother grew these in her garden, and I don’t remember any of them left after we found them.

Irrigating alfalfa in season

By Todd Whitney, UNL

Early Spring alfalfa irrigation may be beneficial; especially when it is the prime irrigation growing season time to build water reserves for summer use. However, overwatering alfalfa can cause plant injury, disease, and possibly weed invasion.

Alfalfa daily water needs in June due to lower temperatures, reduced evaporation and lower leaf transpiration is usually less than ¼ inch per day. This compares to July and August summer months when peak water usage can rise above 1/3 inch per day. Remember that this crop is a relatively drought-tolerant perennial that does not have specific critical growth stages for water stress like most traditional crops. So, when moisture stressed, the plant will slow or stop growing and go dormant. Then, when water becomes available, growth resumes.

Irrigation scheduling efficiency can be improved with using ET and soil moisture monitoring technology. Accurate weather forecasts can also allow growers to take full advantage of rainfall events and reduce irrigation applications. Since alfalfa has a longer growing season, it can use more water annually compared to other crops. Also, irrigation scheduling can be challenging due to multiple harvests for about 7 to 10 days per growth cycle and frequent heavy equipment traffic compacting soils. To reduce compaction, stop irrigating 2-3 days before cutting the alfalfa; and irrigate again when alfalfa regrowth begins. Avoid heavy irrigation of alfalfa stubble to reduce weed growth.

As temperatures increase, the most yield impacting irrigation occurs just before the second cutting followed by the third and fourth growth periods typically requiring 6 to 7 inches of irrigation per cutting. Hot, windy and dry summer days can move the maximum water demand up to ½ inch per day, so accurate soil water storage and plant water usage monitoring can reduce unnecessary irrigation expenses.

Our UNL NebGuide, G1778, “Irrigation Management and Crop Characteristics of Alfalfa” provided more details at: https://cropwater.unl.edu or https://water.unl.edu

Prep your produce for your county fair

By Elaine Pile, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener

County fairs are just around the corner, and they offer a great opportunity to share your green thumb. Consider entering your flower and garden bounty in the open horticulture and floriculture at your county fair. Entries are judged on the following criteria: freedom from injury, quality, condition, uniformity, and fair preparation. Freshness and quality are also important in a fair exhibit. Take the time to carefully harvest your produce, choosing items that are in prime condition, of marketable size, and uniform shape. Use a soft brush or a damp cloth to clean your produce but avoid excessive scrubbing. Follow the cleaning and trimming instructions for each exhibit.

Beware of a common mistake made when exhibiting produce at the fair and have the correct number of items in your exhibit. For instance, the number for carrots is five regardless of their class. However, if you are entering cucumbers, the number needed for the exhibit varies according to class. Slicing requires two, and pickling requires five. Don’t risk missing out on a ribbon by displaying the incorrect numbers in an exhibit.

The 4-H county fair books are full of information on exhibiting your items. Tomatoes should be exhibited at the fair without stems and should be displayed blossom end up. Vine crops such as squash, pumpkin, and watermelon should have stems left on and trimmed to the length recommended in the fair book. Kale and chard should be exhibited with stems in a jar of cold water, as well as herbs like basil, oregano, parsley, and thyme.

Finally, your 4-H county fair book is a guide to placing your vegetables in their proper class. For instance, peppers have six classes; squash have ten; tomatoes have seven. This helps speed up the check-in process and ensures your entry will be judged in the appropriate class. For additional information, contact your local Extension office.

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First soybean gall midge adults emerge in Nebraska

By Justin McMechan - Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist

Soybean gall midge season has begun — here’s what to watch for and how to decide if your field is at risk.

Soybean gall midge adults have been detected in east-central Nebraska, marking the beginning of the 2025 emergence period and signaling risk for soybean fields. Two adults were collected on May 30 from a field in Saunders County (Figure 1), with one additional adult found at the same site on June 4.

When to Spray for Soybean Gall Midge Soybean growth stage is a critical factor in susceptibility of soybean to the midge. Emerging in the spring from last year’s soybean fields, soybean gall midge adults lay eggs in fissures of new soybean plant stems. It appears that all soybean plants produce fissures, but these cracks don’t appear until the V2 stage (Figure 2).

Soybean planted in late April and early May are mostly at the V2 stage; however, those planted in mid- to late May are VEV1.

Growers with a history of soybean gall midge pressure may consider applying a foliar insecticide. The checklist below can help growers decide whether insecticide will benefit their field.

Soybean Gall Midge: Should I Spray Checklist

Soybean gall midge adults have emerged in my area

My soybean field is at the V2 stage or greater (Figure 2)

I observed soybean gall midge injury in the adjacent field last year

Management Options

First identified in the state in 2019, soybean gall midge has continued to cause significant injury to soybean in eastern Nebraska and six other midwestern states,

Foliar sprays have shown some response but are inconsistent between locations and years. No specific foliar-applied product tested to date has provided consistent control of SGM. Research to date suggests that growers can consider using a combination product that contains a pyrethroid. If an application is being considered, it should only be made in soybean fields where a history of issues with soybean gall

Figure 1. Soybean gall midge alert network trap sites with a yellow dot indicating activity and the number of adults collected at that site.

Figure 2. Soybean plants (a) at the V1 and V2 stages with a close-up of the stem (b) showing differences in the formation of fissures or cracks at the V2 stage. as management of this pest has proven difficult.

First soybean gall midge adults emerge

midge injury has occurred. Since soybean gall midge is a field edge-infesting pest, growers may only need to treat the first 60 to 120 feet of a field edge directly adjacent to a field that was injured the previous year.

Do not treat any soybean fields prior to V2, as they are not susceptible to infestation due to the lack of fissures or cracks at the base of the stem.

Hilling or covering the base of soybean stems with soil has also been found to be a very effective strategy, resulting in almost complete control of soybean gall midge. This is a difficult practice to implement when soybean plants are small, as they can easily be completely covered by soil. Studies are being conducted to evaluate the timing of hilling relative to

the plant development stage. More information on hilling is available through the soybeangallmidge.org website.

Little is known about the impact that the hilling management strategy could have on soybean gall midge movement in a field. Although no field studies have been conducted, it is possible that adults may continue to move into the field until they find a susceptible plant.

With no detection of soybean gall midge in other parts of the network so far in 2025, it would be advisable to wait for emergence to occur in those areas.

Soybean Gall Midge Alert Network

Each year, the Soybean Gall Midge Alert Network provides emergence updates to help producers make timely decisions. To receive text messages or emails on soybean gall midge, sign up for alerts from soybeangallmidge.org.

V-8 juice

In 1933, W. G. Peacock founded the New England Products Company and began manufacturing spinach juice, lettuce juice, and other vegetable juices. Even though the country was in the midst of a health craze, few people wanted to drink Peacock’s concoctions. So he began mixing the drinks together, hoping to find something more marketable. I took about a year, but he finally came up with a drink he called Vege-min – a combination of tomato, celery, carrot, spinach, lettuce, watercress, beet, and parsley juices. The label had a huge V for Vege-min and a large 8 listing the different juices. One day, as he gave a free sample to a grocer in Evanston, Illinois, a clerk suggested he just call the product V8.

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In Ancient Greece, wearing skirts was manly. In fact, the Ancient Greeks viewed trousers as effeminate and would mock any men who wore them.

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The record for the largest peanut butter sandwich is held by a 1,342-pound creation made in Grand Saline, Texas. This massive sandwich used 720 pounds of peanut butter and 900 pounds of jelly. Townspeople gathered for the occasion, making it a fun community event.

Grillin’ and Chillin’? Remember food safety

K-State Research and Extension news service

Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says food safety needs to be part of summer parties, especially when those get-togethers involve grilling food outdoors.

“To start with,” she said, “wash your hands. That’s the No. 1 step before you start handling any food, and then wash them again after you’ve handled any kind of raw meat.”

Much like cooking food indoors, home chefs need to keep a food thermometer close at hand, Blakeslee said. For meat, there are three temperatures that consumers should store to memory:

145 degrees Fahrenheit for steaks, roasts, chops, fish and other whole cuts of meat.

160 F for ground meat, including beef, pork and lamb. 165 F for all types of poultry.

Those temperatures include products that are smoked, cooked on a grill or indoors.

The recommended temperatures relate to the internal temperature of the meat. “Without a food thermometer, it’s very subjective” as to whether the meat is cooked properly, Blakeslee said. Judging doneness by color or pressing the meat with your finger are also subjective, she noted.

To more accurately measure for doneness, insert the tip of the thermometer into the center of the meat. With a digital thermometer, the temperature sensor is normally in the tip, so those can be inserted into the top of the meat product.

“But the ideal way to do it – like with a hamburger – is to insert it from the side,” Blakeslee said. “That is the best way to reach the center of the product.”

A thermometer with a dial display is another option. “If you look on the stem of a dial face thermometer, there should be a dimple, about halfway up the stem. Insert this type of thermometer into the food so that the little dimple gets into the meat product to get an accurate measurement.”

Some other food safety tips that Blakeslee offered: Keep meat cold until you’re ready to use it

Resist the temptation to let meat sit on a counter for long periods of time. “You could let it warm up a little bit (before cooking) – about 30 minutes. But please refrain from letting it sit out for hours. That invites any bacteria that could be on the meat to start growing, and cooking may not destroy all of the bacteria.”

Freeze meat that won’t be used soon after you buy it If planning an event, consider buying meat 2-3 days before cooking it. Otherwise, Blakeslee said, “you need to freeze it.”

Frozen meat is best thawed in the refrigerator, not on a countertop. “Plan ahead for thawing,” Blakeslee said. “The amount of thawing time you’ll need depends on the size of your meat product.”

Steaks can typically be thawed in a refrigerator in 24 hours. A brisket might take 3-4 days.

Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold

Side dishes are usually cold foods; keep them in a refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them. Ice chests are handy for chilling side dishes. Cold foods should be kept at 40 F or lower, while hot foods should be kept at 140 F or higher.

Store food and eat leftovers promptly.

Store food within 1-2 hours of serving them. Foods should be divided into shallow containers and placed in the refrigerator. “Today’s refrigerators are very efficient, so you do not need to set them on the counter until they cool,” Blakeslee said.

Leftovers should be eaten within 3-4 days, otherwise transferred to the freezer for later use. “We all need to work better at reducing food waste,” she said. “One way to do that is managing leftovers. Leftovers are great; they make an easy lunch or quick supper, or you can re-purpose them into a completely different meal.”

‘Give Mayo a Break’

Blakeslee said mayonnaise often gets a bad rap for being a food safety concern, but the popular dressing is high in acid and can fend for itself.

“Mayonnaise is not the problem,” Blakeslee said. “It’s what you mix into the mayonnaise that can be the problem. Cooked potatoes, hard boiled eggs…those are the ingredients that need refrigeration to reduce food safety risks.

“The mayonnaise is just holding the mixture together and adds flavor,” she adds. “So, give mayonnaise a break. It’s how you handle the rest of the ingredients in the potato salad that really matters.”

Preparation is key in protecting ruminant 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 weekend, with many cities experiencing temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher than reported averages for this time of year.

A temperature-humidity index chart can help ranchers identify when livestock are most at risk for developing heat stress. Livestock begin to experience moderate heat stress at a temperature humidity index of 82 to 83, severe heat stress at 84 to 86 and extreme heat stress at 87 or greater. A temperature-humidity index chart can be found at ndsu.ag/heat-stress.

A Cattle Comfort Index forecast map is also available from the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) at https://ndawn.info/agriculture_cci.html. The forecast for June 21 shows potential for

the southeast and south-central areas of the state to see areas of heat caution and heat danger. At these categories, producers can expect to see decreased production, reduced conception and possible deaths.

Heat stress can significantly impact animal performance, health and welfare, making it critical to prepare a proactive management plan for unavoidable heat events. Heat stress occurs when an animal’s cumulative heat load outweighs the animal’s ability to dissipate heat, causing body temperature to rise.

NDSU Extension livestock specialists recommend several heat event action plans: Access to quality water sources

Water availability and quality are essential to managing heat stress in livestock. Each animal should have at least 2 inches of linear water trough access. For example, a pen with 200 animals should have 400 inches of linear water space. Evaluating water supply lines and ensuring sufficient water pressure and flow capacity to keep troughs full during peak water consumption

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New Tractors

Case IH Puma 240

Case IH Puma 185

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New Haying Equipment

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Case IH RB 565 Premium

New Track Loaders Wacker Neuson ST45

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New Coming Soon Farmall 75L, 40C & 25C

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New Haying Equipment

Case IH RB 565 Premium

Wacker Neuson SM120

Wacker Neuson SM120

New Track Loaders

New Compaction Wacker Neuson RTLX-SC3 Trench Roller

New Track Loaders

New Compaction

New Compaction

Case IH WD 1505 Windrowers

Case IH WD 1505 Windrowers

Used Harvest

Used Harvest

New Coming Soon Farmall 75L, 40C & 25C

New Wheel Loader

New Wheel Loader

Wacker Neuson ST31

IH RB 565 Premium

2019 John Deere 1023E, 117 hrs, loader, Back Blade, $15,500

New Harvest Case IH 8250 AFS MacDon FD2-40

New Harvest 8250 AFS MacDon FD2-40

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Case IH Maxxum 150 New Tillage

Case IH 8250 AFS MacDon FD2-40

Case IH 475 Speed Tiller, 27ft

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Used Tractors

2012 Case IH Puma 185 CVT with loader, 3072 hrs, $138,000 2020 Case IH Puma 165 with loader, 1075 hrs, $165,000

$180,000 New Harvest Case IH 8250 AFS MacDon FD2-40

2019 John Deere 1023E, 117 hrs, loader, Back Blade, $15,500 New Harvest

New Misc AG

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• Parma 30ft Mulcher

• Parma 30ft Mulcher

• Unverferth 1020 Seed Tender

New Misc AG

Case IH 8250 AFS MacDon FD2-40

• Unverferth 1020 Seed Tender

• Grasshopper Mowers

• Grasshopper Mowers

• Parma 30ft Mulcher

• Unverferth 1020 Seed Tender

• Grasshopper Mowers

• Twin Star G3-7 Rake

• Westfield 8-36 Auger

• Morris Hayhiker 1400

• Great Plains 1006 NT Drill

2014 Case IH 9230 1750 sep hrs, $125,000

Case IH WD 1505 Windrowers

2014 Case IH 9230 1750 sep hrs, $125,000

2020 MacDon FD 145, case adapter $95,000

Used Harvest 2014 Case IH 9230 1750 sep hrs, $125,000

Wacker Neuson BS62 Rammer Wacker Neuson WP1550, Plate Compactor

Wacker Neuson WL38

Wacker Neuson ST45 Wacker Neuson SM120

Wacker Neuson WL38

New Wheel Loader Wacker Neuson WL38

Wacker Neuson ST45

Wacker Neuson BS62 Rammer WAcker Neuson WP1550 Plate Compactor

New Compaction Wacker Neuson RTLX-SC3 Trench Roller Wacker Neuson BS62 Rammer WAcker Neuson WP1550 Plate Compactor

Wacker Neuson SM120

New Wheel Loader Wacker Neuson WL38

New Excavator

Wacker Neuson RTLX-SC3 Trench Roller Wacker Neuson BS62 Rammer WAcker Neuson WP1550 Plate Compactor

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Freeform Plastics Canola Roller, MAcDon M150 $2,500

2020 MacDon FD 145, case adapter $95,000 Freeform Plastics Canola Roller, MAcDon M150 $2,500 2015 FD75-45, $75,000 (2) 2023 FD245, $135,000

2015 FD75-45, $75,000 (2) 2023 FD245, $135,000

Used Ag

Used Ag

2020 MacDon FD 145, case adapter $95,000 Freeform Plastics Canola Roller, MAcDon M150 $2,500 2015 FD75-45, $75,000 (2) 2023 FD245, $135,000 Used Ag

New Excavator Wacker Neuson ET42

Wacker Neuson ET42

New Excavator Wacker Neuson ET42 Wacker Neuson EZ36

2429 W HOLLY STREET SIDNEY, MT 59270 TRI-CNTY.COM

2010 Haybuster 2650 Processor, $15,000

2010 Haybuster 2650 Processor, $15,000

2010 Haybuster 2650 Processor, $15,000

Consigned AG

Consigned AG

New Haying Equipment Case IH RB 565 Premium New Coming Soon Farmall 75L, 40C & 25C Case IH WD 1505 Windrowers Used Harvest 2014 Case IH 9230 1750 sep hrs, $125,000 2020 MacDon FD 145, case adapter $95,000 Freeform Plastics Canola Roller, MAcDon M150 $2,500 2015 FD75-45, $75,000 (2) 2023 FD245, $135,000 Used Ag

Harvest 2020 MacDon FD 145, Case adaptor. $95,000 2023 FD245, Case IH adapter. $140,000

• 2011 Case IH 1210 3-pt 123R22, $35,000

2010 Haybuster 2650 Processor, $15,000

Consigned AG

• 2011 Case IH 1210 3-pt 123R22, $35,000 • H&S 14 Wheel Rake, $15,000

• H&S 14 Wheel Rake, $15,000

• 2011 Case IH 1210 3-pt 123R22,

• H&S 14 Wheel Rake, $15,000

• 2007 Case IH SRX 100, 90ft

• 2012 Case IH RB 564, 20,000

• Case IH 1200 Planter 12R30, $50,000 • 2007 Drago 1230 Cornhead Case Adapter

New Track Dumper Wacker Neuson DT12

New Excavator Wacker Neuson ET42

New Track Dumper Wacker Neuson DT12

New Telehandler Wacker Neuson TH627

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New Track Dumper Wacker Neuson DT12

New Light Towers Wacker Neuson LTT6

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New Miscellaneous Construction

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• Danuser Pallet Forks (48ft, 4000lb), Hydraulic Post Hole Digger & Augers, Hammer Post Pounder, T3, T7, & T8 Hornet Post Pounder, Intimidator Tree & Post Puller, Mega Mixer

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• Jenkins Hydraulic Forks (4-ft., 5-ft. & 6-ft. Lengths & Widths)

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3-pt. Skidsteer Trailers Spotters • Grabtech Skidsteer Grapples

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• 3-pt Skidsteer Trailer Spotters

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&

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#####

Drive Thru windows have a significant impact on American culture. More and more people grab a quick bite to eat in their cars. As a direct result, auto manufacturers began adding cupholders to vehicles in 1983.

is also important. The amount of water livestock need depends on the animal type and production stage, with requirements often doubling during heat events. Specific water requirements for livestock can be found at ndsu.ag/ livestock-water.

During heat events, producers should be evaluating water sources regularly. Livestock whose sole source of water comes from tanks or troughs should be checked daily. If livestock have not had access to water for an extended period of time and then are allowed to drink ad libitum, this can result in fatal salt toxicity. In severe heat events, livestock without access to water for 24 hours or less can be at risk. If you suspect this has occurred, gradual rehydration is necessary to avoid potentially fatal brain swelling. Consult your veterinarian to determine a plan for gradual rehydration, which may take several days.

Shade infrastructure and fly control

Livestock owners should consider placing temporary or permanent shade structures for livestock in confinement operations or open pastures with little to no tree cover. Each animal should have a minimum of 20 feet of shade space (10 feet for small ruminants) to prevent animal grouping and comingling of sick animals. Spraying for flies prior to a heat event will also be a vital step in reducing animal grouping. Importantly, shade structures should not impede air movement, and wind barriers should be removed to promote better air movement. Livestock in confinement benefit from mounds that provide elevated wind access.

Surface cooling strategies

Proactive management of pen surface temperature can be an effective way to reduce the risk of heat stress. These strategies include dampening the pen with water or adding light-colored bedding (straw or corn stalks) to reduce the temperature of the ground. Sprinkler systems are a popular way to cool ground temperatures in confinement cattle operations. This strategy should be implemented well before a heat event and before peak heat on high-temperature days. Large water droplet size is important to avoid increasing humidity.

Animal handling

Any type of livestock handling, processing or transportation should be avoided during heat events as much as possible. If working with livestock is absolutely necessary, livestock handling should be limited to the early morning hours (prior to 10 a.m.). Calm animal handling techniques will be important to minimize stress related to handling, and livestock owners should consider working with smaller groups of livestock at a time to prevent crowded facilities. Working facilities, including holding pens, should have ample access to water, and personnel should be dedicated to monitoring livestock stress status. Avoid working livestock in the evenings during a heat event to give livestock time to recover and cool down during cooler periods of the day.

Adjusting feed intake timelines

Livestock owners should consider moving livestock feeding time to late afternoon or evening. This will allow rumen fermentation to occur during cooler night temperatures and increase the animal lung capacity during hotter daytime temperatures. If feeding multiple times daily, consider feeding a small meal in the morning and a larger portion of the diet later in the afternoon. Decrease the amount of feed offerings during and for several days after heat stress to allow animals ample opportunity to recover.

Knowing when to intervene

Livestock suffering from heat stress will exhibit several signs of distress as their body works to return to homeostasis. Ruminant livestock, including sheep and cattle experiencing extreme heat stress, will exhibit increased respiration rate and panting score, foaming around the mouth, down head and lethargic appearance. Livestock owners should keep in contact with their local veterinarian and contact them immediately if they have animals in severe distress. Animals should be gradually cooled by moving to nearby shaded areas with ample air movement. Rapid cooling (such as spraying with cold water) can have severe consequences for livestock in severe distress.

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World’s first flight attendant: Ellen Church, hired in 1930. (She wanted to be a pilot.)

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Who’s George Holiday? The man who videotaped the Rodney King beating in 1991.

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Some hammocks are made from recycled plastic bags

Simple changes make the difference in cooling off cattle

K-State Research and Extension news service

Cattle incapable of relieving themselves of high temperatures experience heat stress. Humans alleviate overheating through sweating, but Kansas State University beef extension veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff said cattle do not have that option.

“Heat stress coping behaviors is what we see when cattle are adapting to warmer temperatures,” he said. “Whenever we get hot, we sweat to maintain homeostasis. For livestock species, and especially cattle, that capability gets overwhelmed.”

Tarpoff added: “They dissipate heat in other ways like increasing their respiratory rate (breathing) by panting.”

Besides panting, producers identify heat stress by their increased standing, large groups of animals bunching up close to water tanks and crowding in shaded areas.

“They’re trying to get increased airflow by standing, but they actually end up using each other as shade which is counter-productive,” Tarpoff said.

High temperatures and humidity, slow wind speeds and increased solar radiation comprise the four weather conditions contributing to

heat stress.

“When we’re comfortable, cattle might not be and vice versa. We really need to consider those four key parameters,” Tarpoff said. “We have an animal comfort index that uses the four of them to get a feel on how cattle are experiencing their environment.” Monitor the animal comfort index in Kansas through the K-State Mesonet.

Correctly managing heat stress has proven to be essential for maximizing animal wellbeing and performance, according to Tarpoff.

“It is one of those critical chores just as important as feeding or making sure the animals have water. Whether we are asking them to be good cows or an animal to produce beef in a feedlot,

we need to put them in scenarios where they’re more comfortable because then they are more productive,” he said.

Tarpoff urges operations housing their cattle in dry lots to keep it simple when developing a plan to lessen the consequences of heat stress.

“Whenever it comes to heat stress, it’s back

Gift from WSU donors keeps regional veterinary ranching program alive

By Devin Rokyta, WSU College of Veterinary Medicine

Kelly Kreps has spent decades raising cattle on his family’s ranch in White Salmon, Washington, and thanks to a partnership with Washington State University, it has also become a training ground for the next generation of veterinarians committed to supporting ranching communities.

Since 2012, Kreps’ ranch has hosted third- and fourth-year veterinary students in WSU’s agricultural animal production and theriogenology program, which was spearheaded by veterinarian and bovine specialist Dr. Ramanathan Kasimanickam. Through the program, veterinary students make onsite visits to livestock operations across the Northwest, where they assist ranchers with herd health management, reproductive efficiency, vaccination protocols, disease prevention, and overall herd productivity.

Having seen firsthand how the program supports both students and ranchers, Kreps didn’t hesitate to step in when the truck and veterinary equipment it relied upon were totaled in an automobile accident a year ago. He and his family covered the shortfall left by insurance and contributed another $17,500 to ensure the program could continue.

“This program is not only helping to train students and improve productivity at ranches, but it is also helping to get more veterinarians interested in working with large animals, especially in the cattle industry,” Kreps said. “To be honest, we’re pretty short on veterinarians in that area, which is one of the reasons we are committed to maintaining and keeping this program going.”

Dr. Ramanathan Kasimanickam, second from left, is pictured with veterinary students and ranchers at the Kreps’ family ranch. (Left to right) Front row: Pat Kreps, Kasimanickam, Cody Boyce, Baylie Bliss, Keith Kreps, Kate Royan, and Sabrina Thuerauf. Back row: Kelly Kreps and John Jorgensen.

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Why did the surgeon not like the movie? It was the uncut version.

#####

The boss said I should go home because I really don’t look good. I don’t know if I should be happy to get the extra rest, or just be offended.

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Simple changes make the difference in cooling off cattle

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A36

to the basics: feed and water. Water intake can nearly double as temperatures rise from 70 to 90 degrees (Fahrenheit). We need more water access, flow and availability for those animals,” he said.

He added: “We might be able to modify our feeding times to alleviate some of these stressors. Whenever we feed cattle, we feed the rumen microbes, and that comes at a cost called the heat of fermentation. We can feed later in the evening, so the digestion happens during the cooler nighttime hours.” Producers often construct shades to cool off cattle in times of unrelenting heat. A recent study conducted by K-State researchers looking at effects of shade on heat stress revealed that shade structures can impact more than just animal temperature.

“They are a piece of infrastructure,” Tarpoff said. “That twoyear trial showed added benefits of investing in shades. We saw increased feed efficiency, increased growth rate and increased average daily gain. We also saw reduced panting rates and water consumption needs by over a gallon per head per day.”

Additionally, bedding pens with straw can reduce the pen floor temperature by 25 degrees and fence-line sprinklers help lower ground temperatures and keep cattle cool if used in the overnight hours, according to Tarpoff.

Gift from WSU donors

keeps regional veterinary ranching program alive

Known affectionately as Dr. Ram by friends, students, and colleagues, Kasimanickam launched the program with just five participating ranches. The hands-on teaching program has since grown to include more than 30 operations across Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. The experience offers invaluable, real-world training that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom.

“We’re not just going out to do the work,” Kasimanickam said. “Students gather data, assess production performance, find any deficiencies, write reports and offer recommendations. It’s a great learning experience for them, and it’s valuable information for the producers.”

Many of the participating producers are in remote areas with limited access to veterinary services, and WSU students help fill that gap while also gaining critical experience.

“I feel like it’s almost essential if you want to go into that field to get an experience like this, otherwise, you’re not really prepared when you graduate,” said Lainee Colombik, a fourth-year veterinary student who plans to join a rural mixed-animal practice in eastern Montana after graduation. “These producers recognize they’re giving back to the agricultural profession by helping prepare veterinarians. By investing in us, they’re also investing in the agricultural industry.”

Kreps, a fifth-generation Washington rancher whose family has been ranching in Washington since 1883, has been an advocate for the program since his ranch joined in 2012.

“Dr. Ram showed up and started talking to my brother Keith about artificial insemination,” Kreps said. “We are now seeing better efficiency in our operations. It’s made us better producers — flat out.”

Beyond improving ranch operations, Kreps values the program’s role in training the next generation of large animal veterinarians.

#####

“Established in 1942” We are the oldest same family owned Chrysler Dealership in Montana.

Duct tape was first thought up by a lady named Vesta Stoudt, a mother of two Navy servicemen who worked in the Green River Ordnance Plant, Illinois, packing cartridges used for rifle-launched grenades. These cartridges were packed in boxes of eleven, taped and waxed to make them waterproof and damp-proof. Only the thin paper tape would often break, making it hard for soldiers to open the cartridges in the heat of battle. Vesta proposed a strong, cloth-based tape to close the seams and to make easy pull tabs. Although lots of people said it was a good idea, nobody ever moved towards changing the tapes. This was until Vesta wrote a letter to FDR himself with the suggestion.

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Son: “I’ll call you later!”

Dad: “Don’t call me later. Call me Dad.”

Attract bees to your vegetable garden

By Tom Kalb, Horticulturist, NDSU Extension

We need bees to grow a productive vegetable garden.

Almost all cucumber, melon, pumpkin and squash flowers require pollination by bees to produce fruit. Without bees, there would be a worldwide shortage of zucchini. A very sad thought, indeed.

Tomato, pepper and eggplant flowers do not need to be pollinated by bees, but the vibration of bee wings on their flowers can increase yields.

A few bees are not enough. We want lots of bees. Fruitbearing flowers are generally receptive for pollination for only one day. In many cases, these flowers require multiple visits by bees on that day to produce quality fruit.

How can we attract bees to our vegetable gardens?

Bees, like every creature, need food. They need food from spring through fall. You can attract bees by growing a mix of flowers that provide nectar and pollen throughout the growing season.

Grow your flowers in a nearby plot or intermix the flowers among the vegetable plants. Flowers grown in clusters will be especially visible and attractive to foraging bees.

Cosmos, marigolds, sunflowers and zinnias are easy-togrow annuals and will attract bees. Hardy perennials such as coneflower, blazing star, rudbeckia, sedum and aster will attract bees through the summer until frost.

Herbs are a great addition to a vegetable garden. The blooms of basil, bee balm, borage, chives, thyme and sage will draw bees to your garden.

Bees, like every creature, need water. Bees get especially thirsty during warm, sunny days. Having a birdbath or something as simple as a shallow tray of fresh, clean water nearby will keep bees coming to your garden. Place a few rocks in the water to provide bees a place to land on.

Bees, like every creature, need a safe shelter. Bee houses filled with hollow tubes will be used by cavity-nesting bees. These bee houses are available online and at many garden centers. Many bees nest in the ground. A patch of dry, bare soil in your yard may attract these bees.

You can protect bees by limiting your use of insecticides. Bees are insects, and most insecticides will kill bees.

If you see an insect in your garden, identify the insect and make sure it is a pest. Over 90% of the insects in your garden are beneficial or neutral to us. There are only a few troublemakers like aphids and potato beetles. You can take a photo of a mystery insect in your garden and e-mail it to your local NDSU Extension agent or me to identify.

If you have an insect pest problem, use a natural insecticide that is less toxic to bees. Neem causes minimal risk to bees. Spinosad has little effect on bees after it has dried. Spray in the evening hours when bees are much less active. Avoid spraying the blooms directly.

The recipe for attracting bees to your vegetable garden is simple. Provide them with abundant food, fresh water and safe shelter. These ingredients will lead to a garden that is both beautiful and bountiful.

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In 2014, scientists found that peanut butter, under extreme pressure, could technically transform into diamonds. The carbon in peanuts can crystallize into diamond-like structures in lab settings, though it’s a costly process. This experiment highlights peanut butter’s interesting chemical properties.

#####

It takes an average of 144 licks to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop

TRUCK FOR SALE

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R ecipe Patch By Reagan

Spicy Banana Bars

1 c. flour

½ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. soda

½ tsp. salt

¾ tsp. cinnamon

¾ c. sugar

¼ tsp. cloves

1 c. shortening

1/3 c. mashed banana

1 egg

¼ c. milk

1/3 c. chopped nuts

Sift the dry ingredients together. Cream the shortening and bananas and beat hard 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat 1 minute. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk and mix thoroughly. Stir in the nuts. Spread in greased and floured 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake at 350º for 22 - 25 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen bars. Frost with Lemon Frosting

Lemon Frosting for Banana Bars

2 Tbsp. melted butter

1 Tbsp. hot water

2 tsp. lemon juice

1 c. sifted powdered sugar

Combine butter, hot water and lemon juice. Blend in powdered sugar and if necessary, add a few more drops of hot water. Frost bars while warm.

Pumpkin Cake Roll

3 eggs

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1 c. sugar

2/3 c. pumpkin

1 tsp. lemon juice

½ tsp.salt

½ c. chopped nuts

¾ c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

½ tsp. nutmeg

Filling:

6 oz. cream cheese

4 T. butter

1 c. powdered sugar

½ tsp. vanilla

Beat eggs for 5 minutes on high. Gradually beat in sugar. Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Fold into pumpkin. Spread on greased cookie sheet. Top with 1 cut nuts. Bake at 350º for 15 minutes. Turn on towel sprinkled with powdered sugar. Roll towel and cake together. Cool; unroll Combine powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Beat smooth. Spread over roll; roll again. Chill and slice.

Cheesy Baked Asparagus

3 lbs fresh asparagus, trimmed

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup chopped cashews

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange asparagus in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; add cream, salt and pepper. Top with mozzarella, cashews and Parmesan cheese. Bake until asparagus is tender and cheese is melted and golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Transfer dish to wire cooling rack; let stand 5 minutes before serving.

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I was the best door-to-door security alarms salesmen for many years running.

The trick was to just leave a brochure on the kitchen table if there was nobody home.

#####

Apparently you can’t use “beef stew” as a password. It’s not stroganoff.

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Poisonous pasture plants

By Jerry Volesky, UNL

While poisonous plants are generally not as problematic in Nebraska compared to other western states, they can exact their toll on livestock enterprises, and many times the losses are unrecognized.

There are 17 species listed as primary toxic plants that can be found in Nebraska. Toxic plants contain or produce substances injurious or lethal to animals. The amount of plant material consumed by the grazing animal before death or poisoning symptoms appear, does vary by species. Poisoning symptoms will vary depending on the toxic compound in the plant, but may include difficulty breathing, excess salivation, nervousness, or staggering. Many poisonous plants are avoided by the animal, but a scarcity of forage, such as under drought conditions may lead to a situation where they are consumed.

There are some species, such as prairie larkspur, where grazing animals may select for them when they are flowering (mid-June to early July). Other relatively common poisonous plants in central and western Nebraska include Riddell groundsel, Lambert crazyweed, wooly locoweed, and chokecherry.

Poison hemlock and spotted water hemlock are common statewide. These two species prefer moist areas in pastures, creek banks, ditches, and disturbed sites.

If you suspect a poisonous plant problem in your pastures, be sure to get a positive identification of the plant. When control or removal of the plants is not possible, it may be best to move livestock to a different pasture.

Nebraska Extension does have a great resource called Nebraska Plants Toxic to Livestock (EC3037) https:// extensionpublications.unl. edu/assets/pdf/ec3037.pdf that can be found online or obtained through your local Extension office.

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Brazilian soccer star Ramalho once had to spend 3 days in bed after taking a suppository orally.

#####

“Shoplifting is a victimless crime, like punching someone in the dark.”

–Nelson, The Simpsons

#####

“I failed kindergarten because I couldn’t spell my last name.

–Zach Galifianakis

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The deadline for advertising for the August 2025 issue of the Trader's Dispatch will be July 30th.

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MT State projects receive support from Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee

From the MSU News Service

Research in the Montana State University College of Agriculture received continued support from the Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee last month, continuing work to advance knowledge around soil acidity, water use efficiency, new crops and more.

The committee awards funds annually that are collected through an assessment on commercial fertilizers. Those funds support research and education focused on soil health, fertilizer use and more. The committee is made up of agricultural producers and representatives from the College of Agriculture and MSU Extension.

“It is always a pleasure to interact and work with the MFAC selecting research projects that are directly focused on producer impacts through collaborative efforts across the fertilizer industry,” said Darrin Boss, associate director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and associate dean for research in the College of Agriculture. “Again this year, the selection process was exceptionally competitive and filled with outstanding projects.”

The 2025 MFAC funding totals roughly $441,000, up from $394,000 in 2024. It will support more than two dozen MSU faculty and graduate students from the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Department of Research Centers and others. A full list of the funded projects is below.

“Fertility Management for Optimum Yield and Quality of Soy and Dry Beans in Eastern Montana,” led by Chengci Chen: This project is a timely support to the agricultural industry in eastern Montana to adopt alternative crops and generate information to guide producers for growing them.

“Optimizing Boron Management for Sustainable Wheat Production and Soil Health in Montana,” led by Jennifer Lachowiec: This work will begin data collection and analysis to understand the boron needs for wheat in Montana. Because of the possible role of boron in improving crop resilience to heat and drought stress, there is potential for major impacts on productivity.

“Research Analytical Chemist, Environmental Analytical Laboratory,” led by Stephanie Ewing: This funding will support a dedicated professional to oversee and manage operations, maintain equipment and train students in the Environmental Analytical Laboratory on the MSU campus.

“Testing Dibutyldithiophosphate as a Seed Treatment to Boost Plant Growth,” led by Mike Giroux: This project will develop suggested application rates for DBDTP as a foliar spray. Results may lead to a new market product to aid growers and have the potential to boost Montana’s economy

through cost savings and increased production.

“Sulfur Source and Rate Effects on Yield and Quality of Wheat, Pea, Canola and Yellow Mustard,” led by Clain Jones: This project will determine the worth of sulfur fertilizer, optimum rates and importance of sulfur source. Because sulfur has been found to help crops use nitrogen more efficiently and to benefit grain protein, results could have large economic benefits.

“Evaluating the Effects of Silicon and Nitrogen Fertilization on Spring Wheat Production in Montana,” led by Marilyn Dalen: Silicon fertilization provides numerous benefits to plants. The results of this study will help create guidelines on silicon fertilization for wheat in Montana and will assess the interactive effects of silicon and nitrogen on plant and soil health.

“Relationship between Fertility, Water and Planting Density on Production and Quality of Advanced Spring Forage Barley and Interaction of Fertility, Water and Stay-Green on Barley Production and Malt Quality,” led by Jamie Sherman: This research will explore the relationship between nitrogen, water and variety to provide information that will empower growers to ensure production and economic success. Studies will determine optimum inputs for new feed and forage varieties.

“Evaluating the Longevity of Lime Application: Impacts of Tillage Strategies, Lime Sources and Soil pH Dynamics on Crop Yields,” led by Joao Souza: This project will investigate soil acidity, which can cause crop failures if left untreated. Results will help producers identify tools to prepare for acidity mitigation costs and enhance production through effective lime application.

“Quantifying Nitrogen Leaching in Irrigated Fields,” led by Adam Sigler: This project will refine understanding of water and nitrogen use efficiency in irrigated systems. Improved water use efficiency provides an opportunity for water savings, reduced power costs and more efficient nitrogen use through reduced leaching.

“Understanding the Fertility Needs of Winter Barley in Montana,” led by Joseph Jensen: The goal of this study is to develop fertilizer and seeding recommendations for winter barley, ensuring farmers are efficient with inputs and reducing costs.

“Winter Canola Seeding Date and Fertilizing Application Timing in Montana,” led by Perry Miller: The goal of this project is to increase knowledge for managing winter canola and provide greater financial opportunity to farmers.

More information about the Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee can be found at ag.montana.edu/mfac.

More Trek*nology

Starbase Trek*nology: When the Enterprise needed repairs, or the crew needed some R&R (“rest and relaxation”), they set course for the nearest starbase–a floating space city that supported hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people with food housing, and entertainment.

Technology: On May 14, 1973, the United States launched the space station Skylab, the home base in space for U. S. astronauts until February 1974. The Russian space station Mir circled Earth from 1986 to 2001. In 1998 the International Space Sta-

tion began its service as Earth’s “starbase.” Shuttlecraft

Trek•nology: When Kirk and his crew needed to move people and equipment from the Enterprise to a planet’s surface, they often used the shuttlecraft–a small space vehicle that could go from ship to planet or starbase, and back again.

Technology: Fifteen years after the first Star Trek episode, NASA launched the first space shuttle. There were 135 space shuttle missions from 1981 through 2011, including 37 dockings at the International Space Station.

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

Nutrient balance in two calving seasons in range cows

By Brock Ortner, Nebraska Extension Educator

Calving seasons in the northern panhandle vary from late winter to early summer. Regardless of timing, all operations must consider the cows’ nutrient demands after calving to ensure a successful breeding season. Differences in forage quality throughout the grazing season should be compared against cows’ nutrient demands to inform supplementation decisions.

A 2019 study by Mulliniks and Adams modeled nutrient balance in 1200-lb, 4-year-old cows (BCS 5) across six milk production levels (20–30 lb/day). Breeding season nutrient requirements for cows with differing calving seasons and milk production were determined using the 2016 Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. This was compared against the nutrient availability of native range diets found at the University of Nebraska’s Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (1997 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 3-5).

Findings from this study revealed that both calving season and milk production had large impacts on nutrient balance for net energy (NE) and metabolizable protein (MP), or the energy and protein available for the animal to use. March-calving cows (modeled between June 1st and July 31) had positive NE and MP balance before June 21,

when forage quality was highest, but were in a deficit when forage quality declined.

In comparison, May-calving cows (modeled between July 20 and August 29) began their breeding season in negative NE and MP balance, due to poorer forage quality in mid- to late-summer. Within both March- and May-calving cows, greater milk production accelerated negative NE and MP balance.

As producers look ahead to the breeding season, they should consider the stage of lactation and the level of milk production in their cowherds, which have implications on the nutrient demands during the breeding season. Negative nutrient balance causes the mobilization of fat to meet energy demands, resulting in lower body condition score, which is detrimental to reproductive success. Comparing forage nutrient content to cows’ nutrient demands can help determine if, when, and how much supplemental feed is necessary.

Nebraska Extension has personnel and resources available to help evaluate and address scenarios where available forage is inadequate to meet energy and protein requirements and aid in supplementation decisions.

cow with milk production ranging from 20 to 30 lbs. of milk at peak lactation while grazing Sandhills upland range with a July 20st start of breeding date.

A Viking surprise

Trying to figure out what life was like more than1,0000 years ago is extremely difficult…but science can make it easier. Take the case of 14 Viking skeletons that were discovered in England with items such as knives, swords, and shields in their graves. A casual observer might assume that these warriors were all men. Not so fast, says Shane McLeod, an Australian archaeologist who tested the skeletons’ DNA. His goal: to add light to a recent theory that the invading Vikings, who arrived circa A.D. 900, weren’t necessarily hordes of barbaric men but rather

married couples who (violently) colonized western Europe. So what did McLeod’s DNA tests reveal? Of the 14 Vikings, six turned out to be female, seven were male, and one was indeterminate. That finding along with some recent discoveries of Viking-era Norse jewelry found in England, has led McLeod to caution against assuming that the great majority of Norse migrants were male.” Of course, more research needs to be done on larger sample groups but if he’s correct, a third to a half of the Vikings who invaded England were lady Vikings.

Figure 2. Evaluation of NEm (top graph), metabolizable protein (middle graph), and rumen degradable protein (bottom graph) balances for March-calving cow with milk production ranging from 20 to 30 lbs. of milk at peak lactation while grazing Sandhills upland range with a June 1st start of breeding date.

Figure 3. Evaluation of NEm (top graph), metabolizable protein (middle graph), and rumen degradable protein (bottom graph) balances for May-calving

App for mobile irrigation management

By Xin Qiao, Irrigation Management Specialist | Joseph Oboamah, Graduate Student | Wei-zhen Liang, research assistant professor | Gary Stone, water and cropping systems educator

The PHREC (Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center) Irrigation and Digital Agriculture lab has launched its new mobile app PLAN: Mobile Irrigation Management.

Since 2020, the PHREC Irrigation and Digital Agriculture lab has successfully operated a webbased dashboard (https://phrec-irrigation.com/#/) to support the Peer Learning Agricultural Network (PLAN). This platform has enabled growers to access critical data, including real-time soil moisture readings, disease outbreak risks, and weekly crop water use information for the Nebraska Panhandle region. Through collaboration with more than 30 growers and various commercial partners via API (Application Programming Interface) integrations, the lab team has expanded coverage to more than 100 commercial fields spanning approximately 10,000 acres of farmland.

While the web dashboard has proven valuable, field accessibility remained challenging. The release of the new mobile application, PLAN, incorporates most features from the website while introducing significant improvements for in-field usage. The key features for the PLAN mobile app include real-time sensor data visualization, weekly crop water use reports, user-friendly irrigation scheduler, enhanced field monitoring capabilities, and potential for AI integrations.

Screenshots of the PLAN app showcase a home page with field overview and weather information, a sensor page displaying real-time readings, and weekly crop water use information updated throughout the growing season by Gary Stone and Xin Qiao.

The app features a specialized irrigation scheduler designed particularly for users without commercial soil moisture probes. Using a straightforward “checkbook” method with an intuitive interface, users can input irrigation information while the app automatically calculates irrigation needs based on data from nearby weather stations and corresponding weekly crop water use information. The scheduler is currently in final development and will be available in May.

The irrigation scheduler employs a checkbook method to assist users without soil moisture probes and will provide irrigation insights and analysis.

The PLAN app is now available for download at: https://phrec-irrigation.com/#/app_intro

Current status:

iOS version: Available now through TestFlight (official App Store release coming soon)

Android version: In development, coming soon

We encourage interested users to download the app and provide feedback using the floating comment icon within the application.

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Fusarium head blight risk rising in Nebraska

By Amanda Easterly - Research Associate Professor, Stephen Wegulo - Extension Plant Pathologist, Katherine Frels - Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Cody Creech - Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist, Vinicius Zuppa A Close Eye on Scab: As flowering wheat meets late spring rain, Fusarium head blight is back on the radar in western Nebraska. Learn when to scout, where to spray, and how to focus limited inputs where they’ll matter most.

As Nebraska’s wheat crop enters the critical flowering stage, experts are urging growers — particularly in the Panhandle and western regions — to stay vigilant for signs of Fusarium head blight (FHB), also known as scab.

Dr. Stephen Wegulo, small grains extension plant pathologist at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, points to recent rainfall events and their timing relative to crop development as major contributors to increased risk.

“Heavy and continuous rainfall before and during flowering poses the highest risk, especially where cereal stubble remains on the soil surface,” Wegulo said.

He recently recommended a fungicide application for a field in Grant following significant precipitation and observed that a nearby trial site was flowering and at heightened risk.

However, Wegulo cautions that fungicide decisions must take economics into account.

“It may not be economically profitable to spray if the yield potential is low,” he noted.

This concern is especially relevant in 2025, as many dryland fields in the region have uneven stands due to the dry fall and delayed emergence in many fields. Growers are already facing pressure from uncertain wheat prices and low yield potential.

Torgerson’s Equipment is now available to offer various products that will help your farming practices. Not only will Torgerson’s Equipment continue to offer OEM products that we have grown to love, but we are now pleased to announce that Torgerson’s Equipment and Precision Ag Solved have entered a strategic partnership to distribute Carbon Bee Smart Striker weed detection and spray technology. This agreement enables Torgerson’s Equipment to expand its offerings to customers in Wyoming and Montana with innovative, industry-leading Precision Ag solutions, and provides growers the opportunity to upgrade existing machinery with the latest technology on the market.

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Katherine Frels, small grains breeder at UNL, also highlighted the complication of uneven crop maturity in Panhandle fields.

“Half the field might be flowering while the other half is still heading,” she said, noting that this makes fungicide timing difficult.

Although FHB has historically been less common in western Nebraska, growers in the Panhandle saw significant cases as recently as 2023. That event surprised many and serves as a reminder that FHB can strike under the right conditions, even in regions previously thought to be low-risk.

Growers should prioritize fungicide applications for fields with better stands and higher yield potential, as these will offer the greatest return on investment. Fungicides labeled for FHB will also effectively control foliar fungal diseases such as stripe rust, Septoria, and tan spot; but not all fungicides for foliar diseases will be effective against scab. Adhere to the pre-harvest interval for FHB fungicides, which is 30 days.

As always, continue to monitor local weather forecasts alongside the growth stage of your wheat. FHB infection risk remains highest during flowering and can develop rapidly under wet, humid conditions. Use regional risk maps and consult with local extension specialists to guide your decisions.

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Abilene Machine Inc, Abilene KS C38

Acciacca Agriculture Repair, Fairfield MT A31

Acciacca Sales and Service, Fairfield MT A22

Action Toys, Billings MT B2

Affordable Construction Equipment, Billings & Bozeman MT A17

Ag Trucks & Equipment, Great Falls MT A35

Ag Wise, Kremlin MT C47

ASH Supply, St. Ignatius, MT C16

Badland Truck Sales, Glendive MT A41

Ben Taylor, Valier & Shelby MT C41

Big Equipment Co., Havre MT B15

Big Sky Equipment, Conrad MT A23

Big Sky Mahindra, Great Falls MT A9

Big Sky Pipe, Great Falls MT C7

Big Sky Sawmill & Wood Products, Vaughn MT B6

Billings Farm & Ranch Supply, Billings MT....C38

Bjorn Johnson Construction, Missoula MT C9

Bouma Truck Sales, Choteau, Great Falls MT INSERT

BTI Feeds, Cut Bank MT C41

Bull Mountain Fencing, Yoder, Dan, Roundup MT C46

C & B Operations, LLC, Billings, Culbertson & Plentywood, MT, Sheridan, WY, Powell, WY C34, C35

Calves to Cure DMD, Billings MT C30

Cascade Machine & Supply, Great Falls MT A36

Cen-Dak Sales & Leasing, Billings, MT A31

Central Heating & Air Conditioning, Billings, MT C28

Centrol Crop Consulting LLC, Brady & Conrad MT A45

Churchill Equipment, Manhattan & Belgrade MT A42

Circle S Seeds of Montana, Three Forks MT A44

Crown Agro, Dust Helmet, Center ND A2

Cut Bank Tire, Cut Bank MT C22

Dakota Truck & Farm, Minot ND A32

David Steed Company, Idaho Falls, ID C48

DBL Sales & Service, Coffee Creek MT A22, C6

Doane Western of Montana, Bozeman MT C42

Double Diamond Truck & Equipment Sales, Missoula MT B10

Dry Fork Ag, Ledger MT A31

Equipment Share, Billings, MT A12

Evergreen Wood Products, Moore MT C26

Exchange Services, Inc, Whitefish MT A14

Flaman Rentals, Power MT C6, C46

Fox Ford, Wolf Point MT C24

Frank Merchant Roofing, Great Falls MT A4

Fraser’s Oil Inc., Inverness MT A26

Frieling’s Agricultural Equipment, Great Falls MT A15, B13, C5, C19, C45, C47

Frontline Ag Solutions Dillon, Dillon MT C33

Frontline Ag Solutions, Multiple locations MT C42, C43

Glass Trucking, Denton MT A44

Golden Harvest Seeds, Big Sandy MT A36

Gordon Repair, LLC, Miles City MT C8

Great Plains, Dealers A48

Greyn Fertilizer, Choteau, Dutton, Valier MT A37

Grossenburg Equipment, Multiple Locations SD, Multiple Locations NE, Sundance WY B3

Hamilton Systems, Inc. Hamilton ND B13

Harris Custom Swathing, Conrad MT A2

Heartland Cabin Co., Moore MT C26

Heartland Seed Company, Moccasin MT A6

Hedman, Inc, Grass Range MT A21

Helfert’s Helena Farm Supply, East Helena MT A28

Henke Enterprises, SprayFlex & Big Dog Mowers, Chester MT A32

Henry Building Systems, Pelican Rapids MN A24

Highline Communications, Cut Bank MT C31

Holst Truck Parts, Ucon, ID C7

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I-State Truck Center, Missoula C1

Irvine’s Trailers, Crossfield AB Canada A30

J & T Equipment Sales, Stevensville MT C44

J Bar T Bins & Steel Buildings, Chester MT C15

J Carter Trucking, Conrad MT B10

Jamieson Motors, Inc., Chinook MT A38, C14

Jim Nielsen Trucks & Parts, Butte MT B8

Johnsen Trailer Sales, Inc., Bismarck & Fargo ND A40

Johnson Distributing, Great Falls MT C30

KG Septic, Conrad MT C18

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Lakeland Feed & Supply, Dillon & Hamilton MT A18

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M & M Auto, Trailers, & Welding, Stevensville MT C10

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Marks Lumber, Clancy MT C47

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Montech Seed Group, MT A11

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Musselshell Valley Equipment, Roundup MT A45, B8, C13, C29

Neal Hay Sales, Augusta MT A11

North Star Equipment, Great Falls MT C11

Northern Ford, Cut Bank MT C17

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Oxbow Engineering LLC, Randy Pierce PE, Three Forks MT C28

Pedigree Truck & Trailer Sales, New Salem, ND C3

Pete’s Auto Sales, Great Falls MT C27

Platinum Auto Center, Big Timber MT C36

Precision Truck & Trailer, Havre MT C21

Price Truck & Equipment Sales, Missoula MT C12

Pro-Tech Steel LLC, Great Falls MT C3

Quality Custom Sheds, Moore MT C10

R & L Seed & Machine LLC, Geyser MT C8

RDO Equipment, Kalispell, MT C18

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Reddig Equipment & Repair, Kalispell MT C20

Redhead Equipment, Regina SK Canada A13

Reinke, RPH Irrigation Services, Choteau MT B7

Rocky Mountain Radiator, Helena MT B2

Roger Rader, Inc, Sun River MT C2

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Rowse Farm Equipment, Avon MT A16

RPH Irrigation Services, Reinke, Choteau MT B7

Rydelle Enterprises, Drummond MT C25

Safflower Technologies International, Fairview & Billings MT A8

Schweiss Hydraulic & BiFold Doors, Hector, MN C20

Severinsen Irrigation, Zimmatic & RMB Bins, Fairfield MT C22

Shortline Ag, Scobey MT B11

Signature Auto & Equipment, Spearfish & Belle Fourche SD C23

Snowy Mountain Motors, Lewistown MT A39

Sod Buster Sales, Polson MT A38, C28

Sonny Todd Real Estate, Big Timber MT A12

SprayFlex, Henke Enterprises, Chester, MT A32

Steel Etc, Great Falls MT A19

Stokes Contracting, Conrad MT A27, C2

Sullivan Brothers Construction, Conrad MT A20

Sunrise Hoppers, Bow Island AB Canada A10

T & S Sales, various locations MT A20, C2

T & T Farm Supply, LLC, Chester MT A31

Taylor Farm Store, Shelby MT C41

Taylor Transportation, Great Falls, MT C7

TCB Transport LLC, Geyser MT C46

Teton Trucks & Service, Choteau, MT A24

The Fagenstrom Co. Great Falls MT C13

Three Forks Lumber & Ready Mix, Three Forks MT A29

Tiber Tractor Co., Chester MT B1

Titan Applications - formerly Heartland Ag Systems, ID, KS, MT, ND, NE, SD, WA A39

Tom’s Shop, Grass Range MT B7

Torgerson’s LLC, Multiple Locations MT, Multiple Locations WY, Dreary ID A46, C39

Treasure State Seed, Fairfield MT B6

Tri-County Implement, Sidney MT A33

Tri-State Truck & Equipment, Belgrade, Billings, Great Falls MT, Casper WY, Rock Springs WY C31

Triple T Sales, Chinook MT A43, C16

TT&E Inc, Victor MT & Spearfish SD B12

Vaughn Truck, Havre MT B2

VW Mfg, Chester MT B9

Weaver Grain Bins, Power MT A16

Westwood Pallet, Moore MT C12

Wichman Ag Supply LLC, Hilger MT C8

Wollman Trucking, Moore MT A16

XB Trailer Sales, Great Falls MT A24, C18

Zimmatic, Severinsen Irrigation, Fairfield MT C22

Zimmerman Manure & Silage Hauling, Fairfield MT A8

Limit feeding with a bale feeder, bunk and a bucket

By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator

When the availability of hay is limited by both quantity and quality, the feeding of grain and co-products in a bunk can be utilized to provide the additional protein and energy needed to meet cow nutrient needs. Photo credit- Karla Wilke.

Drought conditions are challenging producers to be creative as they think about options for maintaining the cowherd through the summer with limited pasture available. Several research studies conducted at the University of Nebraska have shown that cows can be managed effectively utilizing a limit fed ration.

In a limit fed ration, the nutrient requirements of cattle are met with a diet that is less than the actual total amount that the cattle would eat if they had full access to all they could. Typically, these are total mixed rations, fed with a feed truck or wagon, consisting of limited amounts of forage and combined with protein and energy dense feed resources such as distillers grains, corn, corn silage, beet pulp, soy hull pellets, etc.

For producers without access to a feed wagon, limit feeding can still be an option. Research at the University of Illinois and the University of Minnesota has shown that cows can be given timed access to hay bales in feeders and limit intake as well as waste. In the University of Illinois study, cows were restricted to as little as 3 hours of access to a bale feeder consisting of a high-quality hay. Cows restricted to 3 hours of access consumed 17 lbs. of dry matter of hay per day while cows with 24-hour access consumed 34 lbs. of hay per day on a dry matter basis. Total hay waste was reduced significantly in both research studies when cows were limited to 14 hours or less to the bale feeders. In these studies, hay quality was more than adequate to meet cow nutrition requirements. Testing hay quality and knowing cattle nutrient requirements is important when utilizing this method of limited hay feeding.

The type of bale feeder used can also significantly impact the amount of hay waste. Research conducted by Oklahoma State University showed that bale ring feeder types can significantly impact the amount of hay lost to trampling and fouling. Researchers examined four bale feeder designs: a conventional open-bottom steel ring, a sheeted-bottom steel ring, a polyethylene pipe ring, and a modified cone feeder with a sheeted bottom. Hay waste was the lowest for the cone feeder at 5.3%. The polyethylene feeder and the open-bottom steel ring feeder had the highest percentage of waste at 21% and 20.5% respectively. The sheeted-bottom feeder was intermediate, with a waste level of 13%. The combination of timed access to hay and use of bale ring feeders that reduce hay waste can stretch limited hay supplies.

When the availability of hay is limited by both quantity and quality, the feeding of grain and co-products in a bunk can be utilized to provide the additional protein and energy needed to meet a cow’s nutrient needs.

A research study conducted by Ohio State University showed mature cows could be fed a diet consisting of limit-fed corn as an alternative to hay when cows were in late gestation and early lactation. Cows were either fed around 11 pounds of whole shelled corn, 2.5 pounds of a pelleted supplement, and 2 pounds of hay (dry matter basis) or offered hay and a free choice salt and mineral from November to April. Hay offered free choice was predominantly first cutting

orchardgrass testing around 72% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and 9.5% crude protein (CP). Cows in this study fed free choice hay ate twice as much feed as the limit fed diet. Cows on the limit-fed corn-based diet experienced no detrimental effects on subsequent performance, conception rates or on calf weaning weight when the limit-fed period was followed by summer grazing on pasture.

For producers without a feed truck or wagon, consider the following management practices when utilizing limit feeding.

Work with Extension Beef Educators and Specialists to develop a ration that will meet protein and energy requirements. The ration will need to be adjusted throughout the feeding period to meet both cow and calf nutritional needs. When cows are adjusting to a limit fed, protein and energy dense diet, transition cattle to the diet over a week to ten-day period. Gradually increase the protein and energy dense feedstuffs such as corn or co-products and reduce hay to desired levels. This will help cows transition to the new ration and minimize digestive upsets.

Give at least 30-inches of bunk space per cow when limit feeding an energy and protein dense diet. If bunk space is limited, consider doubling the use of bunks by sorting cows into two groups. Feed one group of cows in the morning and then move them out of the pen with the bunks and feed the other group later in the day. When limiting access to hay, provide adequate space so that all cows can comfortably eat around bale feeders at the same time. Most bale rings provide enough space for 10 cows to eat at the same time. Electric fences can be utilized as a tool with existing facilities to separate cows from a feeding area. Electric fence can also be used as a “feed bunk” in a sacrifice area where hay or feed can be spread out and fed under an electrified wire. This gives cattle access to the feed but keeps them from trampling on and fouling it.

Provide creep access for calves to hay and supplement to ensure they are getting adequate protein and energy to meet their nutritional needs. Make sure they also have ready access to water. A separate watering tank that is set up just for calves can be beneficial.

Utilize a vitamin and mineral supplement that complements feeds being utilized. Cows with limited access to hay are prone to consume more free choice mineral than needed. Salt can be added to the mineral to reduce mineral intake to desired levels. If feed or supplement is going to be limit fed in a bunk, consider delivering the mineral with it.

Consider the use of the ionophore monensin to improve feed efficiency.

Divide cows into groups based on age and pecking order to ensure all cows are getting their fair share of the feed. Monitor body condition scores of cows and adjust groups as needed to make sure thin and timid cows are getting access to the feed they need.

Cows will often act hungry when receiving a limit fed diet, even though the ration is meeting the cow’s nutrition requirements. Feeding cows at consistent times each day will help reduce discontented behavior.

Limit feeding of cows in a dry lot can be accomplished without needing to feed a total mixed ration. With some creativity and planning, producers can often use existing equipment and resources in a way to limit feed and meet cow nutrition needs without the use of a feed truck or wagon.

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2020 John Deere 560M (HA), Stk #84992, 12,759 Bales, MegaWide Pickup, Hydraulic Pickup, Netwrap Only $28,000

2018 John Deere 560M (HA), Stk #85984, 18,719 Bales, Big Tires, Hydraulic Pickup, Netwrap & Twine, Bale Kicker $25,500

Deere 616R (PH), Stk #87456, 416 Hours, 132-ft. 20”, Excellent Condition, Loaded with Options, Signature Edition, 480 & 650 Tires, Interior & Exterior Very Clean & Cared For $635,000

2022 Hagie STS12 (HA), Stk #86968, 910 Hours, 120-ft. 15”, Like New Unit, Available June, Ultimate Cab, Eductor, Side & Front Fill, Tall Crop Shields, Row Sense Feeliers $498,000

2022 John Deere 616R (PI), Stk #86207, 2,637 Hours, 120-ft. 15”, In Excellent Condition, Tires Nearly New, Premium Activation, Customer Keeps Wide Tires $323,000

2021 John Deere R4038 (WI), Stk #84552, 2,243 Hours, 120-ft. 20”, Gen 4 Display, Premium 3.0 Activation, Premium CommandView III Cab, High-Flow Pump $249,000

2021 John Deere R4060 (WI), Stk #89206, 2,400 Hrs, 120’ 20”, High Flow Pump, Front Fill, Auto Solution Control $279,900

2020 John Deere R4060 (PI), Stk #84515, 2,084 Hours, 120-ft. 20”, High-Flow Pump with Dual Flowmeter, Stainless Steel Eductor, Automatic Solution Control $347,000

2020 John Deere R4038 (PI), Stk #82155, 1,500 Hours, 120-ft. 20”, Excellent Condition & Came From Great Home, Stored Inside, ExactApply, Air Purge, Premium Activations $309,000

2017 John Deere R4038 (BL), Stk #86859, 1,760 Hours, 100-ft. 20”, Auto Boom Level, Boom Air Purge, RH Fence Row Nozzle, New Rear 380/90R46 Tires $204,500

2013 John Deere 4940 (PI), Stk #85381, 2,725 Hours, 120-ft. 20”, High-Flow, 5 Way Nozzle Body, Air Suspension, Boomtrac,

with AT $199,900

2009 John Deere 4995 (SU), Stk #89298, 1,475 Hours, 995 Rotary Head, 1 Owner, Well Maintained, Urethane Conditioners, Bar Tires, Rear Wheel Stabilizer Kit $84,500

LOOKING FOR

I am looking for the whereabouts of a 1966 Wagner WA17 4-wheel drive tractor. It has a 8V71 Detroit diesel motor with 10 speed transmission. There were only 5 of the 17 equipped with the Detroit motor. This tractor was sold at a farm auction near Geraldine, MT in the early 1990’s. Our relatives farmed with this tractor by Big Sandy, MT

If you have any information on this tractor, please call Randall Tyler, (406) 378-2212, leave message

Summer annual grasses in alfalfa

By Ben Beckman, UNL

By mid-summer, summer annual grasses like foxtail, sandbur, and crabgrass are already up and growing—and they’re starting to cause issues in perennial hay or pasture fields.

At this point in the season, pre-emergent herbicides are no longer an effective control option for already growing summer annual wees. Our best bet is to focus on postemergent control and timely harvest management. In Roundup Ready® alfalfa, a labeled glyphosate product is a solid option—just be sure to treat while weeds are still small and before the alfalfa canopy blocks spray coverage. In conventional alfalfa, grass-selective herbicides like Select®, Assure®, or Poast® can still work on smaller grasses. Follow the label closely for height limits and grazing or harvest restrictions.

If weeds are already well established, burn-down products like Gramoxone® may be your best shot. Apply immediately after cutting—before much alfalfa regrowth occurs—to knock back annual grasses with limited damage to the stand.

In mixed alfalfa-grass fields, your herbicide options are even more limited. The only post emergent product we might consider is Pursuit®, which may stunt perennial grasses. This doesn’t disqualify it as an option, but be aware it may open the door for more weed pressure. This late in the season, cultural controls like adjusting harvest timing and maintaining a dense, vigorous stand may do more for long-term control than a spray pass. And remember—no herbicide will make up for poor timing. Summer grasses are a challenge, but with a sharp eye and well-timed management, you can still limit their impact and protect your hay quality.

Freaky facts about outer space

• If you could capture a comet’s entire 10,000-mile vapor trail in a container, the condensed vapor would occupy less than one cubic inch of space.

• In any given year, about 26,000 meteorites land on Earth’s surface, the vast majority dropping into the oceans.

• The most common color of star in the universe is not white but red.

• Earth travels through space at 66,600 miles per hour–eight times faster than the speed of a bullet.

• Oh no! The Sun is a middle-aged star that has only about 5 million years before it dies.

About 1910 or 1911, Donald “Dan” A. Morrison and some of his original investors of Butte Cement Co. formed the Montana Concrete Company (Moncrete). They purchased 125 acres between Logan and Three Forks and built a cement block manufacturing plant. The bricks turned out were of a wide variety of colors. The plant experienced a fire in 1915, but was rebuilt with newer equipment. I closed sometime in the early 1920s. The large concrete silos used to store raw materials for Moncrete’s products are still visible in the side of a bluff that faces eastbound Interstate 90 near Logan.

Grazing management strategy

By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension news service

Most people would agree there is nothing better than eating produce picked fresh from the garden. Similarly, cattle opt to graze the newest grass in a pasture because it is the most appealing, Kansas State University beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said.

Lancaster led the discussion on a recent Beef Cattle Institute Cattle Chat podcast about ways that cattle producers can optimize grazing pastures. He and the other experts offered thoughts on rotational grazing versus continuous grazing and variations of each of those systems.

“In a rotational grazing system, the cattle are moved frequently and may come back to that same grazing tract later in the season, while with continuous grazing the cattle are turned out into a large pasture and remain there for many days and once they leave they don’t return to that pasture until the next grazing season,” K-State veterinarian Brad White said.

For Lancaster, the advantage of a rotational grazing system is that plants are allowed to rest and recover when the cattle are moved to another tract.

“By allowing the plant to recover, it keeps it from getting stressed by continuous grazing and allows it to be more productive over the growing season,” Lancaster said. “In a continuous grazing system, the cattle will often re-graze the plant over and over again in a short amount of time because that new growth is the most palatable, and that stresses the plants.”

Producers who follow a rotational grazing system will move cattle frequently, which brings on added labor challenges, K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said.

“With a rotational system, there is more fencing and water resources needed and then you need people to move the cattle between the pastures frequently,” Larson said.

K-State agricultural economist Dustin Pendell agreed and added: “Producers considering a rotational grazing system need to factor in the infrastructure and labor costs, and weigh that up against the benefits of using this system.”

With the additional fencing, White added that the labor to check the fences also increases as not only cattle but other wildlife -- such as deer -- can easily break the electric wire strands.

Larson said that some producers can follow a variation of these two strategies.

“Some producers will put a higher than normal load of cattle on a pasture and then mid-summer move them to another pasture, and then later in the season they move them to a third pasture. The following year they move the cattle through the pastures in a different order to allow the grasses to rest and experience grazing pressure at different times in the season,” Larson said.

Lancaster offered another way to adjust the grazing distribution in a large, continuous grazing pasture.

“By moving water and mineral feeders to different locations in the pasture, cattle will naturally go to those places,” Lancaster said. “Some producers do patch burning in the pastures at different places from year to year to encourage the cattle to graze the areas of new growth.”

National Lipstick Day

This holiday is always celebrated on July 29th

There’s no shortage of lipstick colors. While red lipstick is by far the most popular color, you have your choice of just about any color in the rainbow. And that’s not all, there are glossy, flavored, glitter, and many more lipstick options to choose from. So, apply your favorite lipstick to those sweet lips of yours, and plant a great big, juicy kiss or two on your favorite people.

Looking to attract a guy? On average, men stare at women who wear red lipstick for 7.3 seconds. Any other lipstick causes men to stare for just 2.2 seconds. Perhaps that’s why red lip has always been the most favorite lipstick color. Lipstick has been in use for thousands of years, likely more than 5,000 years. Most ancient cultures used it in some form (often along with face and body painting). Ancient Sumerian men and women used lipstick. They used lipstick with embedded crushed gemstones to decorate their lips and face. Lipstick use is also well-recorded in ancient Greece, Egypt, and China. Did You Know? The most expensive lipstick is Guerlains’ KissKiss Gold and Diamond Lipstick. It sells for $62,000 per tube!

4-H PARENTS & LEADERS

Need summer grazing? Sudangrass

By Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist

Most are familiar with sorghum-sudangrass, a popular warm-season annual known for its high yield. But one of its parents, sudangrass, often gets overlooked. That’s a shame because sudangrass can be a great option for summer grazing.

With thinner stems and more leafy growth, sudangrass is less prone to brittleness and breakage than sorghum-sudan. It also tillers more aggressively, which supports better regrowth during grazing. As a heat-loving warm-season grass, it thrives during the summer slump of cool-season pastures.

Performance and Grazing Potential

For optimal production, the recommended seeding rate is 20 to 25 lb/ac. Sudangrass is usually ready to graze about 40 days after planting. For example, we planted after grazing cereal rye in late May and began grazing sudangrass the first week of July. Under rotational grazing (3–4 day moves across four paddocks), we achieved 3 AUM/ ac over two months in eastern Nebraska.

Sudangrass is also relatively droughttolerant. While it still needs moisture to germinate, once established, it can continue to produce with limited rainfall. If it catches a rain at planting, it will often—but not always—produce a usable forage crop, even under dry conditions. This makes it a valuable option in years when rainfall is uncertain and pasture growth is limited. We’ve grazed sudangrass with both cowcalf pairs and stocker steers: Cow-calf pairs (1 pair/ac):

Cows maintained condition during peak lactation. Nursing calves, turned out at ~70

days of age, gained 2.5 lb/day while grazing. No issues with rebreeding were observed. Stockers (1.6 steers/ac):

Steers had previously grazed cereal rye and weighed ~880 lb at turnout. Despite their size, they still gained 1.6 lb/day on sudangrass.

For comparison, cows grazing smooth bromegrass over the same period lost some condition, and their calves gained 2.1 lb/ day—slightly less than those on sudangrass.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Sudangrass

Nitrogen Management Is Essential. Sudangrass responds well to nitrogen and requires adequate fertility for high yields. We recommend applying 80–100 lb/ac of nitrogen total, split between two applications. For example, apply 40–50 lb/ac at planting, and the remainder in 8 to 10 weeks to maintain regrowth and quality into late summer.

Start grazing early. Early grazing stimulates tillering and improves regrowth. Start grazing when plants are about 15 to at most 24 inches tall, and don’t be afraid to graze hard the first time—down to 3 inches—to encourage tillering. Subsequent grazings should leave about 6–8 inches of residual. Sudangrass grows fast; if you think it’ll be ready in a week, it’s probably ready in a few days.

Don’t let it get mature. Immature sudangrass can be extremely high in quality. Forage at 2.5 feet tall tested at 63% TDN and 20% CP in late July. But like other warm-season grasses, quality drops rapidly with maturity.

CONTINUED ON PAGE B7

Need summer grazing? Sudangrass might be worth a try

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B6

Use rotational grazing. A quick rotation with high stocking density helps maintain quality and increases utilization. Ideally, divide the field into 3 to 4 paddocks, each sized for 3 days of grazing. Last summer, a 4-paddock system supported 1 cow/calf pair per acre for 60 days, with 15 or more inches of regrowth within 10 days of grazing.

Grazing Management to Reduce Prussic Acid Risk

While sudangrass has lower prussic acid potential than sorghum-sudangrass, it’s not risk-free. Avoid grazing until plants are at least 15 inches tall, and never graze immediately after a frost or during drought stress. After frost, wait 7 to 10 days before turning cattle back in. If you’re unsure, a simple field test can help assess prussic acid levels.

Bottom Line

Sudangrass is a flexible, productive, and high-quality summer forage, especially

when managed well. Start grazing early, keep it vegetative, apply adequate nitrogen, and use rotation to maintain quality and regrowth. In dry years, sudangrass’s ability to grow on limited moisture makes it a valuable backup when cool-season pastures fall short.

For producers needing reliable warmseason grazing, sudangrass might just be worth a second look.

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God cares about the big things, the small things, and all things in between.

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Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come.

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You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself.

It’s the bloomin’ algae

A fascinating spectacle sometime seen in oceans and rivers is a red tide, or more accurately an “algal bloom.” The water is tinted a brilliant red color by the overgrowth of an algae species that is normally microscopic. Algal blooms form when too many nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus collect in water, causing the algae to reproduce so quickly that the ecosystem is overtaken. When these blooms coat the water’s surface, they block sunlight, hog the oxygen, and kill off underwater plants and animals. Some red algal blooms also produce toxins that harm aquatic life and humans. Mammals can become ill or die if they swim in the water or eat shellfish harvested there. At night, red tidewater turns an amazing bioluminescent blue. Why? When waves or boats disturb the microscopic organisms, it causes a chemical reaction that creates a flash of blue light, which is multiplied by billions of cells within the red tide. Algal blooms may hang around for months, wreaking havoc on the environment and the area’s tourism trade.

A desert in the southernmost parts of Argentina and Chile that extends to the tip of South America. The name comes from pata, Spanish for “paw.” According to legend, when Magellan explored the area in 1520, he was impressed by the gigantic tracks he found in the snow and thought they must belong to a race of giants. In truth, the marks were probably left by the oversize llama-skin shoes worn by the indigenous Tahuelches people.

We

E-mail them to info@tradersdispatch.com along with

Mulch for the garden

By Kelsey Deckert, Horticulture agent, NDSU Extension – Burleigh County

Do you utilize mulch in the garden? If you do that’s great! If you don’t, you should consider adding mulch to the garden, as there are many benefits. Benefits of mulch include preserving moisture, reducing weed pressure and erosion. These are great reasons to incorporate mulch in the garden! The big question is what type of mulch to utilize?

There are two categories of mulch: inorganic and organic mulch. Let’s explore different types of each and why they may be incorporated into the landscape.

One of the most common types of mulch used is rock. This is by far the worst choice for plants! They offer no benefits to the plants and, in fact, cause harm to the plants. Rock mulch is aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance and wind resistant. However, it is a heat trap for plants which can lead to scorching on plants.

Another type of inorganic mulch is plastic mulch. Benefits of plastic mulch include that it captures heat, reduces erosion and weed pressure. However, plastic mulch isn’t water permeable, is only good for about one season and is hard to remove in the fall

Landscaping fabric is inorganic mulch that is permeable, reduces weed pressure and can last several years. Some cons of utilizing this type of mulch are that it can cause compaction after several years. Gardeners will want to use a propane torch to create holes in the fabric to prevent fraying, and there will be residue to clean off in the fall.

Organic mulches are the best option in the garden, speaking from a plant perspective. Organic mulches decompose over time, don’t cause any type of heat scorch, can improve soil health, conserve moisture and aid in weed control. Organic mulches include: wood chips, grass clippings, straw, cocoa bean shells or paper mulch.

Wood chips are a very popular option and come in a variety of colors. They can be easily obtained from many municipal waste facilities and big box stores. The downfall of wood chips is that they can get blown out of the garden due to wind.

Straw and grass clippings can provide great soil coverage in the garden and help suppress weeds. The disadvantage of straw is that it could contain weed seeds. While grass clippings can give back some nitrogen to the plants it is placed around, the biggest concern about utilizing grass clippings is if any type of herbicide has been used, you then have the potential for herbicide injury in the garden. Avoid any grass clippings if herbicide was used.

Cocoa bean shells are one of my favorite mulches as they provide a great pop of color and a wonderful smell in the garden! They break down easily, but I have heard other gardeners complain about the mold that develops from them breaking down.

The last type of organic mulch is a paper mulch that can be in the form of newspaper or painter’s paper. Both provide great weed control; however, the disadvantage of paper mulch is that it is short-lived, only good for about one growing season.

When selecting a mulch for the garden, decide what your goals are, whether it is weed suppression or long-term usage. Determining your goals will help you determine the best option for you.

For more information about mulches for your garden, contact your local NDSU Extension agent. Find the Extension office for your county at ndsu.ag/countyoffice.

Buffalo Gals

NFL football is extremely popular in southeastern Canada, particularly the nearest “local” team, the Buffalo Bills. In fall 2011, a Kingston, Ontario, radio stationed announced it was giving away highly sought-after Bills tickets worth $300. All of the lucky contestants had to do was find them. The location: They were buried in a kidsized plastic swimming pool filled with buffalo manure. Five contestants dug, live on-air, until DJ Sarah Crosbie was overwhelmed by the odor and vomited. One finalist did get the tickets, the others, even after the tickets were found, kept digging until they found the second-place prize: a pair of tickets to the zoo.

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Why are ghosts great cheerleaders?

Because they have a lot of spirit.

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There is nothing in the world so irresisibly contagious as laughter and good humor.

Scott Schmiedeke (406) 240-2572 Victor, MT

Henry Kallis (605) 639-1904

Spearfish, SD

See us on the web: www.tte-inc.com

2013 Gehl RS6-42, 2760 hours, OROPS, work light package, 3-way steering, frame tilt, 60” fork carriage, 54” forks, new tires, 6600 pound lift capacity, 42-ft. reach, job site ready. Located in Victor, MT

$46,900

Livestock antibiotic sustainability

Written by Marc King, Sweet Grass County, Montana, Extension Agent

33.17 percent responded yes. Most of the calving/lambing/kidding/foaling occurred February through April with the highest percentage starting in March (38%). The most common response to treatment record keeping methods was a notebook or IRM Red Book, followed by a spreadsheet or a phone. Ninety eight percent of producers said that they have treated livestock with antibiotics. Most producers surveyed reported not using antibiotics for prevention. The five most common diseases treated with antibiotics were Pneumonia, followed by footrot, scours, pinkeye and coccidiosis. The three most reported antibiotics used by producers where oxytetracycline, tulithromycin and florfenicol. When asked about non-antibiotic treatments used, the most frequent answers were vitamins and minerals, flunixin meglumine (Banamine, Prevail, Vetameg) and Dexamethasone. How producers choose which antibiotics to use was most frequently answered by veterinarian recommendation, followed by availability, if it could be used in a dart gun and convenience. Most producers reported that they have not switched antibiotics because the antibiotic was not working. When producers were asked if they were concerned about antibiotic resistance in humans, 58 percent responded no and 42 percent said yes. Further, when asked if they were concerned about tissue damage when administering antibiotics fifty-five percent of producers said yes and 45 percent responded no. Seventy-three percent of producers indicated that they were not concerned about antibiotic resistance in their herds. Ninetyfour percent of producers indicated that they knew about the GFI #263 that had gone into effect in June of 2023.

2008 John Deere 310SJ 6245+/hours, enclosed cab with heat and air conditioning, cloth air ride seat, Power Shift transmission, 4x4, Extend-A-Hoe, switchable pilot controls, new rear tires, 24” backhoe bucket, diff lock, has been very well maintained, has been through the shop, recent service, excellent condition. Located in Spearfish, SD $52,500

2014 SkyTrak 6042 3225 hours, enclosed cab with heat, auxiliary hydraulics, manual coupler, 48” forks, 74” carriage, nice foam filled tires, 3-way steering, hydraulic frame tilt, 6000 lb lift, 42-ft. reach, has been through the shop all repairs have been made, just serviced, telehandler is in excellent condition. Located in Spearfish, SD $44,500 2013 Kaufman AP-22.5-25 equipment trailer, 20-ft. deck with 5-ft. beaver tail, 101” wide, 45K GVWR, 22.5 tires at 80%. Very nice trailer with very little use since new. Located in Victor, MT $16,900

2012 SkyTrak 10054 telehandler, 3785+- hours, 72” carriage, 60” forks, 3-way steering, stabilizers, frame tilt, foam filled tires, 10,000 pound lift capacity, 54-ft. reach, recent service, excellent condition, job site ready. Located in Spearfish, SD $62,900 $46,500

2019 Kubota SVL75-2, 995 hours, enclosed cab heat and AC, hydraulic coupler, 78” bucket with bolt on edge, 75 hp, 6570 pound tip load. Very nice condition. Located in Spearfish, SD $61,000

In early 2023 a small group of livestock professionals submitted a Western SARE grant to study the current practices regarding antibiotic use on Montana ranches and by Montana veterinarians. The team is being led by Dr. Katie Rein of Crazy Mountain Veterinary Service. Other members of the team are Dr. Rachel Endecott, Tami Sanders, Dr. Dick Raths, Sarah Mauws and Marc King. Antibiotics are an important tool used by livestock producers to manage herd health. However, there has been increasing concerns about antibiotic resistance in both humans and livestock. These concerns have led policymakers to tighten restrictions on antibiotic use in animal agriculture to assist in antibiotic sustainability. In the past decade, the Food and Drug Administration has published several Guidance for Industry (GFI) rules regarding regulation of antibiotic use in livestock. In 2017, GFI #213 transitioned medically important antibiotics used in feed or water of livestock to veterinary oversight. This meant that any use of these types of antibiotics had to be used with a Veterinary Feed Directive to ensure judicious use of these products. GFI #263 went into effect in June of 2023 which moved all medically important antibiotics previously available over the counter to restriction by veterinary oversight. All of this has been due to the public health concerns with antimicrobial resistance, which is undeniable. The human health impact in the United States is real as documented by ONeil in 2016, nearly 2 million infections per year are resistant to at least one antibiotic. However, the general public is not knowledgeable about how antibiotics are used in the animal agriculture industry. This project aims to assist livestock producers in reducing the use of antibiotics by providing a logical and timely method to determine treatment. By developing disease prevention strategies for livestock producers, the use of antibiotics should be reduced except for situations where it is absolutely necessary, thus creating an economic benefit to producers while preserving the usefulness of antibiotics in both human and animal medicine.

The project began in 2024 with the goal of surveying livestock producers and veterinarians in Montana to determine current practices concerning antibiotic use. With this data the group then plans to compare and contrast the responses to best practices. With Dr. Rein’s leadership, best treatment practice recommendations for the top five identified medical problems identified in the surveys will be developed to create a decision matrix for use by livestock producers.

The survey was distributed July 2024 through March 2025, to ranchers and veterinarians across Montana and returned surveys were submitted to the MSU Help Lab for analysis. The survey was a simple survey asking nineteen multiple choice questions that could be completed on paper or digitally.

Initial producer data from 213 respondents showed that most had cattle, with horses, sheep, goats and bison rounding out the species of livestock raised or managed. The size of herds managed was evenly distributed with 20 percent representing 1 to 100 animals, 25 percent representing 101 to 250 animals, 31 percent had 251 to 500 animals and 24 percent owned more than 501 animals. The most frequent answer to which classes of livestock do you market appeared to be calves/ lambs/ kids directly off the dam, followed by weaned stock, yearlings and bred stock. When asked if they marketed “all natural” livestock the majority of respondents said no (66.83%) while

Forty-one veterinarians responded to the survey. As a percentage of their practice, 38 percent were cattle, 25 percent horses, thirty-three percent small animals, three percent small ruminants and a half percent were other. When asked how they chose which antibiotics to recommend to livestock producers the most common answers were cost, followed by availability, evidencebased medicine (scientific journal articles), and withdrawl times. Ninety-seven percent of the responding veterinarians indicated that they were concerned about antibiotic resistance in livestock. The five most common antibiotics sold by responding veterinarians were oxytetracycline, florfenicol, ceftiofur, tulithromycin, sulfonamides and penicillin. When asked about the frequency of writing Veterinary Feed Directives fifty-four percent reported writing between and 1 and 10 per year, thirty-seven percent reported zero per year, six percent wrote eleven to fifty and three percent wrote over fifty-one. Eightythree percent of the responding veterinarians said that they were concerned about the possibility of tissue damage when prescribing antibiotics. Further, eighty-six percent of vets reported that they were concerned about antibiotic resistance in humans. According to veterinarians the most frequently antibiotic treated diseases were pneumonia, footrot, pinkeye, scours and uterine infections. When asked if they had switched antibiotics because of noticing resistance the responses were evenly split at 50 percent yes and 50 percent no. Of the responding veterinarians sixty-five percent have practiced production animal medicine for over eleven years.

This is just an initial look at the data collected. The group will be working to further analyze the data and begin to put the decision tree together to identify the best possible treatments for the top five disease issues.

Fresh Spinach Day

This holiday is always celebrated on July 16th

Today is a heart-healthy day. It is a Popeye-approved holiday. On this holiday, we are encouraged to put healthier food into our diets. And, there’s not many food items healthier than spinach.

Popeye the Sailor is right. Spinach is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Spinach tastes good, and there are many recipes. Many people turn up their noses to it, without even trying it.

In the cartoons we always see Popeye eating processed spinach from a can. What you didn’t see is behind the scenes, where he eats it in a variety of salads and other fresh recipes. The reason for eating fresh spinach is that its nutritional value is the highest when it is fresh and uncooked.

Celebrate this day by introducing some fresh spinach to your meals today. You could start by mixing some spinach into your garden salad. Your family may not even notice, but by doing so, you are making them healthier!

Gardeners know that spinach is easy to grow. And, it’s hardy. You can plant it as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. Why, that’s today in many parts of the country!

Did You Know? V-8 Vegetable Juice is not just tomato juice. It includes 8 vegetables. One of them is Spinach.

Spinach is a Superfood - Fresh or cooked, Spinach is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. First, it is high in fiber. It is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Diabetics love it as it is low in carbs. People with celiac disease love it as it is gluten-free.

Here are some of the other health benefits:

• Consumption of spinach helps to lower and control blood pressure.

• It promotes eye health.

• The antioxidants help to fight cancer.

• Spinach was the first frozen vegetable available on grocery store shelves.

Choosing a dairy cow breed for your farm

A family farm isn’t complete without a dairy animal. If you are considering getting dairy cattle for your farm or home use, where do you start? One of the first things that you need to consider is the breeds of dairy cattle out there. They all have something different to offer, so which one should you choose?

There are seven commonly recognized breeds of dairy cattle found in the United States, so there should be a breed to meet your farm’s needs.

Let’s look at the Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Milking Shorthorn, Ayrshire, and the Red and White Holstein.

The most popular breed of dairy cattle in the United States is the Holstein. This is the breed that is easily recognized for its distinct black and white pattern.

These cattle are massive, with cows weighing well over 1,300 lbs. Many Holstein ladies weigh around 1,500 pounds.

These cattle aren’t bulky like beef cattle breeds of the same weight. They are simply tall and large framed.

Holstein cattle have been bred to produce large quantities of milk. Holstein cattle will produce around 23,000 lbs of milk per year, which ends up being about 9 gallons of milk per day.

The milk they produce doesn’t have as high of a fat or protein content as some of the other breeds, as these ladies work to produce larger quantities.

This large quantity of milk they can produce has led to them being the favored breed by many dairy farms.

Holstein cows can be incorporated into beef herds to increase the milking ability of some beef breeds.

Choose a Holstein if you need multiple gallons of milk a day or plan to sell milk from your farm.

Something interesting: Holstein cattle’s black and white patterns are like fingerprints. Every Holstein will have a different pattern and this pattern can be used to identify the cattle.

If you want more information or up-to-date news about the Holstein breed, check out the Holstein Association.

Dairy Cattle Breed #2 - Jersey

The Jersey, the second most popular breed of dairy cattle, is almost opposite of the Holstein in almost every sense.

The Jersey is the smallest breed of dairy cow, topping out at 1,200 pounds. Most Jersey cattle weigh around 1,000 pounds. Some are even as small as 800 pounds.

What they lack in size, they make up for in the quality of milk that they produce. They won’t produce the large amounts of milk that some of the other breeds will produce each day, but they are the queens of producing milk with high percentages of fat content.

Jersey cattle are extremely popular with dairies that cherish the high fat content in milk. The high fat content makes the milk more suitable for making dairy products such as yogurt, cream, and ice cream.

This breed of dairy cattle is also very resistant to udder problems and calving issues. This means that overall, their level of maintenance is lower.

Jersey cattle are also known for being very docile and easy to handle, although they will spook easily.

Jerseys will produce a little under half of the quantity of milk as a Holstein, making around 11,000 pounds of milk per year. That’s a little over three gallons per day.

They are also one of the cutest dairy breeds and produce babies that are insanely cute. :)

To read more about the Jersey breed, head over to the American Jersey Cattle Association.

Dairy Cattle Breed #3 - Brown Swiss

The Brown Swiss is often considered the oldest breed of dairy cow in the world. You can see the structure of the Brown Swiss shows the breed’s age. Their facial structure isn’t as refined and they have larger ears than many other breeds.

Brown Swiss cattle produce milk that has a high protein content, which makes them ideal cattle for producing cheese.

This breed of dairy cattle comes in second place on this list for annual total milk yield, right after the Holstein.

Brown Swiss cows on average will weigh between 1,300 and 1,400 pounds. They are large, but not quite as large as the Holstein.

The Brown Swiss on average will produce about 22,500 pounds of milk per year. Again, the protein to fat ratio makes the milk ideal for producing cheese products.

Brown Swiss are also known for their longevity. The breed is very sound and typically exhibits excellent structure which allows them to be productive longer than many of the other breeds.

They are one of the few breeds that will perform equally well in both cold and warm climates and they are typically a docile breed that is easy to work with.

The Brown Swiss Cattle Breeder’s Association has valuable information on their website if you are looking to read more about Brown Swiss Cattle.

Dairy Cattle Breed #4 - Guernsey

The Guernsey breed has been developed to produce large quantities of quality milk from pasture. This breed of dairy cattle outperforms when compared to other breeds when looking at the ability of the cow to turn pasture into milk.

The Guernsey is also unique in the fact that their milk tends to have a slight yellow or orange tint. This is due to the fact that the Guernsey produces milk that has high levels of beta-carotene, the chemical component that is also responsible for making carrots orange in color. Beta-carotene is a source of Vitamin-A in the body.

Due to this high level of beta-carotene in the milk and the milk being a golden color, the breed is often called the “Golden Guernsey”.

Guernsey cattle are highly adaptable to different environments and can thrive in both hot and cold conditions.

Because of this ability, they are frequently crossed with Jersey cattle to create dairy cows that produce high-quality milk and are suitable for many environments.

To read more about the “Golden Guernsey”, check out the American Guernsey Association.

Dairy Cattle Breed #1 - Holstein

Choosing a dairy cow breed for your farm

Dairy Cattle Breed #5 - Milking Shorthorn

The Milking Shorthorn is considered a dual-purpose breed. The Milking Shorthorn, or Shorthorn, was originally developed to create a breed that was suitable for both milk and meat production. The ability to be used for both meat and milk makes the Shorthorn the most versatile of the dairy breeds.

Shorthorns are large cattle and are highly competitive in their milk production. On average, Shorthorn cattle produce around 15,000 pounds of milk per year or 4-5 gallons per day.

Many lines of the Shorthorn have been bred strongly for milk production, and are producing over 20,000 pounds of milk per year.

What makes this more impressive is that these cattle can produce a large quantity of milk and are primarily grazing on pasture.

Shorthorns are known for being a healthy fertile breed with low fertility issues. They are also one of the least inbred breeds of dairy cattle due to the open herd book that the breed keeps.

The Shorthorn has a favorable protein to fat ratio, which means that it is well suited for making cheese and other dairy products.

The Shorthorn is a large and productive enough breed that once a cow’s milk production life is at an end, they can still hold value as a meat animal. For more information about the shorthorn, check out the American Milking Shorthorn Society.

Ayrshires are a large breed of cattle, with the breed association specifying that cows should weigh well over 1,200 pounds.

Ayrshire cows on average produce 17,200 pounds of milk per year. Their milk has a high protein content.

Ayrshire steers that are born are often marketed successfully as beef animals as they have better carcass qualities than many of the other dairy breeds.

Ayrshires are a horned breed and will grow large horns in excess of over a foot in length. The horns used to be a treasured trait of the breed, but due to the impracticality, most calves are dehorned.

This dairy cattle breed is known for its excellent udder conformation and the ability to produce strong, vigorous calves.

Ayrshires are another efficient grazing breed and have the ability to turn pasture into milk with ease.

They are also very hardy and are well suited for cold climates. For more information about the Ayrshire, check out the U.S. Ayrshire Breeders’ Association.

Dairy Cattle Breed #7 - Red and White Holstein

The Red and White Holstein is a newer breed of dairy cattle and was not considered a true breed until 1964.

The Red and White Holstein is quite similar to the Holstein. This is due to the fact that the Red and White Holstein is derived from the Holstein. The red and white pattern is due to a recessive gene found in Holstein cattle. Holstein would have to have two copies of this recessive gene to exhibit the red and white pattern.

Red and White Holstein are very tolerant to heat, which makes them well suited for warmer climates. This sets them apart from their black and white cousins, which are more suited for colder climates.

The breed produces large framed cattle, with mature cows weigh around 1,400 pounds.

Choosing a Dairy Cow Breed

The first thing that you need to figure out when you’re considering getting dairy cattle is to decide what the end goal is. Do you want milk for your family to drink? Do you want to sell milk? Or do you want to make cheese, butter sour cream, and other dairy products?

If you are interested in making milk-based soaps, check out my article that shows you how to make a lavender goat milk soap in less than five minutes. Once you determine what you want to do with the milk, then you can narrow down your breed options. Some breeds are more suited to producing large quantities of milk, like the Holstein. This would be a good fit if you plan on selling fresh milk.

If you want to make butter or cheeses, you may want to consider a breed such as the Guernsey or the Jersey. They produce smaller amounts of milk that are rich. You can create more dairy products with their milk.

Dairy Cattle Breed #6 - Ayrshire

Building owners should determine full extent of storm damage

Storm damage to structures is obvious in many cases, but what you don’t notice immediately also may weaken the building or cause other problems. Wind can create extreme forces that will lift or push a whole building or parts of the building. Often, the damage is hidden within the structure and not immediately obvious.

Building owners should do a close inspection of the structure from the outside to check for damage, advises Ken Hellevang, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural engineer and professor emeritus. He recommends checking if the ridge and eaves are straight, the walls are vertical and straight, and the building has not shifted on its foundation.

Owners also should look for indications that frame members, such as knee braces, have been pushed into the siding or up into the roof. Check for missing or damaged shingles, loose nails (if metal roofing) and any signs of leaks. Examine for cracks, particularly near corners, under windows and doors and around the foundation.

“If the building has been moved, shifted or twisted, it may not be safe to enter,” says Hellevang.

Other damage becomes evident inside the building. Examine the trusses and rafters for

teners, evidence of fasteners being pulled, and bends or buckles in the sheeting. See whether the sheets are still aligned with each other.

This building inspection is also a good time to check the wood for indications of rotting or other damage that could weaken the building, according to Hellevang. Document the damage with pictures and contact your insurance company.

“Buildings that show signs of damage will need to be repaired,” says Hellevang. “Truss members may need to be replaced or additional boards placed from joint to joint. Additional and larger gussets may be required for damaged joints. Additional nails or screws may be required. Nails and screws should not be placed too close to each other or they may weaken the wood.”

However, the cost of repairs may exceed the value of the building in some cases, he notes.

He suggests that building owners consult a building contractor or engineer if they see several indications of damage.

“The value of machinery, vehicles and equipment stored in a building can be several hundred thousand dollars,” says Hellevang. “It doesn’t make sense to put that value or yourself at risk with a building that is structurally damaged.” signs of crushed, split or broken wood. Determine whether any members have buckled, twisted, bowed out of alignment, slipped relative to each other or developed gaps between members in a truss joint. Also, examine whether the gussets show signs of being deformed. Look carefully at connections for indications of nail, screw or bolt holes being elongated, and see whether nails or other connectors are pulled out of the wood or bent.

Ceilings: Look for sagging, cracks, water stains or signs of bulging.

Walls: Check for cracks, especially in corners, and look for any signs of bulging or soft spots.

Floors: Inspect for sagging, sloping or cracks.

Hellevang says an inspection for structural damage also should include the following:

Examine the posts of pole buildings for crushed or broken wood near the ground or at truss connections or knee braces. Make sure the posts are straight and vertical. Look for indications that posts made of more than one board may have split along rows of nails. Check whether doors or windows open as they did before the storm. If they don’t, this may indicate the structure has shifted. In case of severe shifting, water lines, gas lines and electrical circuits may have been damaged.

If wetness occurred because of flooding or leaking roofs, look for wet electrical circuits, wet insulation and other water damage to the structure’s interior. Once insulation in a wall or attic becomes wet, it must be replaced or the wall must be opened. Wall insulation that is sealed within the structure will not dry.

Look at the siding and roof sheeting for tears around fas-

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Duct tape is also taken into every space mission by astronauts since the Genesis mission. It was even used during the ill-fated Apollo 13 space mission. The crew used it to fix the broken carbon dioxide filters, which was one of the things that saved their lives.

Caroline Roeder Helle selected to national agriculture scholars program

By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service

A soon-to-be two-time graduate of Montana State University is participating in a selective academic and professional development program for young leaders in agriculture through the Farm Foundation.

Caroline Roeder Helle is one of five graduate students nationwide to be named to the foundation’s Agricultural Scholars program for 2025. Over a year, selected students participate in networking and professional meetings through the Farm Foundation and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“This is great opportunity for Caroline,” said Eric Belasco, head of the College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics, in which Helle received her undergraduate degree and is pursuing her master’s degree. “It will help prepare her to be an outstanding leader in agriculture and allow her to continue being a wonderful ambassador for Montana State University.”

Originally from Choteau, Helle was the co-valedictorian of her high school class and remained a highly involved student during her undergraduate studies after arriving at MSU in 2019. A third-generation MSU student, she followed her step-grandfather, mother, father and older brother to Bozeman.

She received MSU’s presidential scholarship, the university’s most selective award, and was involved with the College of Agriculture’s range management club and Sigma Alpha sorority. She helped to establish MSU’s chapter of the Collegiate Woolgrowers group and served as a College of Agriculture senator in the Associated Students of MSU.

In 2023, Helle was honored alongside her undergraduate adviser Joe Atwood at the 41st annual Founders Day Awards for Student Excellence, in which students are nominated by faculty for outstanding leadership and community service. After graduating that spring with a degree in agricultural business, she began her graduate studies in applied economics.

“I wanted to pursue a graduate program that would allow me to engage with policy but also build a technical set of skills that I could market,” said Helle of her decision to continue her studies at MSU. “Econ and policy go hand in hand, and MSU has a great economics graduate program. The coursework was very challenging, but I’ve had a great cohort, and that was one of the things that really made a difference, being able to collaborate with them.”

Students in the applied economics graduate program complete coursework during their first year before spending the second on a thesis project. Helle selected a topic that she felt would blend her agricultural roots with relevant issues in agriculture. Her research has explored livestock grazing on U.S. Forest Service land and analyzed the impacts of that grazing on wildfire risk.

In addition to Atwood’s mentorship during her undergraduate career, she said the support and expertise of her graduate committee co-chairs, professor emeritus Randy Rucker and assistant professor Nicole Karwowski, have been invaluable in giving her confidence, building her skills and pushing her to conduct high-level research.

“She’s just awesome,” Helle said of Karwowski. “It’s so wonderful to have another young woman who’s a few steps ahead of me to mentor me both on the technical side of things with my economics education, and then also on the interpersonal side of things. I’ve had some really great mentors and advisers in the College of Ag.”

As part of their experience with the Farm Foundation, agricultural scholars are also paired with and mentored by researchers from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, who provide guidance and facilitate connections with professionals and scientists whose expertise matches the students’ interests. Helle’s tenure in the program will continue through December, though it will overlap with her beginning a job with an economic consulting firm this summer.

As she prepares for her final thesis defense next month,

National Drive Thru Day

This holiday is always celebrated on July 24th

The American lifestyle is fast-paced and demanding. We don’t have the time to get out of our car and enter a store to place a hopefully quick order. And, we don’t have to leave our warm and dry vehicles during inclement weather. Since its inception, drive-thru venues have offered Americans the speed and convenient service we need as we go through our busy day.

People around the world enjoy the ease, speed, and convenience of using the drive thru windows. They are customer focused and very friendly. It is certainly nice to remain in your car to pick up a wide variety of items, or to do your banking. You don’t have to get out of your car in cold and blustery winter weather, or on a scorching hot summer day. They are efficient for the restaurant, too. As you know, it allows us to shop for a wide range of goods and services without leaving our car. The most popular venues are coffee and donut shops, fast food restaurants of all kinds, drug stores, and even liquor stores in some states.

The typical restaurant drive thru has two or three windows. The first has a screen with the menu and a microphone to place your order. Over the years the quality, or lack thereof, of the microphone has been the source of many jokes. Touch screens are replacing the microphones. It is labor-saving and customers like this feature. The second window is where you pay for your order. At the third pick-up window, your order is handed to you. Merchants like banks and drug stores may have only one window to take care of your order quickly and efficiently.

Did You Know? The best time to use a drive-thru is mid-afternoon.

Money Saving Tip: Some merchants may offer freebies, discounts, or promotions on National Drive Thru Day. Check your local newspapers and online for any advertised specials.

History and Origin of National Drive Thru Day

This holiday was first celebrated in 2002. It was created by the burger chain Jack-in-the-Box. Without a doubt, it was created to recognize, celebrate, and promote drive thru windows.

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USDA offers farm loans for beginning farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers that FSA offers farm ownership and farm operating loans to beginning farmers and ranchers. Beginning farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank can apply for FSA direct or guaranteed loans.

“Farming and ranching is a capital-intensive business and FSA is committed to helping producers start and maintain their agricultural operations,” said Lance Wasson, FSA Acting State Executive Director in Montana. “FSA loans are designed to make sure that everyone has access to credit. Last year, FSA in Montana obligated over $37 million in loans to beginning farmers and ranchers.”

In order to qualify as a beginning farmer, the individual or entity must meet the eligibility requirements outlined for direct or guaranteed loans. Additionally, individuals and all entity members must have operated a farm for less than 10 years. Applicants must materially or substantially participate in the operation. For farm ownership purposes, the applicant must not own a farm greater than 30% of the average size farm in the county at the time of application.

All direct farm ownership applicants must have participated in the business operations of a farm for at least three years out of the last 10 years prior to the date the application is submitted to FSA. Substitutions for as much as the full three years of experience may be made depending on education, military experience, participation with a SCORE mentor, and farm management experience as a hired hand. Your local FSA office will be able to provide more details on acceptable substitutions.

If the applicant is an entity, all members must be related by blood or marriage and all entity members must be eligible beginning farmers. At least one of the members must have three years or more experience in the business operations of a farm prior to the date the application is submitted.

Direct loans are made to applicants by FSA. Guaranteed loans are made by lending institutions who arrange for FSA to guarantee the loan. FSA can guarantee up to 95% of the loss of principal and interest on a loan. The FSA guarantee allows lenders to make agricultural credit available to producers who do not meet the lender’s normal underwriting criteria.

The direct and guaranteed loan program offers two types of loans: farm ownership loans and farm operating loans.

Farm ownership loan funds may be used to purchase or enlarge a farm or ranch; purchase easements or rights of way needed in the farm’s operation; build or improve buildings such as a dwelling or barn; promote soil and water conservation and development; and pay closing costs.

Farm operating loan funds may be used to purchase livestock, poultry, farm equipment, fertilizer, and other materials necessary to operate a farm. Operating loan funds can also be used for family living expenses; refinancing debts under certain conditions; paying salaries for hired farm laborers; installing or improving water systems for home, livestock or irrigation use; and other similar improvements.

Repayment terms for direct operating loans are scheduled from one to seven years. Financing for direct farm ownership loans cannot exceed 40 years. Interest rates for direct loans are set periodically according to the government’s cost of borrowing. Guaranteed loan terms and interest rates are set by the lender.

For more information on FSA’s farm loan programs and beginning farmer guidelines, please contact your local FSA office or visit farmers.gov.

Caroline Roeder Helle selected to national agriculture scholars program

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C2

she said the Agricultural Scholars program and her years at MSU have helped widen her perspective on the many facets of the industry.

“It’s really interesting being a kid from rural Montana who grew up with cows, wheat and my personal background, which is sheep, getting a look all of the other commodities that are produced in the United States,” she said. “It’s really cool to learn about and see the diversity of agriculture.”

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Allergy-safe intubation may help prevent hospital-acquired pneumonia

By Amaani Lyle, ARS

Researchers from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have devised a way to lower the health risks of using endotracheal intubation for lifesaving breathing procedures.

Endotracheal intubation has been a lifesaving albeit invasive airway opening procedure often performed on unconscious patients or those who can’t breathe spontaneously amid surgery or emergencies.

The procedure involves placing a flexible tube in the windpipe through a patient’s mouth or nose and can pose a dire risk to patients who have adverse reactions to irritants, allergens, and bacterial infections.

It is estimated that 8-28% of mechanically ventilated patients develop ventilator associated pneumonia, with some cases fatal.

An ARS scientist and her team at the U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center (ALARC) in Maricopa, AZ, addressed this challenge to help people safely breathe easier.

Katrina Cornish, ALARC center director, recently released a published article introducing the advanced endotracheal tube (ETT), which uses balloon cuffs made from guayule latex.

Study findings suggest the alternative material complements the design: an allergensafe, guayule latex endotracheal tube balloon cuff, inflates around the ETT to form a seal with the trachea, offering superior leakproof and mechanical qualities compared to traditional polyvinyl chloride (PVC) balloon cuffs.

“Our innovative guayule latex ETT bal-

loon cuffs offer a significant advancement in patient safety,” said Cornish. “With their allergy-safe properties and exceptional mechanical performance, these cuffs provide a reliable, softer, and safer option for patients requiring endotracheal intubation.”

Guayule is a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. One of its applications is being used as a sustainable alternative to traditional rubber, which is sourced from the tropical rubber tree primarily grown in Southeast Asia.

These new guayule-based cuffs, designed to be placed around existing pleated PVC cuffs, on the outside, provide a safe alternative for patients with Type I latex allergies, minimize the risk of adverse contact reactions, and prevent leakage of bacteria-laden saliva into the lungs.

“Our new outer cuffs have been made with guayule latex using an accelerant system specifically designed to prevent adverse contact reactions and create a perfect seal with the patient’s trachea,” Cornish noted.

Cornish explained future studies could include stability testing of the cuffs against salivary and gastric secretions, multi-variable fluid leakage comparison, edema, and reintubation. She envisioned guayule farming propelling high-value medical products such as ETT cuffs into the commercial sector.

“If adopted by the healthcare industry, these cuffs have the potential to save hospitals and patients tens of thousands of dollars each year in VAP treatment and prevent deaths caused by ventilator-associated pneumonia,” Cornish said.

Allergen-safe guayule latex offers superior leak-proof and mechanical qualities for patients requiring endotracheal intubation in comparison to traditional polyvinyl chloride (PVC) balloon cuffs as shown in this diagram. (USDA/ARS diagram)

Freshly harvested guayule bale sits ready for latex extraction. Guayule shrubs are harvested as a fresh crop to make latex. The harvested shrubs are baled for transport to a local latex extraction plant. Allergen-free guayule latex is separated like cream from milk at the extraction plant. (USDA photo/Katrina Cornish)

Cattle theft: Not just a thing of the wild west

By Jacob Klaudt, K-State Research and Extension news service

In 2025, cattle producers continue receiving record prices for their livestock at local sale barns and auction markets. While many enjoy the spoils of their labor after years of discouraging events like drought and herd reduction, this surge in value beckons unwanted attention.

Scarlett Madinger, the vice president of communications at the Kansas Livestock Association, said producers always hold their cattle and livelihood in high regard. However, current market conditions provide thieves an opportunity to take advantage of those lucrative and unattended livestock.

“Some people see it as an ‘easy way to earn a dollar’ by stealing cattle; they think that they can make a quick turnaround on some dollars,” she said. “Livestock especially at risk are those that are easily accessible.”

Listen to an interview by Jacob Klaudt with Scarlett Madinger on the weekday radio program, Agriculture Today

With calving season wrapping up, young animals and cow-calf pairs might be more likely to fall victim to theft, depending on what criminals think they can get away with.

The first step in preventing livestock theft involves permanently identifying cattle

Take note of any suspicious or unfamiliar vehicles driving by a property, within reason.

After a suspected crime, Madinger said producers should first contact their local county sheriff’s office, then the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health.

“Call that county sheriff, so that they can come out as quickly as possible and take down any details,” she said. “The division of animal health is the next one because they can send information about stolen livestock to auction markets around the state, so they are aware of them.”

Producers who are members of the Kansas Livestock Association can report stolen livestock to that organization’s office, which will institute a reward program and send out more information about the crime to other members.

While multiple agencies within the state respond to incidents, ranchers should also look outside Kansas for pilfered livestock.

“You’re going to want to broaden your search radius for those counties that border Nebraska, Oklahoma or Colorado,” she said. “Your radius depends on your location and how many auction markets are nearby.” through techniques like hot brands and ear notches. On the other hand, thieves can easily remove ear tags and other temporary identifiers.

“Branding is the most surefire way to positively identify cattle,” Madinger said. “If someone is trying to sell them at a regional auction market, somebody else is most likely to recognize that brand and know that ‘hey, that isn’t who dropped them off.’”

Another crucial step in warding off theft includes restricting access to pens and pastures by using locks, chains and other security measures.

“Anything that causes someone to take an extra step that’s looking to steal cattle serves as a deterrent,” Madinger said. ”Especially if you have portable facilities or movable pens, chain those up so they’re not easily accessible to somebody looking to back up and load your cattle out.”

Other livestock theft prohibition methods:

Do not leave cattle penned overnight.

Be extra vigilant of activity near pens or pastures that sit near high-traffic areas like highways or interstates. Check and count cattle frequently, keeping written records, especially if housed in multiple locations.

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The best new fruit for the Dakotas

By Tom Kalb, Horticulturist, NDSU Extension

It’s fun to grow new fruit crops.

Common fruits like apples and strawberries are okay, but there’s nothing special about them. It’s more exciting to grow—and taste—an exotic, new fruit.

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I have seen lots of promising fruits over the past 15 years in North Dakota. These include seaberry, silverberry, lingonberry, goji berry, goumi, kiwi, blackberry, mountainash, pawpaw, and the list goes on.

They all disappoint. Many of these crops can’t survive our cold winters. The other crops ripen too late or grow on branches with vicious thorns. A few of the crops grow well but taste terrible.

One new fruit crop has stood out in our gardens. It is easy to grow and tastes delicious. This fruit is the haskap, also called honeyberry.

It’s easy to grow haskaps. They can survive our worst winters. They have no major insect pests or diseases. Haskaps thrive in our prairie soils.

Millions of haskap shrubs are grown in the prairie provinces of Canada. Any crop that can survive the Canadian prairie will survive in the Dakotas.

Best of all, haskaps are absolutely delicious. The fruits are larger and sweeter than blueberries. They taste like blueberries with essences of raspberries and cherries. The fruits have thin skins and will melt in your mouth!

Speaking of blueberries, they are almost impossible to grow here. Our soils are too alkaline, our winters are too cold, and our climate is too dry. Most blueberry shrubs planted in our state will die within a couple years.

Forget about blueberries. We’ve got haskaps to grow.

Many of us have never eaten a haskap before. That’s because they are hard to grow on commercial fruit farms. The fruits do not ripen uniformly and have a tendency to drop when ripe. This makes mechanical harvesting very difficult.

Breeders from North Dakota State University, the University of Saskatchewan and fruit companies are working to develop varieties that can be harvested mechanically. Progress is being made, but it is slow.

Gardeners don’t have to worry about mechanical harvesting. We can go out to our backyards and harvest the fruits as they ripen and before they drop to the ground.

The biggest challenge when growing haskaps are birds. Haskaps are the first fruits to ripen and birds love them. You must place netting over the shrubs a couple weeks after flowering to shield the fruits from birds.

Haskap plants are becoming more available at local garden centers, and several companies sell the plants online. These include HoneyberryUSA, One Green World, Haskap Oregon and Jung. Do a search on Google and you can find more sources.

You need to plant at least two compatible varieties for cross-pollination and maximum yields. When buying a haskap plant, look to see which variety your plant is compatible with.

The most promising varieties in our North Dakota State University trials come from Japan. These shrubs are productive and easy to harvest due to their upright habit and sparse foliage. These promising varieties include Solo and Maxie of the Yezberry series, Opus, Kawai and Keiko.

If you are looking for a new fruit crop, I encourage you to try haskap. It is easy to grow and tastes yummy!

Dune tunes

In the 13th century, while traveling through the Gobi Desert, explorer Marco Polo heard eerie sounds coming from the sand dunes around him. He described the noise as “all kinds of musical instruments, and also of drums and the clash of arms.” After hearing the mysterious noises Polo came to the “logical conclusion that he must be in the presence of evil spirits. These days, we know that all that music was nature, not spirits. Of all the sand dunes in the world, only a few have the ability to “sing” in the ways that so startled Marco Polo. Beach sand sometimes makes brief squeaking noises, but it’s rare to find dunes that produce the magnificent instrumentals Polo described. There are actually only about 30 singing sand dunes on earth, including:

• The Kelso Dunes. Located in the Devil’s Playground area of the Mojave National Preserve, the Kelso Dunes rise as high as 650 feet.

• The sounds of the Dumont Dunes, also located in the preserve, were filmed for the PBS Nova episode “Booming Sands.” According to researchers, the Dumont Dunes “sing” the note of G.

• The Eureka Dunes in Death Valley National Park. Rising 680 feet from the valley floor, the dunes are also thought to be the tallest in North America.

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By: Jaelyn Whaley, SDSU Extension Sheep Field Specialist. Additional Authors: Krista Ehlert

Sheep can readily thrive on pasture in the summer. However, monitoring forage quality and meeting mineral requirements on range is important to optimize production.

Forage Composition

Forage composition within pastures is an indicator of nutrient content. With warmer temperatures, grass species shift from cool-season grasses (for example, crested wheatgrass, smooth brome, and western wheatgrass) to wam-season grasses (examples includ little and big bluestem, blue grama, and sideoats grama). Most cool-season grasses will fall below protein requirements by late July. In contrast, warm-season grasses meet minimum protein requirements for non-lactating, open ewes into late August (Figure 1).

Blue grama maintains 8% protein into early October. In terms of energy, many grasses continue to meet ewe requirements up to gestation, even when grasses mature, but they become higher in fiber and more difficut to breakdown by rumen microbes. While grasses rapidly decline in overall nutrative value, forbs and browse species maintain higher protein, energy, and mineral content into the fall.

Knowing Your Pastures

Take a quick survey of your pastures. Is there a variety of plant species? This important for both rangeland health and forage production. Are specific plants being targeted by your sheep? It is important to know what species you have present in your pastures, so you can “work with what you have, and manage for what you want.” This requires monitoring, which is essentially developing a database of your operation, including your pastures. Monitoring doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be a note in your phone or a Google spreadsheet you can easily access. You can use photopoints and observations, or you can develop a more-advanced monitoring plan that includes clipping forage. Our article, You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure: Range Record Keeping, highlights more information on monitoring.

Forage Samples

Part of a monitoring program may include taking forage samples to test for nutritional value as well as mineral content. Connect with your local NRCS Service Center or SDSU Extension office for advice on how to do this and what lab to send the samples to. You can sample grasses and “weeds” separately. Mineral Supplementation in Summer

In general, grazing will meet mineral needs for dry ewes, and strategic mineral supplementation can help reduce input costs. However, the presence of certain plants can also be an indicator of pasture mineral status. Forbs will sequester minerals that are low in the soil. Leafy spurge, for example, is high in calcium (abbreviated as Ca), because it has adapted to hold onto calcium when it is low in the soil. Minerals that are high in plants, such as leafy spurge, but low in the grasses, indicate soil mineral deficiencies. The exemption to this rule is sodium, because plants that thrive in high sodium soils also take up high levels of sodium.

Minerals play many integral roles in production, so when in doubt, provide free-choice mineral and salt. Grazing ewes will consume 1.5 times more free-choice mineral, while also selecting for more nutrient-dense portions of plants. If ewes are grazing while bred or lactating, supplementing minerals becomes significantly more important. Offering excess minerals provides minimal benefit, but even subclinical mineral deficiencies lead to lower production efficiencies.

• 2/12 pitch painted roof, walls and trim

• 2/12 pitch painted roof, walls and trim

• 2/12 pitch painted roof, walls and trim

• (2) – 14’x14’ Wayne Dalton Doors

• (2) – 14’x14’ Wayne Dalton Doors - One row of insulated glass per door

• (2) – 14’x14’ Wayne Dalton Doors - One row of insulated glass per door

- One heavy duty opener per door - Two remotes per door

- One row of insulated glass per door - One heavy duty opener per door - Two remotes per door

• (4) – 4’0 x 4’0 windows

- One heavy duty opener per door - Two remotes per door

• (4)

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• (4) 3070 Entry Doors

• 5” Concrete Monolithic Slab with radiant heat

• #4 rebar on 24” centers

• 2” foam insulation under the slab

• Electric or propane boiler

• R36 insulation in the roof, R25 insulation in the walls

• Includes all labor to pour slab, complete heated floor, and erect the building

Figure 1. Crude protein in common South Dakota warm-season grasses. Adapted from Sediveck et al., 2007.

Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture

St. Mary siphon repairs complete

The construction to replace the failed St. Mary Canal Siphon is complete and the Bureau of Reclamation has started operations to resume water deliveries into the Milk River. Completing the St. Mary Siphon is the first step to restoring critical water supply to more than 110,000 acres of farmland and multiple municipalities across north-central Montana.

“Getting this siphon back online within a year is a remarkable accomplishment and a reflection of our commitment to the people who rely on this water every day,” said Montana Area Office Manager Ryan Newman. “Reclamation, working shoulder to shoulder with the Joint Board, the Blackfeet Nation, and the State of Montana, ensured this project remained on track under extraordinary circumstances.

“The effort follows the catastrophic failure of both 90-inch siphon barrels on June 17, 2024, located approximately eight miles north of Babb, Montana. The breach caused extensive erosion and disrupted irrigation water deliveries throughout the region. Reclamation made an emergency determination for both the St. Mary Siphon and the Halls Coulee Siphon, enabling expedited design, environmental review, and construction, allowing construction activities to begin almost immediately.

The new siphon system replaces the early-20th-century infrastructure with modernized steel piping and reinforced concrete structures. It is designed to address the historic issues of seepage, corrosion, and instability caused by landslides. With the system again operational, water is moving through the canal to support agricultural operations, municipal systems, and tribal water uses.

Following the completion of the St. Mary Siphon, construction crews have mobilized approximately six miles downstream to begin work on replacing the Halls Coulee Siphon. This next phase of the project can proceed while the St. Mary system is operational, ensuring continued water delivery during a portion of the construction period. The Halls Coulee replacement will build on the same modern design standards, further strengthening the reliability of the entire St. Mary Canal system for future generations.

“The completion of this replacement project underscores Reclamation’s mission to reliably deliver water and meet our obligations to western communities,” said Acting Reclamation Commissioner David Palumbo. “Our success here is the result of strong collaboration with local, Tribal, and state partners, and it reinforces our ongoing investment in resilient infrastructure.”

“This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the exceptional work of our contractors—NW Construction, Sletten Construction, and Pro-Pipe—and the critical support provided by the Blackfeet Tribal Employment Rights Office,” said Project Manager for the Milk River Joint Board of Control Jennifer Patrick. “These crews worked tirelessly under intense pressure and challenging conditions to get water flowing again. Their commitment to quality, safety, and collaboration made all the difference for the Milk River Project and the communities that depend on it.”

The Milk River Project, a trans-basin diversion from the St. Mary River to the Missouri River watershed, provides 60% to 80% of the water used annually in the region. Reclamation will continue monitoring canal flows and infrastructure performance and coordinating closely with stakeholders to ensure operational stability through the 2025 irrigation season and beyond.

Will your summer pastures meet your flock’s needs?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C9

Summary

Most of South Dakota’s rangelands are sufficient for dry ewes throughout summer. Grass-dominated pastures meet requirements until August, but may require protein supplementation into the fall and winter. Ensuring adequate mineral status supports many biological functions. While ewes are in maintenance, pastures may meet mineral needs. Evaluating your pastures visually or through testing allows you to know where shortfalls are occurring. Grazing is a great opportunity to reduce feed costs and capitalize on what ruminants do best—turning forage into high-quality food and fiber. However, it is important that the nutritional requirements of the flock are met all year to optimize production and promote profitability.

People in medieval times often had chamber pots beside their beds to relieve themselves through the night. Residents would throw the contents of their chamber pots over their balconies into the streets the next morning. If you were walking through the streets without paying much attention, you might miss the warning and end up drenched in overnight urine. In that period they also wore nosebags. All that waste thrown into the streets would remain there for a while. The nosebags contained flowers to help people deal with the stench.

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The deadline for advertising in the August 2025 issue of the Trader's Dispatch will be July 30th.

Phone (406) 271-5533. or email: advertising @tradersdispatch.com

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2006 Ford F650 ladder truck, needs a generator. $17,500 12-ft. flatbed, 3200 lb. IMT crane, air compressor.$5000

Tree of Heaven serves as devilish host to spotted lanternfly

ARS researchers are helping to mitigate a destructive tree and insect that continue to spread across the United States. With its lush tropical canopy and ability to quickly grow toward the sky, the Tree of Heaven seems as angelic as its name suggests. However, Tree of Heaven is proving to be a devil. The invasive tree is aggressive and damaging as it spreads rapidly across Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states.

The Tree of Heaven is also relentless, thriving in urban landscapes from vacant lots and alleys to railways and highways. It can also grow in disturbed soil and along steep hillsides while surviving severe temperature changes and weather conditions. Even if an individual Tree of Heaven is removed, its seeds typically spread throughout its environment, generating further growth.

Not only is Tree of Heaven an environmental menace, it is also “the most favored host” of the invasive spotted lanternfly, according to Tracy Leskey, a research entomologist at the Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection Unit in Kearneysville, WV.

Leskey and her team of ARS researchers and university partners are working to reduce both Tree of Heaven and spotted lanternfly populations through ARS’ Area-Wide Pest Management program. Their goal is to suppress the populations of both invasive species, increase ecosystem health, reduce the use of insecticides, and mitigate crop yield loss, all while alleviating the impact on native pollinators and plants.

David Shapiro-Illan, ARS research entomologist at the Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory in Bryron, GA, is working with Leskey and their university partners from Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Rutgers on a variety of biological controls to combat the invasive insect and tree.

“There’s a soilborne fungi -- Verticillium nonalfalfae (VNA) -- that has been identified as killing Tree of Heaven in three states, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio,” said Leskey. She added that VNA is being screened as a commercialized product, which could soon be available for sale.

“If we reduce the population of Tree of Heaven, that will help reduce the population of spotted lanternfly,” said Leskey. “Also, if Tree of Heaven is infected, spotted lanternfly could transfer the infection to other trees to help with a tree’s demise.”

To combat the lanternfly, the team is looking at entomopathogenic fungi, or soil-dwelling microorganisms that can infect and kill insects, like the spotted lanternfly. Leskey said they are also studying entomopathogenic nematodes

The lush green leaves of Tree of Heaven are deceptively appealing. The tree is quite devilish, wreaking havoc on its surroundings. (Getty Images)

Spotted lanternflies cluster on a tree in Berks County, PA. Pennsylvania is one of many states experiencing population growth of the invasive insect. (Getty Images)

Tree of Heaven serves as devilish host

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C12 that feed on the lanternfly.

“The crop we initially would like to protect is grapes, and specifically wine grapes,” she added. “We’re already seeing an impact from lanternfly feeding in vineyards within the MidAtlantic region, and in other places around the country.”

Because Tree of Heaven often grows just outside grape vineyards, providing spotted lanternflies with a welcoming host, the insects often disperse through the grapevines where they continuously feed.

“The way we selected these organisms (VNA and nematodes) for biological control, and the way we will apply them against the lanternfly will minimize impact on native species growing in the same environment,” said Leskey.

The ARS team will continue to conduct field-based evaluations throughout this project in unmanaged areas around vineyards.

“When lanternflies are in the nymphal stage, they are aggregated in specific areas like on vines and in woodsy areas,” Leskey said. Her team plans to apply spot treatments along the vineyard to combat the lanternflies, while also injecting the verticillium into the Tree of Heaven.

“We’re going to be observing these vineyard sites and capturing the impact of these biological control agents on Tree of Heaven and spotted lanternfly,” said Leskey. “Throughout the project, we will continually monitor their long-term population trends.” -– by Tami Terella-Faram, ARS Office of Communications

Montana State University scientists explore how fluid dynamics can help improve aerial firefighting

By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service

Since 2000, wildfires have burned roughly 340,000 acres annually in Montana, according to the state’s Wildfire Library database, with upwards of $180 million dedicated to fire suppression in 2023 alone. Ongoing collaborative research at Montana State University is aiming to make the process of protecting land and people from wildfire more efficient and effective.

The work begins on the smallest of scales: examining how fluid dynamics affect the spread of water or retardant once it is dropped from an air tanker onto or in front of a fire. Mark Owkes, an associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering in MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, along with other scientists in the Western U.S. and France, are measuring and simulating the shape and size of sprays from air tankers, helping to gauge the most effective approaches to maximize fire suppression with each drop.

That challenge was the topic of a keynote address given last week at MSU by Dominique Legendre, professor at the Toulouse Institute of Fluid Mechanics in France. Legendre spoke at the Institute for Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems Conference, which MSU hosted May 18-21.

Legendre has studied the fluid mechanics of firefighting for 15 years, exploring how water and retardant behave when dropped from air tankers and developing experiments to measure the spread and concentration of application.

“If you look at the footprint, you have a non-uniform deposit of liquid that reaches

the ground,” Legendre said. “As a firefighter, you want a uniform deposit, with maximum concentration in the middle, and you want to be able to control the length and the width of the deposit.”

Owkes, part of MSU’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, has collaborated with Legendre for more than a year, blending liquid dynamics with computer coding and numerical methods to model air tanker drops. Owkes has used MSU’s Tempest, a high-performance computing cluster and the largest supercomputer in Montana, to develop complex models that can predict the behavior of both water and the less-predictable retardant.

Water and retardant are used in different ways to fight fires, Owkes said. While water is dropped directly on top of an active fire, retardant is designed to apply ahead of the burn, creating a break that will ideally stop the fire from advancing and allow firefighters to manage it more effectively and safely. Once dropped from a plane, both fluids atomize, meaning they break into smaller droplets when the force of gravity and velocity overcome their surface tension.

The problem, however, is finding just the right application. If the concentration is too high, retardant is wasted; if too low, it won’t be enough to stop the fire. Temperature, wind, altitude, geography, vegetation cover and gravity all make those calculations more challenging.

Retardant’s viscosity adds another wrinkle, Owkes said. Retardant is a non-

CONTINUED ON PAGE C15

Drought-proofing your grazing plan

By Ben Beckman, UNL

With drought conditions forecasted across much of Nebraska this summer, now is the time to make a grazing plan that builds in flexibility.

Start by evaluating forage availability. If grass is already slow, consider reducing stocking rates early. Holding cattle back on a drylot or using annual forages can help avoid overgrazing if pastures fall short. Additionally, incorporating stockers into an operation can provide an asset that is easier to liquidate than the main breeding herd if conditions get dry. If you haven’t already, set trigger dates to evaluate forage growth and precipitation. For example, June moisture does little for cool-season grasses like brome but can still help warm-season species. If we head into June at a deficit, brome pastures will need stocking rates reduced. Timely rain may fuel some late growth in native range, but a close eye on grazing pressure and pasture condition needs to be maintained.

As you graze, don’t underestimate the impact of timing. Grazing during plant recovery periods, especially in June and early July for warm season species, can weaken plants and reduce future productivity. Rotate grazing so that key grasses have a break during critical growing windows. Lastly, keep an eye on grazing pressure. Grazing as drought stress impacts a plant can double the pressure it is receiving without a chance to recover if it stays dry. As pastures dry out, be especially careful not to overgraze. Once fully dormant, plants can be grazed a bit harder without much damage, although we want to leave enough residual to protect plant crowns and reduce soil moisture loss.

Planning for drought isn’t fun, but taking steps now can save pasture health and avoid emergency decisions later.

Never walk behind a horse or in front of a woman without being very careful. – Honore De Balzac

Habit: the enormous flywheel of society, its most precious conservative agent. – William James

MSU scientists explore how fluid dynamics can help improve aerial firefighting

Newtonian fluid, meaning it doesn’t flow as predictably as water does. Instead, it is what scientists call a “sheer thinning” fluid whose flow increases as more pressure is applied. An everyday example is toothpaste, flowing when its tube is squeezed, but stopping once perched on the bristles of a toothbrush.

“Those properties help retardant break apart while it’s being sheared in the atmosphere after it’s dropped, but then, once it lands on the vegetation on the ground, it will stick,” Owkes said. “It definitely requires more complicated equations to describe its behavior.”

In addition to bringing international scientists like Legendre to MSU, last week’s ILASS conference drew aviation companies into the conversation, which Owkes said was a key part of the conference’s purpose.

Advances in knowledge can only go so far without planes and other technology that can carry out the improved approaches, he said, and building those partnerships is crucial to guiding ongoing scientific work. Owkes has collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service’s Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, which conducts wildfire research and is one of the few agencies that can certify air tankers for wildfire suppression.

“I think it’s an exciting problem because the flow is just so massive between the plane and the ground. It’s challenging to do with simulations because it’s so big, but our group is focusing on small pieces of the problem,” he said. “We’re trying to understand, from an academic point of view, what these planes are capable of, so that we can have more efficient systems.”

Patently weird vehicle patents

Invention: Collapsible Riding Companion (patent no. 5035,072)

Inventor: Rayma E. Rich; Las Vegas NV

Details: Afraid to drive alone at night? Want to drive in the carpool lane? Just want a little company? The collapsible Riding Companion is a dummy head and torso complete with a full head of hair, T-shirt, and zippered jacket that rides “shotgun” wherever you need to go. The head and torso collapse into a lightweight rectangular case for easy storage.

Invention: System for Protecting against assaults and/or Intrusions (patent no. 4,281,017)

Inventors: Yari Tanami, Yoav Madar; Gedera, Israel

Details: If you’re worried that your passenger might assault you, then this is the invention for you. Electrodes over the front and back passenger seats are connected to a high-voltage ignition coil. If the driver is threatened a foot switch sends a charge of electricity through the offending passenger strong enough to temporarily stun them. Leaving your car parked in a bad neighborhood? Set the system on “FRY” intruder detection mode and give some unsuspecting burglar the shock of his life.

Our Advertising Deadline for the August 2025 issue of the Trader's Dispatch will be July 30th. Phone us at (406) 271-5533

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Stick Out Your Tongue Day

This holiday is always celebrated on July 19th

• It’s a sign of thirst.

Today is a fun holiday that many will find cute and amusing. Today is Stick Out Your Tongue Day. It’s no time to get tongue-tied. On this fun-filled holiday, we show off our tongue for everyone to see. The object of this day is simply to inject a little fun and humor into our lives and those we see today.

We use our tongue as a means of expression. It’s body language at its finest. This body language can be used for countless reasons. On occasion, we do so in a childish, rude, or insulting manner. But most often, sticking it out is done for fun and humor. Even Albert Einstein found sticking his tongue out to be amusing. And, there are pictures of him to prove it.

We encourage you to have fun on this zany holiday. Stick out your tongue in funny and goofy poses. Do this in public to everyone you see. And, post pictures on social media.

Why Do We Stick Out Our Tongue?

What’s in your mouth? Stick out your tongue and show me. Yes, there are countless reasons why we stick our tongue out for all to see. Here are just a few of them:

• Sometimes we stick it out just to be funny or whimsical.

• You can’t lick ice cream or a lollipop without sticking out your tongue.

• It helps us to concentrate while doing a difficult task.

• At the doctor’s office, he tells you to stick out your tongue and say “Ahh”.

• We do it to express our distaste for a food, or something we hear or see.

• It is a natural reaction to seeing something gross or icky.

• We stick it out when daring or being dared.

• Finally, sticking out our tongue is a photo op. We often post it on social media.

Today’s Quote

“We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.” – – Diogenes

History and Origin of Stick Out Your Tongue Day

Our research found that a group of friends created this fun-filled holiday in 2010. However, we found no information identifying who they are or where they are from. Without a doubt, at the time they were just having silly summertime fun. Certainly, there’s no other holiday quite like it.

It comes as no surprise that this is not a “National” day. Can you imagine a congressman from one party making a proposal to make it a national day? Representatives from the other party would stick their tongue out, immediately give him a tongue-lashing, and promptly vote the proposal down.

Psyched for Cycads

They look like a cross between a palm and a fern, with a stout trunk and a crown of featherlike leaves across the top. But these ancient plants–called cycads (pronounced “SYkads”)–are more closely related to gingko trees and conifers.

• Cycads have been growing on this planet for more than 300 million years, making them among the oldest species of any kind still living in the world.

• Cycads contain BMAA, a paralyzing neurotoxin. But native peoples in Australia, Africa, and North America found ways to leach out the poison and turn the starchy stems into edible flour.

• The Seminole Indians of Florida called cycads the “white bread plant.” Their entire diet was based around sofkee, a pudding made from its starch. When Confederate soldiers garrisoned in Florida during the Civil War ran out of provisions, they tried to create their own version of sofkee. Unfortunately, they skipped the soaking process that removed the plant’s poison–and hundreds of soldiers died.

• White settlers in Florida eventually learned the Seminole process and made a cooking powder they call arrowroot starch, or coontie, which was what the Florida cycad was called. During World War 1, coontie mixed with beef broth was the only food that soldiers who’d been gassed could stomach.

• The Japanese word for cycad is Sotetsu. Cycad nuts were eaten as a food of last resort during famines, and a particularly bad famine in the 1920s is still referred to as sotetsu jinkoku, or “cycad hell.”

• The Japanese sago “palm” is perhaps the best-known cycad in the world (though misnamed–it isn’t a palm).

• A great petrified forest of cycads used to lie just outside Minnekahta, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It was once a national monument until fossil hunters stripped away all of the visible specimens and sold them to museums and collectors.

• Cycad seeds look the pinecones and can weight as much as 90 pounds.

• The largest cycad alive today is a Hope’s cycad located in Daintree, Australia. It’s 1,000 years old and 65 feet high.

Fuji Apple

In the late 1930s, botanists at the Tohoku Research Station in Fujisaki, Japan, began work on creating an apple that was sweet, crips, and didn’t spoil quickly. It took more than 20 years, but in 1962, the TRS’s Fuju apple – as in “Fujisaki” – went to market worldwide. A cross of two American varieties, the Ralls-Gener and the Red Delicious, Fuji apples are very sweet, extra crisp, and are notable for yellow, green, orange and red stripes. The Fuji is one of the top 10 best-selling apple varieties in the U.S.….but it’s still the #1 seller in Japan.

#####

In 1872, Dairyman William Lawrence from Chester, New York accidentally invented cream cheese. He started out making Neufchâtel cheese. When he added cream to the mix, the result was a much richer and creamier cheese. He promptly and aptly named it “Cream Cheese”.

#####

Cheesecake is not actually a cake. It is more closely related to a tart.

Road safety imperative for farmers, ranchers and motorists

Traveling Montana’s rural roads this season means sharing them with moving farm equipment and cattle. It’s a critical safety issue, especially with new residents unfamiliar with rural practices and the alarming increase in distracted driving. Large machinery moving between fields creates a dangerous situation for everyone.

Don Steinbeisser, Jr., experienced this danger firsthand. While driving his Case-IH 250 tractor on a two-lane road near Sidney, he felt a sudden impact. “I thought a motorist had hit the tractor axle, but suddenly the tractor couldn’t move,” Steinbeisser said. “When I finally got out and looked behind the tractor, I realized there was a car under my planter.” The crash tragically killed the car’s driver and broke Steinbeisser’s tractor in half.

Even with “strobe lights, flashers, all of that,” Steinbeisser believes the sheer volume of flashing lights on many trucks, coupled with pervasive cell phone use and in-vehicle distractions, makes drivers less attentive.

“Stay off your cell phone and concentrate on the road,” he urges. “If you need to answer a text or help your kid in the backseat, pull over. Taking ten minutes of your time is better than having no time left. You are going to lose a wreck with a tractor.”

Courtesy on the road is more important than ever for the safety of all.

Follow these guidelines: SLOW DOWN AND BE PATIENT! Montana is a beautiful state with agriculture as its number one industry. Enjoy the scenery and be considerate of Montana’s farmers and ranchers as they go about their work.

Never pass farm equipment while in no-passing zones, curves, or hills. Be aware that farm equipment may have to maneuver around obstacles or make wide turns; never attempt to pass until you are certain of the machine operator’s intent. Pass when you can do so safely to prevent traffic from becoming backed up.

Reduce speed when you see equipment or livestock on a rural road. You will overtake them quickly and may not have time to respond safely.

Slow down on gravel roads, hills, curves, and turns. Consider traveling at lower speed near farmyards and work sites as a courtesy.

Keep a safe distance behind farm equipment – if you can’t see their mirrors, they can’t see you.

When approaching livestock, it is best to pull over and wait until you receive clear instructions to move through. If given the opportunity to move through, do so slowly and stay to one side rather than trying to weave through the herd. Consider the extra distance required to slow down and stop a loaded trailer or machine pulling a heavy implement. Leave them plenty of room to operate.

Dust dramatically reduces visibility. Allow extra room between you and other roadway users.

Watch for changing road surfaces, no/soft shoulders, wildlife, open range livestock, and rapidly changing road conditions.

Obey all traffic laws and buckle up.

For more information on road safety or the Montana Ag Safety program, visit mtagrisafety.com or contact Safety Director Dana Jansen, danaj@mtagrisafety.com.

How soap is made

Oil and water don’t mix; they repel each other like opposite ends of a magnet. When you wash our skin with water alone, the oil (sebum) in your skin repels the water and keeps it from cleaning the skin effectively. That’s where soap come in.

Primitively speaking, soap is oil plus alkali. For centuries, that meant fat plus lye. American colonists and pioneers saved fat scraps from cooking. They also saved the ashes from their fireplaces which they placed in a barrel with a spigot at the bottom. Water poured over the ashes and left to soak would form lye, which was then drained off from the bottom. The cooking fat was rendered in a vat over a fire, then the lye was added. After much stirring and cooking, a chemical reaction would take place, and soap was the result. Too much lye, and the soap would be harsh on the skin. Too much fat, and the soap is greasy. The newly formed soap would then be poured into boxes to harden and cure for several months.

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Dakota Gardener: Fresh garden tomatoes

By Carrie Knutson, Horticulture agent, NDSU Extension

I think there is nothing better than a fresh tomato from the garden. This is one statement that I find most gardeners will not argue about. Generally, gardeners will go above and beyond to ensure they can harvest a plentiful tomato crop. So, how do we get the most out of our tomatoes?

You can use cages or a fence and a string trellis system to support the tomato plant and hold the vines off the ground. I use tomato cages, which I set up after I plant. However, tomato cages can have a bad reputation. They tend to fall over during storms or as tomatoes ripen later in the summer.

One trick to stop that from happening is to use two short fencing posts to support the cages. Simply place the tomato cage, then put the posts in the ground at an equal distance around the cage and zip-tie the cage to the posts. It takes a bit more work to set up, but the results are worth it—no more tipped-over tomatoes.

Remember to prune your tomatoes. Tomatoes will grow secondary stems or shoots between leaves and the main stem. Depending on your needs and the type of tomato you are growing, you can prune one or the secondary stems out or leave them all.

If you leave the secondary stems, you will have more vines for fruit production. Just make sure your support system can handle the additional weight. I tend to remove the first secondary stems on my determinate tomatoes and let the rest grow. Secondary stems can be removed when they are about the size of a pencil and the leaves are dry.

New Parts

A sharp pair of scissors or pruners should be used to remove them to avoid damaging the main stem.

As your tomatoes grow, you can remove a couple of the bottom leaves to promote air movement and help prevent the spread of disease. Mulch will also help reduce the spread of soil-borne diseases. Examples of mulch are clean straw, compost, grass clippings or leaves. Just make sure that anything you use is free of any herbicides.

Be sure to leave space around the stems of your plants when using mulch. You don’t want to put mulch up to the base of the plant, as this could cause mold issues in the stem.

The mulch also helps suppress weeds and keeps the moisture at a constant level. Blossom end rot can be a major issue on tomatoes early in the season. It is caused by a calcium deficiency in the plant. Often, we have enough calcium in the soil, but due to fluctuations in soil moisture, it cannot be taken up by the plant.

Try not to work with tomato plants when they are wet. This will help reduce the spread of certain diseases. When watering, water the roots and soil, not the leaves. If you use an overhead sprinkler, water early in the morning. Watering in the morning reduces the chances of disease development.

Last, make sure to look at your plants at least every few days. Check in with them and look for any potential problems so that you have time to troubleshoot before you lose tomatoes.

The hantavirus threat

As summer rolls on across the Western U.S., so does the risk of rodent run-ins—and with it, the threat of hantavirus. This rare but deadly virus, carried by infected rodents like deer mice, is most commonly contracted by inhaling dust contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, and detritus. With several recent cases reported in Nevada, it’s a timely public health concern that merits media attention.Early hantavirus symptoms mimic the flu—fever, fatigue, muscle aches—then progress rapidly to shortness of breath and potentially fatal respiratory failure. Anyone experiencing these symptoms after exposure to rodent-infested areas should seek immediate medical care. Prompt diagnosis is critical.

Spotting the Signs of Rodent Activity:

Rodents often leave behind subtle clues. Look for: Small, rice-sized droppings along baseboards or in cabinets

Gnaw marks on food packaging, wires, or wood

Nests made from shredded paper or insulation

A persistent musty or ammonia-like odor

Scratching or scurrying noises, especially at night “Rodents are incredibly resourceful and can enter homes through openings as small as a dime,” says Dr. Janet KintzEarly, a Ph.D. Urban Entomologist and advisor to EarthKind®. “Prevention starts with sealing up entry points and removing food sources. If you spot even minor evidence of activity, take action immediately—rodents reproduce quickly, and the health risks aren’t worth the delay.”

Simple Steps to Prevent an Infestation:

Seal cracks and crevices around doors, windows, and foundations

Store food in airtight containers

Eliminate clutter and nesting materials indoors and out

Keep garbage in tightly sealed bins and remove pet food overnight

Use scent-based deterrents in areas prone to activity, like garages and attics

Seeds and transplanting tips

Before planting seedlings must be hardened off. Move to an unshaded cold frame or leave them under a covered porch or patio for a few days. Or cover them during nighttime with newspaper or a light sheet.

When transferring transplanted seedlings either from a garden nursery or seeds started indoors, make sure the weather conditions are favorable before planting outdoors.

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Dectes stem borer adults are emerging

By Justin McMechan - Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist, Thales Rodrigues da Silva - MSc Graduate Student

We observed the first emergence of Dectes stem borer adults (Figure 1) on June 6 in Lancaster County, very similar to last year’s timing of June 10 in Cass County. These beetles emerge from last year’s soybean fields but don’t move into this year’s crop right away. It typically takes seven to 14 days before they begin laying eggs in the current season’s soybean. In fact, egg laying last year started about 10 days after first adult emergence.

With adult emergence underway, we often get questions about when and whether or not we should apply insecticides for Dectes stem borer. Dr. Robert Wright, who recently retired from the UNL Department of Entomology, led over a decade of research

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on this pest. Studies at the South Central Ag Lab found that Dectes adult activity in soybean peaks in early July. We’re currently tracking adult activity in soybean and we will be applying insecticides as part of a North Central Soybean Research Programfunded project.

Management Considerations

Dectes can be tricky to manage. Yield losses from larval feeding alone are inconsistent and without lodging, the damage often doesn’t affect yields much. A multi-state study from 2007 to 2011 found that even with an 84% reduction in infested plants, yields differed by just 0.7 bu/acre.

Our 2024 Nebraska study, funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board, showed a

similar range of response, from no yield loss to as much as 10 bu/acre. The highest yield impacts occurred in areas with high soybean gall midge pressure. Stay tuned for this year’s results.

The more serious risk from Dectes comes later in the season. As larvae prepare for winter, they girdle the inside base of the stem. This weakens the plant and makes it more likely to lodge if strong winds or storms hit near harvest.

Scouting and Harvest Planning

August is a great time to scout for Dectes. Look for a wilting or dead trifoliate in an otherwise healthy plant along field borders. Splitting the stem can confirm whether larvae are present. Fields with 50% or more infested stems should be prioritized for early harvest to reduce lodging losses.

Early planting, short-maturity varieties, and 30-inch row spacing all increase the risk of lodging. Narrower rows may reduce that risk.

A Note on Insecticides

There are currently no economic thresholds for Dectes stem borer. Although insecticides may kill some adults, their effectiveness in reducing larval infestations is limited, likely because of the beetles’ extended activity and egg-laying period. Applying multiple insecticide treatments often doesn’t improve returns and may increase the risk of secondary pest outbreaks, such as spider mites or soybean aphids, due to the reduction of natural enemy populations.

If you’re considering an insecticide to control Dectes stem borer adults, keep in mind that killing adults doesn’t always lead to fewer larvae later in the season. This is likely because Dectes beetles remain active and continue laying eggs over a long period, making it difficult to time applications for effective control.

Figure 1. Dectes stem borer adult collected from an emergence cage in last year’s soybean field.

Alfalfa insect update

By Samantha Daniel, UNL

One of the most significant insect pests of alfalfa in Nebraska is alfalfa weevil. Plant injury from alfalfa weevil feeding damage appears as pinholes in the terminal leaves, with leaves becoming skeletonized as feeding severity increases. Larvae are 1.5mm to 8.5mm long with a black head, wrinkled green body, and white stripes along the back and sides and will curl into a C-shape when disturbed. Scouting for alfalfa weevil up to and even during the first cutting can help to mitigate economic losses. While you are actively cutting your alfalfa field, take some time to inspect your equipment for larvae. Threshold tables can be found on the CropWatch website.

Aphids are another insect pest of alfalfa, and while they are considered a secondary pest, populations sometimes surpass treatment guidelines. Heavily infested plants will be discolored and stunted. There are four species of aphid found in Nebraska alfalfa: pea aphid, cowpea aphid, blue alfalfa aphid, and spotted alfalfa aphid. Descriptions and speciesspecific thresholds can be found on the CropWatch website.

A variety of insecticides are labeled for alfalfa insect pest control, including pyrethroids and products containing indoxacarb (such as Steward). Pyrethroids are more harmful to natural enemies, while indoxacarb is more selective and may help to maintain beneficial insect populations. This can be especially important in fields with high aphid populations as they have a wide range of natural enemies including lady beetles, lacewings, and syrphid fly larvae. When alfalfa reaches 50% or more bud stage, it may be more profitable to cut the alfalfa early rather than treat it.

Brushing away bovine stress

By Bret Lanz, Technology Development Institute

A new product that reduces animal stress could be the key to increasing artificial insemination rates in cattle. Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute, or TDI, collaborated with faculty in the College of Agriculture to design, produce and test the product.

Assistant Professor Nicholas Wege Dias and Professor Sandy Johnson, both in K-State’s animal science and industry department, specialize in beef cattle reproduction and have been involved in several projects designed to improve the fertility of the animal. Their initial studies indicated that acclimating the animals to their surroundings during the artificial insemination, or AI, process reduced animal stress and increased reproduction by up to 10%.

“Once we saw the benefits of getting animals acquainted with the facilities on AI success, we began to think about adoptable strategies to promote positive reinforcement during handling,” Dias said. “You often see cow brushes and how the animals enjoy rubbing against them on social media, so we thought, ‘Let’s come up with a way to place a cow brush in the alleyway so the animals can enjoy themselves while they wait their turn.’”

Their goal was to position a brush in the center of the alley just below bovine head height so the animals could rub their backs with the brush to reduce stress.

While Dias and Johnson had an idea of what they wanted, they needed help to design and fabricate a device that could be installed on any type or size of chute and that was able to withstand the force generated by the animals. Dias and Johnson contacted the Technology Development Institute to discuss the idea and determine if the institute could help develop a prototype product for testing.

TDI engineers and interns began working on various designs that could easily be installed on chutes made of wood, pipe or any number of materials. The device had to be adjustable in height due to differences in wall and animal heights, and it also needed to be able to adjust to sloped alley walls. TDI developed various concept designs and, with feedback from Dias and Johnson, finalized the design.

The team then fabricated two prototype devices that are currently being used by Dias and his students to determine the effectiveness of having such devices included during the AI process.

“We always enjoy working with industry experts who can clearly define their needs,” said Bret Lanz, commercialization director of the Technology Development Institute. “This simplifies our job to create a product specification and design a new product that meets the needs of our customers. Nicholas and his team have been great to work with, and we are hopeful that this new tool will help to aid in their studies and perhaps have a large impact on the cattle industry.”

Montana snowpack melts resulting in well below snowpack

Springtime conditions felt almost summerlike with warmer than normal May temperatures. The seasonal transition spurred rapid snowmelt across the state during May. Snowpack across Montana is around 50%-70% of median, well below normal for June 1. This is a drastic drop from May 1 where snowpack was largely 75%110% of median. Snowpack in the Bitterroot basin melted out especially rapidly, decreasing from around 75% of median on May 1 to around 25% of median on June 1. The Rocky Mountain Front snowpack remains well below normal, with all SNOTEL sites in the Sun-Teton-Maris basin melted out. One exception is the Bighorn Mountains, where June 1 snowpack in associated basins is 75%-120% of median.

“SNOTEL sites across Montana reached peak Snow Water Equivalent or SWE accumulation from late March to early May. The timing of peak SWE varied across the state from near normal to a few weeks early,” said Florence Miller, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Hydrologist. “Most SNOTELs accumulated between 70%-120% of normal peak snowpack. Warmer temperatures in May caused the snowpack to melt quicker than normal, which subsequently reduced snowpack percentages drastically.”

May precipitation varied across the state and fell mostly as rain. Only higher elevation SNOTELs recorded measurable snowfall. Northwest Montana had below normal May precipitation of around 55%75% of median. Southwest and central Montana received near to above normal May precipitation at 90%-125% of median. The Gallatin, Upper Yellowstone, and Bighorn River basins had slightly below normal May precipitation of around 80% of median. The Tongue and Powder River basins experienced above normal May precipitation at 110%-125% of median. Scattered May totals bring water year to date precipitation to near normal (90%-100%) across most of the state. Northwest Montana has below normal water year to date precipitation, recording 70%-90% of normal conditions for this time of year. “The SunTeton-Marias River basins are in a difficult situation for snowpack and precipitation. The basin only received 59% of its normal monthly precipitation in May and dropped to its lowest water year total on record,” said Miller. Much of the Rocky Mountain Front is in category D2 Severe Drought, with very low soil moisture levels in the 0-2 percentile.

May streamflow matched snowpack and precipitation patterns. Several parts of the state, such as the tributaries to the Yellowstone, experienced above normal streamflow during May that was spurred by the rapid snowmelt. Regions with lower snowpack and precipitation totals, such as the Sun-Teton-Marias, experienced lower than normal streamflow for the month of May.

“Fast snowmelt and earlier

pack statewide. This potentially corresponds to less available water later in the summer,” said Miller. “Water supply forecasts decreased from 70%-110% of normal streamflow forecasted for most of the state on May 1, to 50%-100% of streamflow forecasted on June 1.”

The Sun, Teton and Marias drainages are expected to produce extremely low runoff values ranging from around 35-60% of normal, assuming normal precipitation levels this spring-summer. The water supply forecasts for the Beaverhead and Bitterroot basins are also low, at below 50%-60% of median flows. When looking at water supply forecasts it is important to consider the full range of forecasts. Future weather will continue to determine the remainder of this year’s snowmelt and runoff season. A transition to cooler and wetter weather could help the remaining snow melt more gradually and improve the forecasted summer streamflow. A continuation of the warm and dry weather could continue this spring’s rapid runoff and further diminish the summer streamflow outlooks.

A full report of conditions on June 1 can be found in the monthly Water Supply Outlook Report available on the Montana Snow Survey website. In addition, real-time snow survey data can be found at nrcs.usda.gov/montana/snow-survey.

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Compensatory growth in yearlings in the summer

By Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist

Some producers think of compensatory gain as “free gain.” If you’re buying calves in the spring for summer grazing, that might be a reasonable perspective. The lighter weight “green” calves you buy gain more on the same feed resource compared to calves that were previously on a higher plane of nutrition and gaining at a higher rate before purchase. However, for retained calves, the economics shift. The higher cost of winter gain, due to spreading fixed costs like forage, labor, and equipment over fewer pounds of gain, may not be fully offset by increased summer growth rates.

When comparing a target winter gain of 2.0 lb/day vs. 0.8 lb/day by feeding more supplement on corn residue, the extra feed cost averaged about $50 per head over an 18-year period. However, even after compensatory summer gain, the calves with the higher winter rate of gain were still about 70 lb heavier in September. Looking at 18 years of market data, targeting higher winter gains was more profitable in 17 out of

18 years when selling summer yearlings in September. On average, the return was $28 per head higher for calves gaining 2.0 lb/ day in the winter rather than 0.8 lb/day. This suggests that for retained calves, targeting higher winter gains is a better economic strategy than relying on summer compensatory growth.

But does higher winter growth require lower summer stocking rates? Not necessarily. It is often assumed that lighter calves consume less forage, but calves that are lighter due to reduced winter growth compensate by consuming more relative to their body weight in the spring and summer. Research shows that they end up eating the same dry matter per day as heavier calves. As a result, stocking rates (head per acre) should remain the same, regardless of winter growth rate and thus, body weight differences. Bottomline, targeting summer compensation may not be the most profitable option when retaining calves and selling as yearlings.

Experts urge safety when driving off-road vehicles

As Kansas’ weather warms, the use of off-road vehicles becomes more common on the state’s farms and ranches.

Tawnie Larson, the program manager for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, said All-Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, and Utility Task Vehicles, UTVs, are “essential tools on farms and ranches.”

“But they also pose significant risks if not used properly,” Larson said.

She notes that Ag Injury News, a database that compiles agriculture-related incidents from public news sources, reports that over the last several years in Kansas, at least 10 people have died in ATV and UTV crashes.

The majority of fatalities in the Sunflower State involve men between the ages of 55 and 83 using ATVs for work. Some fatalities have involved passengers during recreational use.

Nationally, Purdue University reports that more than 101,000 people are treated annually for ATV or UTV injuries, and approximately 10,000 are hospitalized each year. More than 600 people die each year as a result of an ATV or UTV accident.

“UTVs are generally considered more safe than ATVs due to their design,” Larson said. “UTVs include roll bars, seat belts and speed governors. UTVs are larger, heavier and typically operate at lower speeds, making them ideal for farm work, such as transporting tools, feed and even calves.”

Larson shared some safety measures for UTVs:

Never allow human passengers to ride in the cargo area.

Always wear seatbelts.

Plan routes carefully, avoiding obstacles, washouts and rocks.

Stay within the recommended speed limits and operate with caution.

ATVs are often used for recreation, as well as agricultural work, including checking livestock and spraying weeds. Larson said they are more often involved in crashes compared to UTVs; most fatalities on ATVs are linked to excessive speed and inattentive driving.

She notes that common ATV hazards include underage operators, extra passengers (ATVs are usually designed for a single rider), rough terrain, and roadway collisions.

Safety measures for ATVs include:

Wear protective gear, including a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves and pants, and proper footwear (boots, not sandals or flip-flops).

Follow age guidelines. The minimum age to operate an ATV on public land and roads in Kansas is 16. “Remember that not all children have the strength, skill or judgment needed to operate an ATV,” Larson said.

Larson also suggests that parents, grandparents and other guardians require children to take a training class to learn proper handling techniques; and to understand how shifting weight forward or backward is helpful in certain conditions.

More information is available online at https://atvsafety. org, or by contacting Larson by email (tawnie@ksu.edu) or phone (785-532-2976).

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Resurrection Millet - A plant that revives after severe drought

ARS Office of Communications, Media Relations

A new discovery by scientists could help protect crop production and reduce plant mortality due to drought, which accounts for a quarter of U.S. crop production losses. Water is essential for plants to grow, reproduce, and survive. Drought causes severe stress in plants and can significantly reduce yearly production or kill entire crops. Drought also increases costs for farmers, who must invest in irrigation to keep their crops alive. These impacts and costs result in reduced food supply and higher food prices for consumers.

After years of studying the mechanisms and effects of drought in plants, scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Colorado State University (CSU) identified how plants die during drought and how some of the effects of drought can be reversed. They also discovered a plant species (a wild millet relative) with remarkable resiliency to extreme drought, demonstrating an ability to resurrect after acute drought episodes.

During severe drought stress, the soil and atmosphere become so arid that liquid water inside the plant changes into water vapor gas. This process, known as embolism formation, results in gas bubble blockages within the water-conducting tissues of the plant. These embolism blockages reduce the transport of water and minerals from the soil [roots] to the leaves, impairing essential processes for the growth, reproduction, and survival of plants.

Embolism formation was poorly understood in plants because embolisms could not be seen using the types of instrumentation and methodology used in past studies. The team of scientists at ARS and CSU used an innovative method that involved scanning entire plants with a type of laboratory Xray machine. The machine allowed them to see water movement through segments of the plant, including stems, roots, and leaves, which enabled the scientists to detect these gas bubble formations, or embolisms, throughout the plant.

“We have discovered that a wild millet relative is capable of reversing embolism formation in the water-conducting tissues,” said Sean Gleason, ARS research plant physiologist at the Water Management and Systems Research Unit in Colorado. “We call this plant resurrection millet because if the plant is watered even after nearly 100% of the tissue has been embolized, the plant is able to refill these embolisms and recover. This study provides the first direct evidence of complete and functional stem xylem ‘refilling’ following severe drought stress. This breakthrough challenges long-standing assumptions about plant hydraulic recovery and has significant implications for crop resilience in water-limited environments.”

Troy Ocheltree, a co-author and collaborator with the CSU Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, explained the important implications this study has for both crop improvement and natural grasslands.

“The results suggest that even if plants become severely stressed, they may be able to recover in the same year of the drought and begin growing again,” he said. “This ability impacts the yield of crop production and the amount of forage available for cattle.”

Researchers seek to leverage new technology to transfer the resiliency found in this millet species to other crop species such as wheat, corn, and rice, thus protecting U.S. agriculture.

Cloned beef

Has any of the milk or beef you’ve consumed come from the offspring of a cloned animal? According to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), “Food products from (cloned animals) offspring are almost certainly in the food supply.” Are they safe? According to FSANZ, “The U.S.

Food and Drug Administration, European Food Safety Authority, and Japan Food Safety Commission…have concluded that food products from cloned animals and their offspring are as safe as food products from conventionally bred animals.”

Barnyard millet. Getty image.

ARS scientist Sean Gleason and the “resurrection” millet. Photo by CSU Jared Stewart.

Barnyard millet. Getty image.

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So much for souffle. I found out today, Lord, it’s best to eat it when it’s hot and fresh–not the next day after letting it sit in the oven for 24 hours. At least the oven was on a timer, so the souffle didn’t burn to a crisp. I need to walk around with an alarm clock.

It’s Fair season: Keeping animals cool at county shows

K-State Research and Extension news service

ABOUT THE EVENT

Calves to Cure DMD is an all-class cattle sale organized by Paul and Laura Heaton, whose son Grant lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Donated cattle benefit research to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Sellers can bring in a calf, yearling, cow etc. and donate either all of their check for that animal, a set dollar amount, or a percentage of the sale. All donations are tax deductible. Over the last six years, the event has raised more than $140K for CureDuchenne, a nonprofit organization, committed to improving the lives of everyone affected by the disease through accelerating research to find the cure, improving care and empowering the Duchenne community.

It’s county fair season in Kansas, and while local events are a great way to enjoy the sun and time with friends, heat can be an invisible fun bandit for livestock.

Kansas State University beef extension veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff said it’s important for youth showing livestock to watch animals closely and know the symptoms of heat stress.

All animals – as well as people -- can experience heat stress, which occurs when the body cannot get rid of excessive heat, either through sweating or other means.

Tarpoff said cattle handle heat differently than other animals. In particular, they struggle with the ability to sweat, which makes them reliant on getting rid of heat through their respiratory system, such as breathing the heat out. Cattle will accumulate heat during the day, then dissipate the heat load during the night when it’s cooler.

“It takes 4-6 hours to return cattle to regular temperature,” Tarpoff said.

He added that one way to tell if a show steer or heifer is affected by heat stress is to look for unusual behavior from that animal. Symptoms may include reduced feed intake, increased time standing and crowding around water. In the show barn, animals may also display an increase in breathing rate.

One way to keep animals cool is to make sure barns get plenty of ventilation. Tarpoff said that heat stress mitigation strategies should be planned with cattle comfort in mind, and each strategy will be unique to the housing situation. Other factors to consider include whether the animal has its winter or summer hair coat; hair color; and past health issues.

Tarpoff said youth should consider reducing animal handling during heat intervals, and having those handling events completed by 10 a.m.

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“Weighing, processing, sampling and shipping cattle are all necessary tasks but they should be strategically conducted during the very early morning hours to ensure cattle comfort,” Tarpoff said.

Another way to avoid heat stress is to provide plenty of water to cattle. Tarpoff said the amount of water cattle need doubles as the heat increases from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tarpoff also encourages youth to consider moisture levels from the washing areas. Some locations can artificially increase the humidity and cause unneeded stress on livestock.

“Monitoring conditions and preparing for heat stress is a must when caring for your animals,” he said.

The Kansas Mesonet, a network of Kansas weather stations which has offices on the K-State campus in Manhattan, provides an Animal Comfort Index to help producers and youth monitor care for livestock. The online service is free to the public.

Capture the Sunset Week

Date When Celebrated: Third full week of July

Sunsets are one of nature’s prettiest pictures. Not every night produces a brilliant tapestry of color at sunset. The conditions have to be just right. When a brilliant sunset does occur, it can take your breath away. So, it’s only fair and proper, that we take a moment to show recognition and appreciation for glorious sunsets, and to snap a few pictures to capture the moment.

The sun sets every night. But, many nights it is hidden by clouds. Some nights, the sun just sets into the horizon, with just the reddening of the sun. Other nights, clouds keep the sunset from view. As a result, we need a full week of watching sunsets, in hopes of catching one or two brilliant, magnificent sunsets. When this happens, grab your camera and capture the moment. Then, share it with others on social media. Or, frame it for your living room!

Sunset watching tip for the guys: Watching a beautiful sunset with the young lady of your dreams can create a magical moment. Make sure to tell her that while the sunset is indeed beautiful, it is not nearly as beautiful as her.

Nick and JayDee Lindeen for providing the feed for the donated cow Beef donated by the Heaton Family | Cut and wrap provided by Cowboy Meat Co. Shipping provided by Billings

Viruses from mites are cause of recent honey bee colony collapses

By Autumn Canaday, ARS

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) are helping American beekeepers solve the mystery behind a widespread honey bee colony collapse and its debilitating effects on U.S. agriculture. Researchers have submitted a manuscript to a scientific journal for peer review based on our research findings that identified high levels of deformed wing virus A and B and acute bee paralysis in all recently USDAsampled bees.

These viruses are responsible for recent honey bee colony collapses and losses across the U.S. Since the viruses are known to be spread by parasitic Varroa destructor (Varroa) mites, ARS scientists screened the mites from collapsed colonies and found signs of resistance to amitraz, a critical miticide used widely by beekeepers. This miticide resistance was found in virtually all collected Varroa, underscoring the need for new parasitic treatment strategies.

“Our nation’s food supply thrives, and is sustained, by the work of our pollinators,” said Acting ARS Administrator Joon Park. “USDA scientists continue to research major stressors and new parasite treatment strategies, which will help reduce the agricultural challenge presented by the Varroa mites in honey bee colonies.”

In January 2025, commercial beekeepers began reporting severe losses in commercially managed operations. As losses unfolded, it was evident that over 60% of

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commercial beekeeping colonies had been lost since the prior summer, representing 1.7 million colonies and an estimated financial impact of $600 million.

ARS scientists collected colony and bee samples from across California and other western states in February 2025, prior to almond pollination.

The USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, analyzed the parasites and pathogens from all samples and focused on individual bees exhibiting behavior known to precede death by minutes or hours. Viruses were indicated in both pooled samples from surviving colonies, and in individual bees showing behavioral morbidities.

“While viruses are a likely end-stage cause of colony death, these results do not rule out the importance of other long known challenges to honey bees,” said ARS Research Leader Dr. Judy Chen.

As the primary managed pollinator, the Apis mellifera, is an integral component of agriculture, providing key pollination services for a wide variety of crops and over one-third of U.S. produce. The value of crops that require bee pollination is estimated to be more than $20 billion annually in the U.S. and $387 billion globally.

ARS researchers will continue to screen honey bees and their colonies for other known stressors and determine the best way to mitigate these stressors, mite infection, and subsequent colony loss.

##### 1975 – Mcdonald’s opens its first drive thru.

Charolais Cattle

Written by Alex for Cattle Breeds

Charolais cattle aren’t just the second-most prevalent cattle in France after Holsteins; they are one of the oldest French cattle breeds. They also lay claim to significant impact on the beef industry and production processes in North America, while also being second in the country.

But how did they get here in the first place?

Where Does The Charolais Breed Come From?

Charolais cattle hail from west-central to southeastern France in the Charolles and Nievre provinces. The cattle are named for the Charolles province, where they were first reared before spreading to Nievre and other parts of the world.

The white cattle of France are believed to have been developed from cattle in the Charolles region through native cattle bred with some Shorthorn influence.

Legends have it that white cattle were present in the region as early as 878 AD, but Charolais cattle are mostly believed to have been developed in the 16th and 17th centuries.

French cattlemen have always selected cattle for size, muscling, power, and rapid growth—these characteristics featured in Charolais cattle, which the French used for meat, draft, and milk.

After a long period of concentration in the Charolles province, Charolais cattle found their way to the Nievre province in 1773 after the French Revolution. Claude Mathieu brought his herd of Charolais cattle to Nievre, where they thrived and became known as Nivernais cattle.

In 1840, Count Charles de Bouille established an influential Charolais herd in Charolles, with which he practiced selective breeding and later founded the first Charolais herd book in 1864.

In 1882, other cattle breeders in Charolles also started a herd book. The two herd management organizations were harmonized into one in 1919. It wasn’t after the First and Second World Wars that Charolais cows and bulls found their way to other parts of the world from their native France.

Jean Pugibet, a Mexican industrialist and cattle rancher, brought the first French cattle to Mexico shortly after the end of the First World War.

The first Charolais cattle brought to the US in 1934 came from Mexico and bred rapidly as cattlemen fell in love with Charolais bulls and cows for their large size, muscling, and consistent conformation.

The American Charbray Breeders Association and the American Charolais Breeders Association were established in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Another Charolais organization, the International Charolais Association, was established by livestock farmers who used cows of other beef breeds to make Charolais cattle through successive generations of compounded Charolais blood.

The American Charolais Breeders Association and the International Charolais Association merged in 1957 to form the American-International Charolais Association (AICA).

The Pan-American Charolais Association that registered its white cattle by performance instead of Charolais genetic content joined the AICA in 1964.

In 1967, all the Charolais-based breeds in the US came under one comprehensive breed registry when the American Charbray Breeders Association joined hands with the AICA.

Importations from France brought Charolais cattle to other countries such as Canada, the USA (1934), Brazil (1950), Argentina (1955), South Africa (1955), the UK, and Australia (pure French semen imported in 1969).

The Charolais breed is now present in over 68 countries worldwide, with Mexico and the Czech Republic having some of the highest heads of the breed.

The official breed name is Charolais. They are a white color or creamwhite coloring. Some Charolais cattle are red or black due to crossbreeding.

They have a short, broad head, pink muzzle and pale hooves. Charolais are horned but some are genetically polled. Calves weigh an average of 92 pounds for heifers and 100 pounds for bulls.

A mature cow weighs an average of 1500-2600 pounds and is 53 to 57 inches tall.

A mature bull weighs an average of 2200-3600 pounds and is also 53 to 57 inches tall. The gestation period I 9 months with first calving at 2 years and 9 months.

The best time to slaughter is 2 years with an average carcass weight of 850 pounds.

The expected lifespan of a Charolais is 15-20 years with a productive lifespan of 8 to 9 years.

Charolais are known for their excellent maternal instincts, good temperament and calving ease. Bulls can be aggressive.

They adapt easily to feeding systems, either intensive or grass-based. Charolais have long reproductive years for bulls (up to 8 or 9 years before retiring), have lean carcasses with high-quality meat.

Their long, heavily muscled bodies have excellent natural weight gain for their age (efficient feedlot conversion), and are low maintenance. Charolais’ weakness is they are reach relative late maturity, although they grow rapidly and have higher than average feed demands.

Charolais show hardiness in all climates.

What Is So Special About Charolais Cattle?

Charolais cattle are known for their muscularity, a crucial feature for breeders or farmers raising cattle for meat. Charolais are kept as beef cattle rather than dairy cows because their milk production is not as impressive as that of other breeds of cattle.

Charolais cows and bulls are also famed for their excellent growth capabilities, even though they are relatively late maturing. This growth ability is attributable to their high efficiency at converting feed to live weight.

Besides the muscularity and excellent growth capacity, Charolais cattle are also known for their exceptional ability as an all-purpose crossbreeding animal to improve other cattle breeds.

Purebred Charolais cattle are bred with other breeds of cattle to enhance the growth, muscularity, ruggedness, and size of other animals. They are used to produce hybrids such as:

CharBray (Charolais x Brahman)

Brazilian Canchim (Charolais x Indu-Brazil)

Charford (Charolais x Hereford) – US

Char-Swiss (Charolais x Brown Swiss) – US

Chargrey (Charolais x Murray Grey) – Australia

Wokalup (Charolais x Brahman bulls mated with Friesian x Hereford or Angus cows) – Australia

Mandalong Special ( Charolais, British White, Chianina, Brahman, and polled Shorthorn) – Australia

Why Should I Raise Charolais Cattle On My Farm?

Charolais cattle are highly adaptive in all climates, owing to their white color, which helps makes them heat tolerant because the light color reflects rays of the sun.

The coat enhances the hardiness of Chalorais cattle in different climates. In winter, the cattle have long and thick coats, while the coats are sleeker and shorter in summer.

You can make decent money selling the high-quality beef of fastgrowing, low-maintenance Chalorais steers and bulls.

You can also make money using Charolais bulls for artificial insemination to crossbreed them with other breeds of cattle for other farmers seeking herd improvement. A healthy bull can serve cows for up to 8-9 years before retiring.

The rugged hooves of Chalorais cattle enable them to tackle rough terrains, a useful quality if your farm’s terrain is rocky/mountainous and you raise your cows on the range.

2023 John Deere 8R 340 Signature Edition, IVT with RHR, ILS, full GPS, 6 SCVs, 380/90R54 rear tires with duals, 380/80R38 front tires with duals, 291 hours. 6 year/4000 hour extended PowrGard Warranty. Stock #90254 $433,000

(3) 2024 John Deere 561M round balers, heavy duty level 4 with grease banks, flotation tires, MegaWide pickups, cam clutch, net wrap, scale & moisture sensor. Call For Pricing (2) 2024 John Deere 561M 1000 PTO with cam clutch, net wrap, flotation tires, moisture sensor, bale scale, grease bank.$68,000

2024 John Deere 561M round baler, heavy duty level 4 with grease bank, flotation tires, MegaWide pickup, cam clutch, net wrap, moisture sensor. Call For Pricing

2024 John Deere 561M 1000 PTO with cam clutch, net wrap, flotation tires, moisture sensor and grease bank. $65,000

2023 John Deere 560M round baler, 1000 PTO, net wrap, MegaWide

2023 John Deere 8R 310 MFWD, IVT, air seat, cab suspension, right hand reverser, 60 gpm hydraulic pump, 6 SCVs, 480/80R 50 rear duals, 420/85R 34 front duals, 22 front weights, 1500 lb. rear weights, 831 hours. PowrQuad Warranty till 3-2029 or 4000 hours. Stock #89857.

$398,000

2022 John Deere 8R 310 IVT with RHR, ILS, full GPS, 6 SCVs, 480/80R50 rear tires with duals, 420/85R34 front tire with duals, 1257 hours. 6 year/4000 hour extended PowrGard Warranty. Stock #90255.

$373,000

2022 John Deere 7R 290 cab tractor, MFWD, IVT transmission, Command Pro, air seat & cab suspension, triple link suspension, front & rear fenders, Ultimate Visibility package. PowrGard Warranty good till 10-23-2029 or 5000 hours. Which ever comes first. 532 hours. Stock #91693

$328,000

2024 John Deere 6155M cab tractor MFWD with 640R loader & grapple, 20 speed PowrQuad with left hand reverser, AutoTrac ready less receiver, 3 SCV, beacon and work lights, triple link front suspension, mechanical cab suspension, Panorama roof, 2-450# weights each side, liquid ballast. Factory Warranty good till 7-25-2026 or 2000 hours, PowrGard Warranty good till 7-23-2030 or 4000 hours. Stock #93779, 233 hours. $215,000

2024 John Deere 6155M cab tractor MFWD with 640R loader and grapple, 20 speed PowrQuad with left hand reverser, AutoTrac ready less receiver, 3 SCV, beacon and work lights, triple link front suspension, mechanical cab suspension, Panorama roof, 2-450# weights each side and liquid ballast. Factory Warranty good till 7-25-2026 or 2000 hours, PowrGard Warranty good till 7-23-2030 or 4000 hours. Stock #93780, 403 hours.

$215,000

2024 John Deere 6155M cab tractor, MFWD with 640R loader and grapple, 20 speed PowrQuad with left hand reverser, AutoTrac ready less receiver, 3 SCVs, beacon & work lights, triple link front suspension, mechanical cab suspension, Panorama roof, 2450# weights each side & ballast. Factory Warranty good till 4-6-2026 or 2000 hours. PowrQuad Warranty good till 4-4-2030 or 4000 hours. 734 hours. Stock #93179. $200,000

2023 John Deere 6110M cab tractor, MFWD, 24 speed PowrQuad with reverser, 3 SCVs, 30 gpm hydraulic pump, rack & pinion rear axle, cast wheels, 3 function loader ready, mechanical cab suspension & Panorama roof. Factory Warranty good till 4-182026, Powertrain Warranty good till 4-17-2030 or 4000 hours. Stock #93207.

$142,500

2023 John Deere 6110M cab tractor, MFWD, 24 speed PowrQuad with reverser, 3 SCVs, 30 gpm hydraulic pump, rack & pinion rear axle, cast wheels, 3 function loader ready, mechanical cab suspension & Panoram roof. Factory Warranty good till 4-182026, Powertrain Warranty good will 4-17-2030 or 4000 hours. 502 hours. Stock #93208.

$140,000

2018 New Holland T6.170 cab, MFD, 16 speed, Dual Command transmission, 845TL loader & grapple, 888 hours. Stock #86681.

$126,000

New Holland T6.165 cab tractor, MFD, 16 speed Powershift transmission, 3 SCVs, 855LA 2 function loader 1220 hours. Stock #92103.

$99,000

2015 New Holland T7.210 T4A MFD, 165 hp, Powershift, 3 SCVs, 2380 hours. Stock #91852.

$120,000

2023 John Deere 5090E cab tractor, MFWD, 12/12 transmission with left hand reverser, loader ready, air seat, 3 SCVs, approximately 700 hours. Factory warranty good till 10-2025, Powertrain good till 10-2028 or 3500 hours. Stock #91752. $68,500

2022 John Deere 4066R cab tractor with 440 R loader, air seat, 2 rear SCVs, Beacon light and rear work lights. 8 hours. $65,000

& 80624. Each.

slip clutch, front & rear chain enclosures. Stock #92369. $1600

Woods TK72 72” finish mower. Stock #84419 $4600

2008 John Deere X-300R mower, rear discharge with bagger, 42” deck, Hydrostatic transmission, 313 hours. Stock #93764. $2000

2020 Frontier WC1205 wood chipper, 540 PTO, 5” capacity, 35-95 hp, like new. Stock #92065. $6400

Frontier AF11E 72” front blade with John Deere 300/400/500 mounts, never used. Stock #92095. $2800

PICKUP FOR SALE

An ode to the infamous dandelion

By Abiya Saeed, Extension Horticulture Associate Specialist II, Montana State University Introduction

Dandelions, one of the most famous weedy plants, can be a bit of a polarizing subject: some love them, some hate them, but many often find themselves somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. Some people enjoy eating these infamous plants, while others embrace them as a source of nectar and pollen for pollinators in urban landscapes.

Dandelions

Dandelions (Genus: Taraxacum) are a widespread genus in the Aster family and contain 250 species worldwide. The two species most common in Montana are T. officinale (common dandelion) and T. erythrospermum (red seeded dandelion). These species originate from Eurasia but have since become naturalized in many parts of the world, through intentional and unintentional introductions. Dandelions are short-lived perennial plants that can reproduce sexually (through seeds) and asexually (through the roots), can withstand a wide variety of climates and soil conditions, produce abundant seeds, and thrive in disturbed areas: all of which can contribute to the fact that dandelions are so prolific and widespread.

Managing Dandelions

Although some embrace the odd dandelion speckled in a lawn, large swaths of dandelions in the place of what used to be turfgrass is a problem that usually extends beyond dandelions themselves. One of the best ways to combat dandelions in a turf lawn setting is to make sure your turfgrass is healthy and able to form dense coverage on the soil.

Healthy turf can often outcompete weeds that opportunistically take advantage of open spaces for establishment. Addressing soil compaction, nutrient needs, and responsibly caring for your turf lawn all play a role in reducing dandelions. For flower beds or vegetable gardens, mulches can be used to reduce dandelions. Mechanical removal is also very effective for controlling dandelions, depending on the scale of the issue. Using your favorite tap-root removal tool (such as the aptly named “dandelion fork”), you can remove plants without too much exertion. Pulling out as much of the root as possible will offer the best control, as dandelions are less likely to regenerate from smaller root fragments. Several herbicide options are available for dandelion control. Two,4-D, dicamba, and MCPP (commonly found in ‘weed and feed’ products) can be effective in lawn settings. Spot-treating individual plants is usually more effective than broadcast application across larger areas. Herbicides with the active ingredient glyphosate are most effective for long-term control of dandelions if a plant is cut or mowed and the herbicide is carefully painted on the fresh cut, which can facilitate movement into the root system. Late summer and early fall are the best time to control dandelions. This is because these plants are moving resources from the foliage to the root system to prepare for winter, which can also help to transport systemic herbicides to their roots and/or deplete their root systems of energy for more effective and longer-lasting control. Spring management (before flowering and seed production) can also be effective. Always read and follow label directions, and if unsure, reach out to your Extension resources for assistance.

For more information on dandelions (including as a food source for people and/or pollinators), check out the Garden Professors Blog post: https://gardenprofessors.com/an-odeto-the-dandelion/

“Scientific” Theory: California Island

In the 1620s, respected British mapmaker Henry Briggs published the most detailed map of North America to date. It became one of the most respected New World maps in Europe and helped to promote a theory that prevailed for more than a century: that California was a long narrow island off the west coast of North America. (The error stemmed from Briggs trusting an earlier and equally wrong Spanish map). And even though it was soon contested by explorers to the region–and by the early 1700s was proven to be wrong by people who actually went overland to California–The “California is an island” theory persisted well into the 1700s. It was finally dealt a death blow in 1747 when King Ferdinand VI of Spain formally decreed that California was not an island.

CONSTRUCTION & ATTACHMENTS

2023 Bobcat S66 Skidsteer SJC, HVAC, vinyl suspension seat, auto ride control, reversing fan, PWR BOB, 7-pin, 2 sp, dual bucket position. stk# 29382. CALL (G)

2023 Bobcat S66 Skidsteer CLR side, HVAC, heat cloth air ride seat, auto ride control, reversing fan, PWR BOB, 7-pin, 2 sp, dual bucket position. stk# 29381 CALL (G)

2023 Bobcat E20 Mini Excavator. stk# 30610. $42,500 (G)

2022 Bobcat E42 Mini Excavator, 403 engine hours. stk# 29370. $69,900 (G)

2022 Bobcat E35 Mini Excavator, 33 hp, 414 engine hours. stk# 29371. $59,900 (G)

2022 Bobcat E35 Mini Excavator, 25 hp, 403 engine hours. stk# 29373. $55,900 (G)

2024 Case CX37 Mini Excavator, New trade-in! Excellent condition, 200 hours. stk# 32270. $54,900 (G)

2022 Bobcat T740 Compact Track Loader, 448 engine hours, Power Bobtach, 7 pin, dual direction bucket positioning, ride control, reverse fan. stk# 29376. $69,900 (G)

2023 Bobcat T64 Compact Track Loader. stk# 30714. Call (G)

2022 Bobcat T64 Compact Track Loader, cab AC/heat, Bobtach-bucket positioning, Touch display-rear cam, heat seat, auto ride-high flow-rev fan. stk# 29311 CALL (G)

2022 Bobcat MT100 Track Loader. stk# 29374. Call (G)

Case TV370B Compact Track Loader,

2 speed, HVAC, Joystick, 5-year extended warranty. Excellent condition, 570 hours. stk# 32264. $57,900 (G)

ROUND BALERS

2018 New Holland RB560 laced belts, ISO monitor, net only, hydraulic ramp, 1000 PTO with cut out clutch, bale count of 10,479. stk# 22242. $34,900 (L)

2018 New Holland RB560 ISO with monitor, endless belts, net/twine, 1000 PTO, 13,670 bales. stk# 22245. $39,000 (L)

2014 Case IH RB565 baler, ISO, laced belts, x-wide pickup, casters, roller windguard, large flotation tires, net/twine, 15,958 bales. stk# 22476. $35,900 (L)

2010 John Deere 568 baler, twine, 1000 PTO, roller windguard, large float tires, 19,886 bales. stk# 31510. $9900 (G)

2004 Hesston 956A baler, twine only. stk# 9821. $3490 (G)

Hesston 856A baler, 15,050 bales. stk# 22105 $4900 (G)

TILLAGE

2018 Gates 84-ft. Magnum 5 bar harrow, 26x9/16 teeth with carbides, hyd tine adjust., excellent condition. stk# 31435.$59,900 (G)

2023 NEW Maybridge 2M26 Harrow. stk# 31173. $15,900 (G)

2023 NEW Kirchner 8-ft plow, Cat II, 3-pt. unit with 16” sweeps. stk# 30802. (L) John Deere 18-in. planer, 14 pin control, carbide teeth, high flow. stk# 31623. $9900 (G)

TRACTORS

SPRAYERS

$69,000 (G)

2021 Bobcat 5600 Toolcat, Brand-new engine with 0 hours and warranty! Deluxe cab & high flow. stk# 32095.

2017 New Holland LM7.42 Elite telehandler, reverse fan, rear hyd couple, ext. tool box, continuous flow aux hyd, Bluetooth & aux radio, bucket/grapple, engine hours 3621. stk# 22833

$95,000 (L)

Bobcat HB980 breaker. stk# 24408.$10,036 (G)

2011 Bobcat 80 dozer blade. stk# 31340.

$5965 (G)

Quick Attach 68” angle blade. stk# 32129. (G)

Bobcat 68” angle broom. Good bristles. stk# 32128. (G)

2019 Bobcat 8B wood chipper, lightly used, skidsteer attachment, two side attachment, hydraulic drive. stk# 31613 (G)

Bobcat 74” bucket. stk# 29864. $1800 (G)

High Volume 66” bucket, skid steer attachment. stk# 29035. $650 (G)

Bobcat 18” bucket for excavator with bolt on teeth. stk# 22333. $399 (G)

2014 Bobcat drop hammer. stk# 17553.

$5900 (G)

Bobcat 15C auger. stk# 23364. $2750 (G)

Bobcat 6B landrake. stk# 29484. CALL

Bobcat 72” root grapple. stk# 29486. CALL

SWATHERS

2020 New Holland 260 swather, 411 engine hours, full GPS, DLX cab, suspended axle/ cab, single caster, LED lights, DLX mirrors, 419 header. stk# 25673. $189,000 (L)

2017 MacDon M1240 16-ft. R85 header, No GPS, draper ready, cap & rear axle suspension, LED lights, Bluetooth radio, steel conditioner, shear protection. Excellent condition. 749 engine hours. stk# 21654.$144,900 (G)

2007 John Deere 4995 swather with 16-ft. rotary head, flail conditioner, 3940 hours. stk# 24605. $57,000 (G)

2012 Case 7120 combine, full GPS, leather seat, yield and moisture, man tank, lateral tilt, standard rotor, small grain, 3271 hours. stk# 32235. $62,000 (G)

2009 Case 7120 combine, HID lights, cloth seat, standard rotor, small grain, 4889 hours. stk# 32232. $38,000 (G)

2009 Case 7120 combine, standard chopper, cloth seat, HID lights, standard rotor, small grain, 5170 hours. stk# 32233. $38,000 (G)

HEADERS

header, double knife, slow speed transport, 1000 PTO, CNH adapter, no pea auger. stk# 32419......$28,900 (L) 2015 MacDon PW8 pickup header, 16-ft. wide. stk# 31025. $27,900 (G)

2007 John Deere 9520 new tires, 4 remotes, buddy seat, Trimble GPS, hydraulic steering, 6219 engine hours. stk# 31467.$151,000 (L)

Steiger PT225 tractor. stk# 20554.$25,000 (G)

2000 New Holland TM150 tractor, Newly rebuilt engine, remanufactured transmission, SuperSteer, 112 bar axle, full PS, 184R38 60%, cab suspension, 22 front weights, wheel weights 540/1000 PTO, no loader. stk# 29559. $58,000 (G)

1988 Case 2096 tractor, DuAl 310 loader, 130 hp., 3 rear remotes, 10,871 engine hours. stk# 31858. $31,250 (L) Case 2090 tractor. stk# 15702. Call

2023 Bobcat CT5550E HST compact tractor. stk# 32344. CALL (G)

2022 Bobcat CT2025 HST tractor, 56 engine hours. stk# 29350. $24,000 (L)

MISCELLANEOUS

Chandler 20PTT-FT dry fertilizer sprayer 120”x96” wide hopper, 245 cubic ft. capacity, hydraulic motor-powered spinners. stk# 32701. $25,900

2023 NEW Morris 1400 Hayhiker, 14 round bale hay wagon. stk# 30270. $55,000 (G) Manitou 96” grapple bucket. stk# 22839. $5888 (G)

72” bucket. stk# 26358. $700 (G)

Howard M100 rotavator, 3-pt., 100” tiller. stk# 32199. $4000 (L)

2014 Danuser F8 3-pt. post hole digger with 12” bit. stk# 18366. $1200 (G)

2019 Danuser 200173 18” rock auger bit with 2” hex head. stk# 29016 $1800 (G) Danuser 48” pallet forks. stk# 29525.$1400 (G)

Woods Euro bale spear. stk# 23716. $600 (G) Woods RC6 3-pt. cutter. stk# 23995.$1800 (L)

Els Gofer Getter 700. stk# 32427. $1500 (L)

2022 Salt Dogg SHPE0750 Sand/Salt spreader, stainless steel auger and frame. stk# 32348. $2850 (G)

Lan SPL10 72” snowpush. stk# 32537. $1395 (G) MTD snowblower, 22” 2-stage blower, no reverser. $400 (G) Toro snowblower. stk# 5810. $225 (G)

RAKES

2022 NEW New Holland 1631 rake, 16 wheel high capacity, single side opening, 60”, rear tandems, rear hydraulic opening. stk# 28671. Payments as low as $5530/oac (G)

2022 New Holland 230 7 bar, hydraulic rake. stk# 28667. $49,900 (L)

2009 New Holland HT154 12 wheel rake, needs 2 new tires. stk# 31739. $9500 (G)

2013 Vermeer R2300 hydraulic 23-ft. rake. stk# 25560. $19,000 (L)

2008 Vermeer 2300 hydraulic basket rake. stk# 31803. $19,000 (L)

2006 Vermeer R2300 rake. stk# 8029. $12,900 (G)

Hesston 12 wheel rake. stk# 30919.$11,600 (L)

2011 Westfield MK13LP hopper. stk# 14046. $4500 (G)

Let us show you what we can do for your bottom line with this NH 310 sprayer fully equipped with a nearly new $230,000 Weed-It system! Spray weeds, not dirt.

2019 New Holland SP310F Newly Reduced Pricing, sprayer, 1200 gallon, with Weed-It System, Mono Boom, 120-ft., 5-way nozzles, auto rinse, ISO, Full GPS, 2960 hours. stk# 24818. $374,000 (G)

2014 New Holland 340 big square baler, new needles & knotters, density control, tandem axle, ISO Intellview, large 1000 PTO, roller chute, roller windguard, bale count of 11,402, complete work orders totaling $45,000. With a free one-season warranty. stk# 30935. $89,900 (G)

MOWERS

Grasshopper 928D rider, 61” deck with vac bagger, Kubota 3 cyl. 4 cycle liquid cooled. stk# 30874. $9900 (G)

Grasshopper 729BT Model 3461 deck, Ser # 6343237, power fold, T6 drive hydrostat transmission, wide stance, single fork tail wheel. stk# 15503. $8500 (G) Grasshopper 725G2 rider. stk# 7186.$4900 (G)

BALE PROCESSORS

2023 Vermeer BPX9010 R&S processor, 1000 PTO, right hand discharge. stk# 29565. $29,900 (L)

2009 Vermeer BPX8000 processor, round only. stk# 11189. $14,900 (G)

2016 Haybuster 2665 processor, round bale only, fine cut. stk# 32154. $18,000 (L)

2023

New trade-in!

If you enjoy reading the Trader’s Dispatch, and have found what you were looking for, please tell an advertiser.

COMBINE FOR SALE

2009 Case 7120 combine, lateral tilt, rock trap, Trimble EZ steer (no monitor), 900 front singles, large tube rotor, 4632 engine hours, 3407 separator hours. Always stored inside. Very clean and well maintained machine. Went through the shop this winter.

$48,000 Call or text (406) 390-4413, Joplin, MT

Experts encourage Beef Quality Assurance certification

By Madeline Drake, K-State Research and Extension news service

What started as a grassroots effort to reduce injection-site lesions in beef has evolved into one of the most comprehensive training programs in the cattle industry.

On their weekly Cattle Chat podcast, the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University explained how the Beef Quality Assurance program is still relevant and important today.

“Beef quality assurance was a producer-initiated program to decrease injection-site lesions in premium beef cuts,” K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers said. “Since then, beef quality assurance has kind of morphed and grown; it now covers many aspects of the cattle industry”

Over the years, BQA has expanded to include training on antimicrobial stewardship, animal handling, farm biosecurity, and proper injection protocols. The certification, available both online and through in-person sessions nationwide, promotes industry-wide consistency in animal care and food safety.

The benefits of BQA certification include consistency in safe meat and safer working conditions, as well as consistency between producers and employees working with beef cattle. Lubbers described the value gained for workers and producers from the certification.

“There are a lot of things that if I were just to stand next to somebody in a chute for 15 or 20 minutes, I’m going to forget a couple of things that they should know, but would have learned in the module,” Lubbers said. “I can be assured that the people on my operation that may be working with cattle in any way have already had that training whether I have explained it to them or not”

Another crucial benefit to getting BQA certified lies in maintaining consumer trust and building industry reputation. “I would love to say 99.95% of our producers are Beef Quality Assurance verified, because then it demonstrates a commitment from the entire industry to do things right,” Lubbers said.

The Beef Quality Assurance program is developed by producers, for producers. Its’ voluntary nature reflects the cattle industry’s dedication to continuous improvement and responsible practices. Whether a seasoned rancher or a new employee, BQA equips individuals with practical, sciencebased knowledge to improve cattle management and protect the reputation of U.S. beef worldwide.

To get BQA certified, visit www.bqa.org

Checking on alfalfa

By Ben Beckman, UNL

It’s time for the first cutting of alfalfa, and as you’re out in the fields, it’s a prime opportunity to spot any issues and plan corrective actions. But what should you be looking for?

First, check the color of your alfalfa. A uniform green is ideal. Dark green may indicate water stress, while yellow, purple, blue-green, or red hues, interveinal chlorosis, misshapen leaves, or patchy growth could signal nutrient deficiencies. While some issues are hard to fix mid-season, adjusting micronutrients like boron and sulfur can boost yields, especially in low organic matter soils. Confirm any deficiencies with soil or tissue samples.

Keep an eye out for diseases and insect pressure. If you see something unusual, step out and inspect the plants or use a sweep net—or even your ball cap—to catch pests. Make sure to clean it before putting it back on!

Watch for thinning areas in your stand. If interseeding alfalfa isn’t an option due to autotoxicity, consider warmseason annuals like teff for a summer yield boost while maintaining hay quality. For longer-term solutions, interseed with perennial forage grasses like orchardgrass during cooler months.

Finally, be vigilant for weedy patches. Problem plants like Canada thistle should be avoided or flagged for separate handling to control their spread. Note other weeds for future scouting and control.

Harvest time is perfect for field assessment. Look for standout spots and monitor for fertility issues, insects, weeds, and diseases. If stands are lacking, interseeding with annuals or perennials can help keep your productivity high.

National Blueberry Month

There’s something joyful about the first bite of a plump, sun-kissed blueberry. Sweet, slightly tart, and bursting with color, it feels like summer in your mouth. It’s not just about flavor—blueberries also pack a serious nutritional punch. They’re the kind of treat you can feel good about reaching for again and again.

Beyond the kitchen, blueberries have built quite a reputation. People admire them for their rich antioxidants, brain-boosting benefits, and immune support. They’re quick to grab, easy to eat, and fun to fold into recipes.

You don’t need to be a gourmet chef to make them shine. Whether you sprinkle them over oatmeal or blend them into a cool afternoon drink, they brighten both your plate and your day.

History of National Blueberry Month

National Blueberry Month began in 1974, when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution recognizing July as “Blueberry Month.” President Richard Nixon then encouraged Americans to observe the month with appropriate activities.

In 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially declared July as National Blueberry Month to promote the appreciation and use of highbush blueberries.

The journey of blueberries to this national recognition started in the early 20th century. In 1911, Elizabeth White, a New Jersey farmer’s daughter, partnered with USDA botanist Frederick Coville. Together, they cultivated the first commercial crop of blueberries in 1916. Their collaboration transformed wild blueberries into a viable agricultural product, laying the foundation for the blueberry industry.

Over the years, the blueberry industry has grown significantly. Today, blueberries are cultivated in numerous states across the U.S., with major production in Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Georgia, and California.

McMURRY CATTLE

Genetic Balance Trait And Carcass Value ONLY THE BEST SELL Private Treaty Bull Sales

Fred & Doreen McMurry 2027 Iris Lane

Billings, MT 59102

Phone 406-254-1247

Cell 406-697-4040

www.mcmurrycattle.com

Microwave technologies give hummus longer shelf life, eliminate preservatives

By Scott Weybright, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Washington State University scientists are using microwave technology to extend the shelf life of hummus while eliminating the need for chemical preservatives, as demonstrated in a recent Journal of Food Process Engineering paper.

The Middle Eastern dip, which is growing in popularity around the world, was associated with 20 illness outbreaks in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018 that resulted in 65 hospitalizations and five deaths. Because of those outbreaks, many commercial hummus makers use chemical preservatives to extend shelf life and prevent the development of pathogens.

Now, WSU researchers, led by Shyam Sablani, a professor and corresponding author on the paper, are using technology to make the food more shelf-stable. One process, microwave-assisted pasteurization, is a milder treatment that produces bettertasting hummus and keeps it fresh for up to 30 days in a refrigerator if unopened. The other process, microwave-assisted sterilization, is harsher. It reduces flavor intensity but ensures hummus can be stored at room temperature for two years if unopened.

The two technologies, developed by Juming Tang and his team at WSU, use the same

microwaves to produce high-quality food with extended shelf lives in different storage conditions. The technology allows for predictable and rapid heating of pre-packaged food that eliminates food pathogens and replaces traditional industrial methods such as canning.

“After testing for storage, quality, texture, color, and vitamin retention, both processes held up quite well,” said Sablani, who is in WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering. “I tried it several times and thought it tasted very good.”

Instead of using chickpeas, the most common primary ingredient, Sablani and his team made lentil-based hummus for their research. It’s unusual, but Sablani said visiting researcher Burcu Tenderis, the paper’s lead author, had heard of communities in her native Turkey that used lentils.

Lentils are cheaper and more readily available, especially in the U.S. Tenderis conducted many different trials to create a lentil hummus that worked, said Sablani, who is currently in Thailand as a Fulbright Scholar.

“Water absorption abilities and the chemical makeup of the two legumes are quite different,” he said. “I’m from India and have often made chickpea hummus at home. It never occurred to me or anyone else in our lab to use lentils. For me, it wasn’t too different, and I really enjoyed it.”

The researchers also enriched the hummus with vitamin C, documenting how much remained after the microwave treatments.

“Lentils and other grains, along with most vegetables, are not rich in vitamin C,” Sablani said. “Vitamins are heat-sensitive, so you lose a significant amount of them while cooking. We measured how much remained after each process so we knew how much to enrich the product later.”

The microwave process retained 75% of the vitamin C, a good sign for the team.

The next step will hopefully be asking panels to evaluate responses to taste, smell, and other sensory attributes, Sablani said.

“This project was part of the Soil to Society program, which looks at how to get healthy, nutrient-rich grains into publicly available food,” he said. “That program provided the funds for this research, but now we are looking for industry partners to commercially produce the product. If that’s successful, then commercialization would follow, and consumers could see the end results.”

Though that could be several years away, Sablani is excited about the research’s prospects.

“It’s important to have safe, shelf-stable foods that provide a variety of healthy nutrients,” Sablani said.

Former visiting researcher Burcu Tenderis works on the recipe for lentil hummus in a WSU lab. (Photo courtesy of Burcu Tenderis)

Lentil hummus after undergoing the microwave sterilization (MATS) process. It was then subjected to other tests to see how long it was safe from pathogens. The process was found to keep the hummus safe for up to two years at room temperature if unopened. (Photo courtesy of Burcu Tenderis)

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Controlling yucca on rangeland

By Jerry Volesky, UNL

Yucca plants, which are also called soapweed, can be quite common on rangeland in western and central Nebraska. They are especially noticeable here in June when flowering. In some areas, they can be quite thick and significantly reduce grass production. There are ways, though, to reclaim those grazinglands.

Once established, yucca plants can increase on drier rangeland sites. They produce a deep taproot that competes aggressively for the limited water in these soils. With sharp leaves protecting the plant, cattle rarely eat it during summer. Grass production decreases while yucca thrives.

Herbicides like Remedy Ultra®; PastureGard HL®; Pathfinder II®, Tordon®, Velpar, or Cimarron Plus® can control yucca, but only when each individual plant is sprayed directly. Hexazinone products like Velpar L®; Pronone Power Pellet, or Velossa® be applied to the soil uphill side of individual yucca plants with exact delivery hand-gun applicator; since pasture grass streaking injury downslope can occur with chemical movement. General broadcast spraying to control yucca on rangeland is cost prohibitive, although small patches can and should be controlled before they expand. Herbicides are most effective when applied in spring or summer. When using herbicides, be sure to follow label directions for the best control.

Some people have had some success in reducing yucca through winter grazing. During winter, yucca often is the only green plant around. Sometimes cows actually will get down on their knees, lay their head sideways on the ground, and chew through the base of the plant to get to the moist, tender parts. It has been observed though, that it can take some time for animals to learn to graze yucca and there may be some animals in the herd that will not graze it while others can be quite proficient. After several consecutive winters of grazing, yucca stands can be reduced so grass again thrives during summer.

Whether it is with herbicides or trying some winter grazing, this might be a good year to reclaim some of your pasture back from yucca.

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2021 John Deere S780 with 580/85R42 duals, 750/65R26 rears, TriStream (Bullet) rotor, Contour Master with fore & aft, Combine Advisor, Active Yield, 6000 receiver (SF1), 4600 with extended monitor (Premium 3.0 Activtion), standard lighting with extremity, 28.5-ft. unloading auger, powerfolding grain tank covers, Advanced PowerCast tailboard. Stock #90966 $402,500 (14)

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1997 Ford Service Truck

250hp 3126 Cat, 9spd., 33K gvw, locker, AC, PS, AB, tilt, cruise, 8,500# IMT crane, 11ft. IMT body, hyd. outriggers, 40cfm compressor, 100 gal. slip tank, new 11r22.5 tires and wheels, 141k miles, clean excellent driving truck. $43,500

1987 Freightliner FLC112 Tractor

350hp Cummins BC, Jake, 9spd, AC, PS, 60% 11r22.5’s, 38K rears, spring suspension, 160” W.B., air slide 5th, cab guard. $16,500

1992 Volvo WG Tractor

330hp N14, 9spd, Jake, AC, PS, 60% 11r22.5’s, 40K rears, spring suspension, 160” W.B., air slide 5th, cab guard.$17,500

1999 International 4700 5yd Dump

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1992 Ford L9000 Water Truck

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1999 International 8100

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Wheat stem maggot: A cover crop to corn pest

By Justin McMechan - Crop Protection

and

Cropping Systems Specialist,

Jenny Brhel - Extension Educator, Aaron Nygren - Extension Educator, Julie PetersonExtension Entomologist, Travis J. Prochaska - Extension Educator, Ron SeymourExtension Educator, Talon Mues - Extension Educator

Wheat stem maggot damage is surfacing in Nebraska corn — again. Learn what we know, what we’re watching, and what to consider before you replant.

What’s Happening?

Some farmers and crop consultants in southern, central and eastern Nebraska are seeing young corn plants with wilted or dead leaves in the whorl (Figure 1). If you cut these plants open, you may find a small white maggot — likely the wheat stem maggot. The larvae can be difficult to find. Recovery rates of larvae from damaged

plants were 11% to 80% depending on the field, according to a past survey. This problem was first documented in Nebraska in 2017, although sporadic issues have occurred before that. Issues were isolated to fields where corn followed a green cover crop like rye or wheat. The problem only occurs in areas where a rye or wheat cover crop was planted, and damage can range from just a few plants to more than 50%. In some cases, growers have reported yield losses of up to 30 bushels per acre.

Problem

Aaron Nygren, extension educator at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education Center (ENREEC), has been planting corn into green rye for years. But

this year, for reasons we don’t fully understand, he’s seeing quite a bit of wheat stem maggot damage (Figure 2), similar to what some farmers are now experiencing across the state.

CONTINUED ON PAGE C46

Figure 1. Corn plant with wheat stem maggot damage at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education Center on June 9, 2025. Tiller emerged on the right side of the plant.

Learning from This Year’s

Figure 2. Cornfield with wheat stem maggot infestation ranging from 20-50% of plants infested at ENREEC. Corn was planted on May 8 and cover crop terminated on May 9. Photo taken on June 9, 2025.

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Wheat stem maggot: A cover crop to corn pest

The silver lining in the situation at ENREEC is that this gives us a chance to monitor different plant injury levels from wheat stem maggot throughout the season and take yield data on those individual plants at harvest. This information will help us understand how much damage corn plants can recover from.

Observations of wheat stem maggot have been reported by crop adjusters, farmers and extension educators across the state. Below are some of the observations from extension educators:

Polk County — TJ Prochaska: Infestation rates were below 5% and again were associated with cornfields where rye had been utilized as a cover crop.

Dawson, Buffalo, Hall — Talon Mues: Infestation rates up to 50% in a single field where a rye cover crop was terminated three weeks after planting.

Adams, Kearney, Franklin, Webster — Ron Seymour: Highest infestation was around 36%, with most fields that were

green-planted closer to 11% infestation.

York, Seward and Fillmore — Jenny Brhel: Infestation between 5% to 50%, all where corn was planted green into rye.

Some of these infestation rates may be concerning, but it’s important to note that an infested plant has the potential to yield if it has tillered or the main stem isn’t too badly damaged.

Will Larvae Move Between Corn Plants?

Some growers are worried that the maggots might move between corn plants, but this is very unlikely. Once the maggot enters a plant, it usually stays unless that plant dies. Most corn plants with damage survive and often produce tillers, which can still contribute to yield.

The lack of movement between plants is also evident by how closely linked the rye cover crop is to corn damage. Move even just 30 inches away and there are almost no infested plants (Figure 3).

Management Recommendations

1. Insecticide + Herbicide at Cover Crop Termination?

We do not recommend tank mixing insecticide with herbicide at cover crop termination for two key reasons:

You might kill off beneficial insects in the cover crop without knowing whether pests are present.

The insecticide likely won’t last long enough to kill wheat stem maggot larvae as they move into corn.

2. Scout Before Termination

Inspect your cover crop for adult wheat stem maggots or larvae (Figure 4) before termination. If pest numbers are high, consider terminating the cover crop at least 14 days before planting corn. Currently, no research has been conducted to evaluate strategies to reduce wheat stem maggot infestations when planting corn into a green wheat or rye cover crop. The sporadic and unpredictable nature of this pest makes it challenging to design studies that test different termination timings or insecticide options.

3. If Early Termination Isn’t Possible

If you’re unable to terminate early and find heavy maggot pressure, a follow-up insecticide application 11 days after glypho

Figure 3. The corn row on the left was planted into a cover crop, whereas the row on the right was not and exhibits no signs of wheat stem maggot infestation. This demonstrates how closely linked the cover crop is to wheat stem maggot infestation and that wheat stem maggot larvae are the source of infestation in corn.

Figure 4. Wheat stem maggot larvae in corn. Car-

Wheat stem maggot: A cover crop to corn pest

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C46

sate may help if corn has emerged. This isn’t guaranteed to work but is based on best practices for similar pests like common stalk borer.

4. Thinking About Replanting?

Some growers are wondering whether to replant corn in heavily infested areas. Jenny Brhel, extension educator in York County, sees this issue on a few fields annually but hasn’t yet recommended replanting in general. It’s tough to hear that with how bad some of those fields look. Here are some thoughts for those who are considering a replant.

If damaged plants are putting out tillers, they may still yield well. In the past, we’ve seen tillers put on an ear instead of a typical tiller-ear. We would recommend flagging some of these plants in your field(s) and watching development to gain more input into what producers are seeing as well.

Take a stand count of “normal plants” in 1/1000th of an acre. Then take a stand count, including plants that have produced a tiller and plants where the main stem is still intact in spite of being impacted by the maggot. It really takes over 50% of the stand to be lost to justify replanting.

If plants aren’t tillering or the main stem is buggy whipped tightly, and a large part of the stand is affected, replanting may make sense. We’ve mostly only replanted spotty areas of fields when the small grain cover crop wasn’t properly terminated and impacted corn plants in an area more.

The tradeoffs with replanting include the reality of today’s date with potential yield loss compared the original stand, finding seed in a relative maturity that will make it to black layer before average fall frost for the area, and the cost/time for terminating the current crop and planting a new one.

5. Insecticide Applications

Some may wonder whether an insecticide application can still be effective once maggots have entered the whorl in corn. We do not recommend insecticide application at this point for several reasons:

First, most of the damage from the maggots has likely already occurred, making an insecticide treatment un-

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likely to provide an economic return.

Second, once wheat stem maggots complete development and emerge as adults, they do not reinfest corn.

Third, there is no evidence that maggots will move between plants if their current host remains viable.

Lastly, using an insecticide can kill natural enemies and lead to secondary pest issues.

Final Thoughts

Producers are choosing to plant corn green into a small grain such as wheat, rye and barley to fulfill a number of goals. These can include: erosion control, weed and pest management, improving water infiltration, and other soil health goals. While it’s disheartening to see one’s stand impacted by these wheat stem maggots, we encourage producers incorporating cover crops into their cropping systems to continue working towards your goals while being mindful of pests such as the wheat stem maggot. We don’t see wheat stem maggot as a problem pest every year, and we’re working to better understand when it’s most likely to appear and how best to manage it.

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