Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council recruits for open positions
The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is currently recruiting for open positions on its Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council (NWMAC).
The following positions are for a two-year term ending June 30, 2028:
Recreationist / Wildlife Group Representative
Noxious Weed Free Materials Representative Montana Weed Control Association Representative Eastern County Weed District Representative At-Large Member
The Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council is appointed by the MDA Director and provides guidance to the department and the noxious weed programs, which assist Montana counties, local and tribal communities, researchers, and educators in efforts to combat noxious weeds. MDA’s noxious weed programs include the Noxious Weed Trust Fund, Noxious Weed Materials Program, Early Detection, Rapid Response Program, and State Noxious Weed Coordination. Service terms are two years and members are required to attend three meetings a year: spring grant hearings, a summer tour, and a winter business meeting. Those interested in serving on the NWMAC are encouraged to submit a letter of interest and application to MDA by Sunday, May 31, 2026. More information and applications are available
AUCTIONS
Apr 13 - 21, Yellowstone Auction, Annual Spring Sale, Billings, MT A3
Apr 13 - 21, Musser Bros Auctions & Real Estate, Spring Equipment, Online A5
Apr 13 - 22, Smeltzer Auctions & Real Estate, Louis & Diana Dobrowski Revocable Trust, Online A4
Apr 25, Shobe Auction, Cabin Fever Western Art & Collectibles, Lewistown MT A14
Apr 25 - May 9, Pate Auction, Inc., State of Montana Surplus Property, Online A13
May 2, Rick Smith, Smith Garage 55-yr Collections, Dillon MT A15
May 9, Flying D Auction, Keith Littrell Retirement, Shelby MT A17
May 9, Rick Young & Sons Auctioneers, Circle B Ranch LLC, Big Horn MT A19
May 13, RK Statewide Auction, Dawson County Land Auction, Glendive MT A23
May 16, Ophus Auction Company, Ben Lund & James Bronec Auction, Fort Benton MT A25
May 16, Weaver Auctions, Spring Farm & Ranch Consignment, Drummond MT A18
Late Spring, Musser Bros Auctions & Real Estate, Tracy Nelson Retirement, Joplin A22
June 10, Fritz Auction, Cosignment Auction, Chester MT A46
June 13, Flying D Auction, Cliff Gustafson Estate Sale, Conrad MT A38
Wildfire documentation
By Shannon Sand, UNL
With recent wildfires affecting parts of Nebraska, many producers are feeling overwhelmed and wondering what the first steps are after everything settles. Once everyone is safe and accounted for, there are two important steps to take right away.
First, take clear, date- and time-stamped photos and videos of any pasture, livestock, or infrastructure losses as soon as it’s safe to do so. This documentation is critical for insurance claims and for any government disaster assistance programs that may become available, and while it can be difficult after an already devastating event, thorough records will make recovering losses significantly easier.
Second, review your insurance policy carefully so you understand what is covered in the event of fire or smoke damage. Remember that some animals may not show visible signs of injury right away; smoke inhalation and other health effects can
Emergency preparedness workshops planned in Scobey, Culbertson
Scobey and Culbertson area residents can become more prepared for medical and fire emergencies during upcoming Far Out and Waiting workshops.
The free, public workshops are being hosted by Montana Farmers Union as part of the organization’s commitment to education and feature information about what to do to help save lives while waiting for EMS and fire services to arrive in remote areas.
The first workshop will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, at the Scobey School Cafeteria, with presentations by Shasta Dahl, Neil Holum, and other local EMTs and Fire Crew on how to handle common medical emergencies, home hardening in case of fire, evacuation preparedness, and more. The Scobey FFA Chapter
PRIVATE TREATY
Browning Angus, Fallon MT A4
Clay Creek Angus, Greybull, WY A22
Curlew Cattle Co., Whitehall MT A24
Dallas Polled Herefords, Canyon Creek MT A2
Ferrat Ranch, Toston MT A19
K & C Herefords, Deer Lodge MT A24
K.L. Slagsvold Herefords, Lindsay MT A24
McMurry Cattle, Herefords, Billings MT A24
Thomas Herefords, Gold Creek MT A24
Wichman Herefords, Moore MT A24
will provide a lasagna and dessert meal for freewill donations.
The Far Out and Waiting workshop in Culbertson will cover similar topics, with presentations by Samantha Purvis, Mike Olson, and other EMTs and Fire Crew. The hands-on workshop runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, April 16, at the Culbertson School Cafeteria with a lasagna and dessert dinner offered for $10 by the Culbertson FFA Chapter.
Families are encouraged to attend. Register for either event by April 13 at www. montanafarmersunion.com.
Learn more by contacting MFU Membership Ambassador Mary Jenni at mjenni@ montanafarmersunion.com or 406-3800051.
What an interesting sculpture! We saw this in Lewistown, Montana one day on our travels across this beautiful state of Montana. Looks to be built out of old car rims. Photo by Geri Aaberg
YEARLING POLLED HEREFORD BULLS
Timing is everything
By
Anita Gall, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Spring is the perfect time to check your shrubs for winter damage. Start by pruning out any dead or weakened wood to keep plants healthy and strong. For Dogwood shrubs, remove about one-third of the older canes that have lost their vibrant color. This encourages fresh, beautiful growth. Remember, spring-flowering shrubs like Lilac, Forsythia, and Mock Orange should be pruned after they finish blooming, not before.
April is also an excellent time to give your lawn the care it needs to thrive. Core aeration helps relieve soil compaction and allows water, air, and nutrients to reach the root zone. When aerating, aim to pull plugs about two to three inches deep. If your soil is dry after a long winter, you may need to water first to get good plug depth. Once you’ve aerated, it’s the perfect opportunity to overseed bare or thin areas, helping your lawn grow thicker and more resilient. And remember, setting your mower height to two-and-a-half to three inches encourages deeper roots and a healthier turf.
When applying pre-emergence, timing is everything. Preemergent products stop weeds before they start by suppressing seeds as they germinate. For best results, apply when soil temperatures are between 55 and 70 degrees. You can also follow nature’s cues-apply after the Forsythia blooms, but before the Lilac begins to flower. Apply at the right time now and enjoy fewer weeds all season long.
As your garden wakes up this spring, a little patience goes a long way. Gently remove winter mulch from roses and perennials as new growth begins-but don’t rush to clean everything up. That leftover plant debris provides valuable habitat for beneficial pollinators. Keep an eye on tender new growth, too, and be ready to cover plants if a late freeze is in the forecast. Remember, soil temperature matters more than air temperature when it comes to planting. Also consider the 70/30 planting rule. Seventy percent of your garden should be dedicated to reliable, structural, or native plants to provide stability, support local ecosystems, and thrive year after year. The remaining thirty percent is your space to have fun with seasonal color, new varieties, and creative touches. This simple balance keeps your landscape sustainable, resilient, and visually interesting year-round. Start with strong roots-and let the rest inspire you.
Advisory Council recruits
CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
at: agr.mt.gov/NoxiousWeedTrustFund. Nominations can be submitted to: Montana Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2002014, Helena, MT 59620-0201.
Wildfire documentation
CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
appear days after the fire, so monitor livestock closely in the days and weeks that follow and keep records of any veterinary visits or animal losses.
If you have questions about forage loss assessment, grazing recovery, or financial assistance options, contact your local Farm Service Agency office or your local Nebraska Extension educator.
DEADLINE FOR MAY ISSUE
Wednesday, April 29
Black and Red Angus Bulls - Yearling and 2-year-olds
These cattle are bred for long lasting maternal traits and moderate birth weights since 1981.
Fertility tested and delivered.
Contact Browning Angus (406) 486-5040 or (406) 429-7371, Fallon, MT
Preliminary farm real estate market survey results for NW NE
By Ryan Evans, Jim Jansen, and Jessica Groskopf
The value of agricultural land in Nebraska declined 1% over the past year to an average of $3,905 per acre as of February 1, 2026, according to the preliminary report from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 2025-26 Farm Real Estate Market Survey. It is the second consecutive year of declining land values since the market reached $4,015 per acre in 2024.
The survey’s preliminary report was published on March 18 by the university’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, based in the Department of Agricultural Economics. It provides current estimates of agricultural land values and cash rental rates, broken down by region and land class across Nebraska.
Land industry professionals who participated in this year’s survey attributed the decline to lower crop prices, higher farm input costs, and prevailing interest rates.
“Many operations are facing tighter liquidity as crop revenues decline while input costs remain elevated,” said Jim Jansen, extension agricultural economist who leads the annual survey and report. “Those conditions are leading producers and lenders to take a more cautious approach when navigating these financial pressures.”
Crop receipts in Nebraska declined by about $576.6 million, or 16%, in 2025 as corn prices fell and soybean and wheat production dropped. Those losses were partially offset by a $3.22 billion increase in livestock receipts statewide. Jansen said the differences in crop and livestock profitability were reflected in land value trends across the state.
The 2026 preliminary results revealed the average farmland value in the Northwest region was 1% higher, to $970 per acre, for the reporting year ending February 1, 2026. The Northwest region includes Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux counties.
Beyond land values, cash rental rates are often the most closely watched results in the survey. Table 2 shows the reported cash rental rates for various types of land for the Northwest region. Values are reported in dollars per acre unless otherwise noted. Actual agricultural land values or rental rates for an individual parcel will vary from reported figures depending on the area’s quality attributes and local market forces.
“Landowners and producers can use this survey as a resource when discussing 2026 rental terms,” said Panhandle Extension agricultural economist Jessica Groskopf. “That said, crop-share leases remain more common in the Northwest District than cash rent on cropland.”
Learn about Nebraska land values, cash rents, lease strategies, and farm succession during a March 24 webinar from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Central (8 to 10:30 a.m. Mountain), which will also include audience Q&A. Register at: https://cap. unl.edu/land26/
Table 1 reports the eight major types of land reported in the survey and the average value of each type for the Northwest region.
Billings, Montana
Helping young children recover after natural disasters
From Nebraska Extension Nebraska wildfires that began on March 12 burned around 800,000 acres, covering an area about the size of Rhode Island, according to data from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. The natural disaster will affect ranching families and communities, causing various levels of stress for adults and children.
The Nebraska Extension has suggestions for parents and guardians on how to help children cope with stress after a natural disaster. The most important thing right now is to help children feel safe and protected. It is the first step in the process of mental health or emotional recovery.
Trauma from such events is what a person experiences inside and is not the event itself, so one child may be experiencing traumatic stress while another child may not. Because the experience is within each person, adults should carefully watch for behavioral changes that can provide clues into what the child is experiencing.
In the early phase after an event, children may display a wide range of symptoms, from showing no behavioral changes at all to behavior changes such as becoming tearful, aggressive, or not wanting their parent (teacher or other caregiver) out of their sight. Care should be taken not to assume that the child showing almost no behavioral change is not experiencing any distress from a natural disaster. Many children will internalize their distress, showing few outward signs, while other children will externalize it, making their distress easier to see.
Watch for children signaling what they need. Parent or guardian’s nearby presence, or that of another trusted caregiver or teacher, is probably the single most important factor in helping a child recover from a disturbing event in a healthy way.
PentaGro is a premium quality, foliar fertilizer encompassing a unique range of components required for plant growth and development - all within a single formulation. It is a complete water soluable fertilizer product designed to be use on all crops to improve plant vigor and to promote crop production.
exclusively in tote
PentaGro contains, in addition to the NPK base, the following:
• Sea Plant Extracts from Ascophyllum nodosum
• Proteins in the form of Amino acids
• Carbohydrates from Natural Plants sources
• Multi-vitamin Complement
• Miller’s Transcuticular Delivery System® “TDS” designed to ensure the maximum absorption and translocation of the product into the plant with minimal loss from the leaf surface.
Nutrient demand is greatest during development and reproductive stages (rooting,
crop development, and ripening). Even if your plants look healthy, hidden stress,
Routines can be especially helpful in conveying a sense of safety and protection to children. Children find comfort in the predictable rhythms of their usual day, particularly when something has disrupted their ability to predict what is coming next. So, keeping or returning to a child’s typical daily routines and times of going to bed, waking up, eating, bathing, playing, etc., can be very therapeutic for children. For infants and very young, pre-verbal children, their experience is mostly driven by the parent or other caregiver. When adults are distressed, children will notice subtle changes in face, voice, and behavior, even when adults think they may be disguising their emotions. Caregivers need to think about ways to take care of themselves, to cope with fear, anger, sadness, exhaustion, etc.
It is helpful to tell children (even infants and very young children) that being upset about something is not because of anything they have done. And reassure them that you will still be there to care for them. At times, a caregiver may need help from other caring adults to look after their children, so they can seek support for mental health and well-being.
Nebraska Extension is your trusted source for disasterrelated information. Learning Child and 4-H campus and county-based experts are ready to help you get the answers you need to support children, youth, and the adults in their lives during life-changing events.
For more information, visit https://disaster.unl.edu or https://child.unl.edu/read4resilience
Preliminary farm real estate market survey results for NW NE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A4
The Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Report is the product of an annual survey of land professionals, including appraisers, farm and ranch managers, and agricultural bankers. Results are divided by land class and agricultural statistics district. Land values and rental rates in the report are averages of survey participants’ responses by district. Actual land values and rental rates may vary depending on the quality of the parcel and local market for an area. Preliminary land values and rental rates are subject to change as additional surveys are returned. The final version of the report will be published in July.
To view the complete report, visit: https://cap.unl.edu/ realestate or contact Jessica Groskopf, 308-632-1247, jgroskopf2@unl.edu #####
Mack Water Truck
Proper grain storage crucial in late winter and spring
Check-in begins at 9 am - Auction starts at 10 am Brownell Ranch, 455 Highway 219, Pendroy, MT 59467
in person; Live simulcast bidding and Online pre-bidding before auction day. Online Pre-Bidding open now at: www.jerrycollinsauctions.hibid.com
Carol Brownell is offeriing all equipment from the Brownell Ranch in Pendroy following the passing of her husband Richard and son Justin. Richard and Justin took exceptional care of this equipment, and it shows.
As outdoor temperatures begin to warm, the potential for grain storage problems increases.
With the likelihood for issues going up, the need for grain monitoring and management does as well, says Ken Hellevang, grain drying expert and retired North Dakota State University Extension agricultural engineer.
Navigating temperature changes
During a winter day, the outdoor air may fluctuate by 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. This warms the bin and the grain next to the wall during the day, but they cool at night. The result is that the bin and grain near the bin wall will be near the average temperature. The same will occur during an extended warm period that is followed by a cool or cold period: the temperature will be near the average of the two periods.
Grain is an insulator, so grain temperature fluctuation is limited to the grain next to the bin wall. Dry grain that has been cooled to 20 to 30 degrees in northern regions is not expected to be affected by these temperature fluctuations.
“The stored grain temperature increases in parts of a bin in the spring due to solar heat gain on the bin,” says Hellevang.
Solar energy produces more than twice as much heat gain on the south wall of a bin in spring as it does during the summer. This, along with solar heat gain on a bin roof, can create an environment conducive to grain spoilage. A 10-degree temperature increase reduces the allowable storage time of grain by about half. For example, the storage time of corn at 17% moisture is reduced from about 130 days at 50 degrees to about 75 days at 60 degrees, and further, only 45 days at 70 degrees.
If the stored grain is dry, Hellevang recommends periodically running aeration fans in the spring to keep the grain below 40 degrees as long as possible through the beginning of summer. In northern states, night air is normally near or below 30 degrees in April and 40 degrees in May.
Frost and ice can block bin vents when the fan is operated at temperatures near or below freezing, which may lead to roof damage. Leave the fill and access door open as a pressure relief valve when operating the fan at temperatures near or below freezing.
Cover the fan when it is not operating to prevent warm air from blowing into the bin or being drawn in by a chimney effect, which could heat the stored grain to temperatures more prone to spoilage and insect infestations.
Hellevang also recommends ventilating the top of the bin to remove the solar heat gain that warms the grain. Providing air inlets near the eaves and exhausts near the peak allows the top of the bin to ventilate due to the warm air rising — similar to what occurs in an attic — as does a roof exhaust fan.
Monitoring grain moisture, temperature
Stored grain should be monitored closely to detect storage problems early, advises Rob Proulx, NDSU Extension ag technology and grain systems specialist. Grain temperature should be checked every two weeks during the spring and summer, as a temperature increase may indicate a storage problem.
Grain should also be examined for insect infestations. Checking the moisture content of stored grain determines if it needs to be dried. Proulx recommends verifying that the moisture content measured by the meter has been adjusted for grain temperature.
“Verify the accuracy of the measurement by warming the grain sample to room temperature in a sealed plastic bag before measuring the moisture content,” says Proulx. “Remember, moisture measurements of grain at temperatures below about 40 degrees may not be accurate.”
Some in-bin cables estimate grain moisture content by measuring temperature and air relative humidity, then calculating it using grain equilibrium moisture content equations. The measured moisture may differ by 1.0%-1.5% from the true moisture content, so Proulx advises verifying it with another moisture measurement method.
Corn needs to be dried to 13%-14% moisture for summer storage to prevent spoilage. Soybeans should be dried to 11%-12%, wheat to 13%, barley to 12% and oil sunflowers to 7%-8%. The allowable storage time for 13% moisture soybeans is less than 100 days at 70 degrees.
If grain stored in grain bags isn’t dry, it will spoil, and molds will grow. Grain in the bags will be at average outdoor temperatures, so grain will deteriorate rapidly as outdoor temperatures increase unless it is at the recommended summer storage moisture contents.
Auction
Spring 2026 State of Montana Surplus Property
Helena, MT ~Bidding Open April 25th and Ending May 9th
Sale Site: 16 W. Custer Ave. at the corner of Custer Ave and Henderson, next to the Lewis & Clark Co.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
John Deere 670B Motor Grader
(4) CAT 130G Motor Graders
John Deere 772B Motor Grader
Komatsu GD520A-2CY Motor Grader
(2) Champion 710A Series III Motor
Graders
Komatsu GD530A-2CY Motor Grader
TRACTORS & FARM EQUIPMENT
John Deere 870
IH 2444 Tractor
DUMP TRUCKS AND TRUCKS
2004 Sterling L9500 Series Dump Truck with Wing Plow and Sander
1997 Volvo WG64 Truck
1988 GMC C7000 De-icing Tank Truck
1992 International F-4900 Flat Bed Truck
1999 International 4700 Truck with (7)
Passenger Bed
1998 International F-2574 Dump Truck
1998 International F-2574 Truck with Sander
1994 Ford LT900 Dump Truck with Sander
ONE TON PICKUPS (4WD & 2WD)
(7) Ford F-350 2WD (2004 Thru 2016)
(2) Dodge Ram 3500 2WD (2001)
2012 Ford F-350 4WD
2002 Ford F-450 4WD
1/2-TON PICKUPS (4WD & 2WD)
(6) Ford F-150 2WD (2007 Thru 2016)
(2) Ford F-150 4WD (2010)
3/4-TON PICKUPS (2WD)
(4) Ford F-250 2WD (2008, 2015)
SUVS & MPVS
2010 Chevrolet HHR
PASSENGER CARS
1996 Ford Taurus
2008 Chevrolet Impala
(2) Honda Civic Hybrids (2007,2009)
VANS & MINI VANS
2009 GMC Savana
1984 Chevrolet Step Van
MUNICIPAL TRACTORS
(2) Kubota F3680
Multihog CX75
RIDING MOWERS
Toro Zero Turn Mower Model: 74313
(2) Walker Zero Turn Mowers Model: MD210-11
FORKLIFTS Wiggins W156Y
ATVS & UTVS
(2) Kubota RTV 1100 (2011)
2010 Polaris Ranger XP UTV
2007 Polaris Ranger UTV
2009 Kawasaki KRF750-J UTV
2004 John Deere UTV 6x4 Diesel
1995 Yamaha Kodiak ATV
2001 Arctic Cat ATV
2000 Polaris Magnum ATV
BOATS
1989 Wooldridge 19' Aluminum
Hull Jet Boat with Trailer
Boston Whaler 13' Boat with Trailer (No Motor)
1989 Sea Nymph 16' Boat with Trailer (No Motor)
WRECKED, NON RUNNING OR NEEDING REPAIRS
Over 30 Trucks, Cars, SUVs, and Pickups
OTHER ITEMS
Haas VFO Vertical Machining Center, Approximately (5) Assorted Trailers, Implements, Shop Equipment, Welders, Office Equipment & Furniture, American Standard Walk In Jetted Tub, Commercial Kitchen Equipment, Boat Motors, Sander Box, Portable Toilets, Medical & Dental Equipment, Galvanized Storage Units, Water Tanks, Acker Drill Trailer, Truck Beds , IngersollRand 71T2-10E 3 Air Compressor, Genie EU-15M Manual Work Platform, Fimco 200G Skid Sprayer Unit with 160cc Honda Engine & Hose Reel, Vintage Dayton and Toledo Scales, Sears Safe, Tennent Falcon Ultra B Floor Sweeper, OTC 10-Ton Air
Mild winter and insect pressure
By Samantha Daniel, UNL
This winter has been quite mild and dry across the state, with most locations experiencing periods of higher-than-normal temperatures and 77% of the state currently in drought. What do these conditions mean for insect survival this winter and pest pressure this spring and summer?
Because insects have a variety of methods they use for survival, we can only generalize when trying to predict future insect populations and pressure based on winter conditions. Insects that overwinter belowground, like grasshoppers, are generally less affected by mild winter conditions since soil temperatures are more constant. However, a shallow frost layer can increase survivability. In contrast, for insects that overwinter aboveground, like alfalfa weevil, fewer cold days can increase survival, but a lack of snow cover can lead to exposure when temperatures do fall below freezing.
Conditions this spring can have a more significant impact on insect pest populations. A cool, wet spring can delay grasshopper hatching, while alfalfa weevil thrives in cool and overcast conditions. If this spring brings hot, dry conditions, grasshoppers will thrive while alfalfa weevil activity could be reduced.
In the end it’s important to scout early and often so that insect pest populations can be monitored. And remember, if more pests survive due to this mild winter, so too will more beneficial insects survive to help moderate pest populations.
Proper grain storage crucial
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A12
Grain bags that run eastwest will have solar heating on the south side, creating a temperature variation that will move moisture to the north side. Continue to frequently monitor grain stored in bags.
In addition to storage practices, Hellevang stresses the importance of knowing the safety hazards associated with handling grain and applying recommended safety practices to decrease the risk of injury or death.
SMITH GARAGE
TRUCKS, TRAILERS, & MISCELLANEOUS
3 – 1940’s International Trucks (2 run)
1968 INTERNATIONAL DIESEL TANDEM 6-71 DETROIT (NICE)
3 – 1930’s International Trucks
NAPCO 4-WHEEL DRIVE
RUNNING GEAR
Gooseneck Stock Trailer
3 – Pickup Box Trailers
2600 Gallon Water Tank Trailer
1964 F850 Ford Tandem (Good Shape)
Pole Trailer
Flatbed Trailer
Many tires and wheels
1000 Gallon Poly Tank
500 Gallon Poly Tank
1980 Chevy 1 Ton Dually
1979 Chevy ½ Ton
1976 GMC Front Clip & Doors
Model A Snow Tracks
International 6 Cylinder Engine
2006 KEYSTONE 5TH WHEEL CAMPER
Many truck toolboxes
Snowplow Blade
Small TV’s
Gin Poles
40 Gallon Saddle Tank
TV Antena Ford 4 Cylinder Industrial Engine
Garman Rupp PTO Pump
5th Wheels
Semi Headache Rack (Aluminum)
Man Basket for Forklift
Chains & Binders
3 Speed Brownie Transmission
4800 GALLON ALUMINUM TANK
MISCELLANEOUS & ANTIQUES
Axe’s
Draw Knives
Post Puller
Electric Fence Materials
Glass Shower Door
Antique Trunks
Gas Cans
Riding Lawn Mower
Laser Level
HONDA WATER PUMPS
Lots of Pipe Fittings
MANY MISC TOOLS & TEST
EQUIPMENT
Many service manuals
OUTDOOR
& SPORTING
Rifle Scabbard’s
Coolers
Traps (Many)
Snares
Ski Racks
Propane Tanks (Large & Small)
Generator
Echo Gas Trimer
Miscellaneous Tack
Terms are cash, bankable check for known buyers, or check with recent Bank Letter of Credit for buyers unknown to Rick Smith. Payment to be made on sale date. We will also accept major credit and debit cards. If using a card for payment, you will be charged a 4% convenience fee. Any invoice not paid within 5 banking days from sale day, is subject to interest at 2% per month, prorated daily beginning sale day. Merchandise cannot be removed from sale site until paid for! Valid Driver’s License or government issued ID is required for bidder registration. Everything sells “where is, as is” with NO warranty expressed or implied. Announcements made on sale day take precedence over printed or published materials. Ads are believed to be correct, but auctioneers or sellers make no guarantees as to age, horsepower, or condition of equipment. Management or owners are not responsible for accidents or theft. Lunch Available.
Dakota Gardener: Friends don’t let friends prune alone
By Emily How, Horticulture agent, NDSU Extension –Ward County
I’ve been banned from pruning alone. Now this may seem odd, a horticulture agent not being allowed to prune alone. But there are good reasons, and at the time, I was not a horticulture agent. The first time I pruned a tree, I climbed up with my saw and bypass pruners, and I balanced between branches as I cut away. No one else was home.
So, I’ve been banned from pruning alone.
Pruning woody plants is important. Pruning removes dead and damaged branches, allowing the plant to put out new growth and be rejuvenated. Pruning can also improve flower and fruit production. It can also reduce or remove diseases from your tree or shrubs. Diseases such as fire blight are best controlled by pruning out the infected branches, and powdery mildew can be reduced by increasing airflow through pruning. The pruning tools used are as important as the process itself. Using sharp, clean tools reduces the risk of injury and disease to the tree.
So, if pruning is so good for trees and shrubs, why was I banned from doing this by myself? Well, it all comes down to safety.
First of all, I was climbing the tree I was pruning, which you are not supposed to do. Branches can become unstable, and a fall from a tree can result in an injury or a visit to the hospital. There is a reason that dead tree branches are called “widow makers.” Also, in the spring, when pruning is recommended, there are no leaves to help identify if the branch is living or dead.
The other problem was my attire. I wore a sweatshirt, a pair of comfortable athletic pants and no safety glasses. There is also a chance that I was wearing my trusty gardening sandals! When pruning, appropriate safety attire includes safety glasses to prevent wood splinters or shavings from getting in your eyes, as well as gloves, long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes — not sandals.
The biggest mistake I made was pruning alone. If something bad were to happen, there was no one at home to help. Pruning with a buddy also puts another set of eyes on the tree to let you know if a branch is coming down in an unexpected way. They can also alert you to other unseen hazards, such as wasp nests and holes around the tree.
*stayability box= 2024-23 and 202522 and raaa avg HB=53 and Stay=14.6
Another thing to consider when pruning is proximity to power lines. When a tree is close to an overhead power line, call a professional. Also, exhaustion can set in quickly when pruning, especially if you are moving larger branches. Take plenty of breaks and drink water. It is better to leave a tree unpruned or call a professional than to put yourself in harm’s way. This year, when pruning, remember your friendly neighborhood horticulture agent is pruning with a buddy. Make sure you are too!
Auctioneer: 2010 World Champion Kyle Shobe Dick Raths - DVM - 39-Year Ranch Vet
AUCTION Keith Littrell Retirement Auction
Saturday • May 9, 2026
209 5th Ave. S.
Keith has been collecting treasures for many years! Some of these are truly amazing.
For any questions, please call Zane at 406-289-0514 or Gerald at 406-289-0510.
As of press time, there is another storage unit being sorted out for auction day. New treasures being discovered daily!
In case of inclement weather, auction will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026
VEHICLES / TRAILERS
• 1991 Ford F-350 dually, transmission issue
• 2014 Subaru Forester, 5,600 miles
• 2014 Subaru, bad motor and transmission • 6’x10’ flatbed trailer
• 18’ bumper pull 4 Horse Trailer GUNS
• Desert Eagle Pellet Gun
• Flare gun
• 4 - Swords
• Winchester Model 425 pellet gun
• Pistol air gun
• Antique Fishing Rod & Reel
• 1940s Shooting Bible
• 12 guage Mossberg Barrell
• Wyatt Earp .44 Mag Replica Pistol
• Lever action Winchester Repeating Arms Replica AMMO
• Misc. Boxes of Ammo
• Misc. Ammo Bandolier Holsters
GARAGE TREASURES
• 2 sets Snowshoes, one old, one new
• Rachet Straps
• Misc. Hand & Power Tools
• Coors on Tap - Lighted Sign
• Cream Separator
• Ice Shreader Machine
• Several old Metal and Wooden Trunks
• New Multi-purpose floor lift for Motorcycles, ATVs and Snowmobiles,
• Antique Cash Register from Rex’s Hardware in Shelby
• Antique Hand Saws
• Antique Mosler Safe with combination lock
• Tackle Boxes - plum full of equipment
• 1973 Cadillac Eldorado, 2 door convertible, 82K miles, running
• 2 - old Johnson Boat Motors
• 17’ Coleman Canoe, Red, like new, used once
HOUSEHOLD / ANTIQUES
• Various Big Game Mounts and Hides
• 2 - Moose Rack Shiras
• Bear Trap
• Antique Wooden Chairs
• Lodge Pole Bed - Queensize
• Carling lighted Beer sign - works
• 5 - Hamms Beer signs
• Condom Dispenser
• Diamond Willow Table
• 3 - Old Cigarette dispensers, one still has cigarettes inside
• Antique Superior Stovecomplete, working wood cook stove
TOYS
• Wooden Toy Trucks
• Metal and Plastic Trains
• New York Central Electric Train
• Hudson Electric Train
• One Cent scale“Tells Your Future”
• Belt Buckle Collection
• 4 - large jars of Marbles
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
• Misc. Bronzes
• Misc. Drums / Tamborines
• Barbers Light
• Antique Barbers Chair with shaving equipment
• Assorted Wooden Statues
• Antique Handcuffs / Shackles
• 2 - Working Telephone Booths
• Original Art by Gene Lucas and Brian Morgan
• Misc. Buckskin / Wooly Coats
Flying D Auctions time
Bighorn Sheep Mounts
Antique Cash Register
6’x10’ Flatbed Trailer
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
Convertible - Interior
Gingras Springs Rd, Polson, MT 59860 406-249-8565 or 406-883-2118
By Shawn Vestal, WSU News & Media Relations
Designing robots to harvest fruit involves thorny challenges.
Robotic metal arms may damage tree limbs — so Washington State University researchers created a soft, inflatable robot arm to pick apples.
Strawberries are often tucked under leaves — so WSU scientists developed a system that uses AI-visioning to locate the fruit and guide a tiny blower that uses puffs of air to give the picker a clear path.
Such efforts to advance the automation of agricultural operations are moving forward at WSU, aimed at helping farmers confront growing labor shortages. While harvesting robots still have a ways to go before they are ready for routine use, the systems are being refined at WSU.
Automation is already in widespread use among field crops such as wheat and other grains, with GPS-guided tractors that can till and harvest with little human interaction. But there is further to go in orchards growing apples, cherries, grapes and other high-value perennial fruits, which have labor demands throughout the seasons.
“Basically, you’re looking at a year-round need for labor,” said Ananth Kalyanaraman, a WSU computer scientist who directs AgAID, an interdisciplinary institute of research, government and industry representatives from around the Pacific Northwest. “AI can help with infusion of robotics — some level of automation, some level of robotics, working hand-in-hand with humans.”
shape of “walls” to provide corridors allowing robotic systems to operate.
Lav Khot, a professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering with a focus on agricultural automation, said he envisions a day when many of the human challenges of agriculture are relieved by AI-assisted technology — systems that combine information about weather, soil, plant performance and growing conditions to feed automated decision-making from central control systems operated by growers.
“The stress we used to have to grow things, I think AI can help to mitigate that stress on humans,” Khot said.
Recent projects at the WSU Smart Apple Orchard, anchored by Khot, Bernardita Sallato, associate professor of tree fruit extension and R. Troy Peters, professor and director of Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, have demonstrated the promise of automating irrigation systems. Using weather and water data, the systems adjusted irrigation levels and timing to meet the immediate conditions. Researchers were able to cut water usage significantly — up to about 50% in some cases — without hurting yields.
‘Disappearing’
workers
Agriculture is a $13 billion industry in Washington, but it has been beset by a shortage of workers. Some 3,700 farms went out of business between 2017 and 2022, according Census figures, with some citing labor shortages as a major factor. Over those same five years, the number of farmworkers declined by 23%, with the migrant labor force dropping 37%.
And when workers are available, the cost of labor can be daunting for growers.
“Hand harvesting costs a lot of money,” Khot said. “We can help make a real difference.”
Some 3,700 farms went out of business between 2017 and 2022, according Census figures, with some citing labor shortages as a major factor.
The problems addressed by the strawberrypicking robot exemplify the difficulties in replicating the range of human actions involved in picking fruit — spotting berries, evaluating ripeness, working around canopies, and picking the fruit without bruising it.
Previous robots had been tested in labs, where the fruit hung down from tabletop plant beds. But that’s not what strawberries look like in the field, where they are often obscured by leaves.
The robot developed in WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering used an AIvision system that combined multiple images of the plants to locate the fruit and direct a gentle puff of air, then apply soft silicone “fingers” to pluck the berry.
The soft, inflatable robotic apple-picking arm was designed by Ming Luo, Flaherty Assistant Professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and colleagues. It offers a safe, inexpensive alternative to previous designs. Weighing less than 50 pounds and costing about $5,500, the arm can identify and pick an apple in about 25 seconds.
A remaining obstacle with these systems is speed: the robots perform the tasks effectively, but not quickly.
Automation and robotics infused with AI are a key piece of the work WSU is doing to realize the farm of the future.
Automated irrigation systems are being tested that use machine learning to help drive decisions around water use for irrigation as well as cooling fruits and canopies in summer months. Drones are being deployed to gather data about crop stress, water use, and plant needs to feed machine learning tools. Fruit trees at demonstration orchards have been pruned to grow in the
Still, progress is coming, as more and better data is gathered, feeding the ability of AI systems to help farmers bring in the crops that feed the world. Kalyanaraman — who is also a professor and director of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science — said the focus of his work at WSU and AgAID is focused on bringing the advantages of new technology to the public.
“We always attach a purpose to the actual technology,” he said. “The whole point of computing is to solve real-world problems. It’s an art of problem-solving.”
WSU is developing robotics to help farmers with everything from pruning to harvesting (photo courtesy of WSU).
Tree fruit growers worldwide are facing labor shortages for critical operations like harvesting and pruning. WSU researchers are developing low-cost robotic solutions to aid the industry (photo courtesy of Ryan Dorosh, WSU).
Early scouting for alfalfa weevil recommended
The incredibly mild winter we’ve experienced this year has accelerated the accumulation of growing degree days for one of our most significant forage pests: the alfalfa weevil. For example, areas in southwestern Nebraska have accumulated an average of 318 growing degree days compared to 134 at this time last year. In addition, Kansas State University recently announced that weevils are already active in Kansas. These factors indicate that early scouting for alfalfa weevil is critical this year.
In Nebraska, alfalfa weevil scouting is generally recommended once 200 growing degree days have accumulated. The western half of the state west of U.S. Highway 281 is at or well beyond this mark and the eastern half of the state isn’t far behind. Alfalfa producers are urged to begin scouting now, especially in fields that have broken dormancy. For fields that are still fully dormant, feeding damage from alfalfa weevil is less of a concern because they require green, growing foliage to thrive.
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 been reported in several western states. Therefore, if you believe you have a significant early season infestation, contact your county Extension Office for further guidance.
The deadline for advertising in the May 2026 issue of the Trader's Dispatch will be April 29th. Phone (406) 271-5533 or email: advertising @tradersdispatch.com
LIMOUSIN BULLS FOR SALE
Purebred, Registered, Fall Born
Polled bulls & females available private treaty
Range raised, athletic, great disposition, efficient and economical
Let’s visit about how a Limousin continental cross can give you that “HETEROSIS” Free Lunch” that you may need. Increase calving ease, vigor, weaning weight, milking ability, and longevity.
Real world honest cattle. Backed with customer service. Semen tested and guaranteed. Delivery, semen, and leasing options available. Ferrat Ranch Limousin - John & Samantha Ferrat
Please call (406) 949-7911 for more information
Plan on attending early as there are few small items in this auction
2013 EZ Ration TRLG-0713 square bale processor, tandem duals, 4 drum, indep. scale, handles 12- 3’x4’x8’ bales
2008 Leon 425 Silver Spreader manure spreader. Tandem axle, hyd. gate, twin beater,
2009 Degelman Bale King 3100 bale processor, 1000 RPM
2018 Haybuster 2800 bale processor
2021 Farm King 10” x 70-ft. auger. PTO , like new
3 pt. hyd. wire roller
Lowe 1200E skidsteer mount hyd. post hole auger
Danuser skidsteer mount post driver
Elston 3 pt. gopher getter
2-Skidsteer mount big square bale forks
Skidsteer mount pallet forks
3 pt. PTO cement mixer
2- ATV weed sprayers
Pickup truck winch crane
Aladdin Lot pressure washer
Atlas Copco XAS185 49 HP air compressor trailer, diesel engine, 3 hoses. Fire fighting sprayer on trailer, 200 gallon tank, hose
MAY 9, 2026
10 AM – Live Auction
8 River Bend Ranch Lane, Big Horn, MT
From Interstate 94 East of Custer, MT, take Big Horn exit #53. Then go South on Tullock Road 1 mile to River Bend Ranch Lane. Then a short distance to auction site.
TRACTORS AND BACKHOE
2003 Case 8920 MFWD, duals, diesel eng., 3 pt., PTO, 3 remotes,18 spd, Power shift, 8921 hrs.
1998 Case 8920 MFWD, duals, diesel eng, 3pt, PTO, 3 remotes,18 spd, Power shift, 8241 hrs.
1991 Case 580 Super L backhoe, 4WD, 4 spd. shuttle shift, extend-A-hoe, 2 stick controls, diesel eng, 5891 hrs.
ROAD GRADER
1979 John Deere 770A road grader. ripper, 14-ft. blade with new edges, rebuilt engine
TRUCKS
2019 Ford F350 XLT 4WD, longbox, B&W ball hitch, auto tran., 6.2 gas eng., 113,574 mi.
2017 Ford F350 XLT crew cab. Bradford flatbed, 4WD, auto tran., 6.2 gas eng, 91,600 miles
2015 Ford F350 XL reg. cab Bradford flatbed, 6.2 gas eng., 4WD, auto tran. 97,000 mi
2005 Peterbilt semi, ISX Cummins 485 HP diesel, 15 spd., 222” wheelbase, 48” flattop sleeper, dual 80 gal. fuel tanks, single line wet kit, new front tires
1989 Chevrolet 3500 Cheyenne service truck, 4WD, duals, auto tran., with fuel tank and tool boxes, 89,670 miles
1994 GMC Topkick dump truck, tandem axle, Cat diesel eng, auto tran., 133,000 miles
1983 American Army 6x6 fire truck. multi-fuel engine, 2-300 ga. tanks, with Honda 610V twin engine water pump
John Deere 568 round baler, wet wrap. Phone (406) 660-0110
##### Penicillin, which only entered medical trial stages in the early 1940s became so precious during World War II that it was regularly extracted from the urine of soldiers who had been treated with it - and reused.
n ResoluteST Alfalfa
n Hammer AX* Coaxium Spring Wheat
n Hampton Green Field Pea*
n Montech 4193 Yellow Field Pea*
n Montech 4152 Yellow Field Pea*
Bruce Seed Farm, Inc.
Townsend | 406-266-3103
Big Sky Wholesale Seeds, Inc. Shelby | 406-434-5011
Cahill Seeds Scobey | 406-783-5510
Circle S Seeds of Montana Three Forks | 406-285-3269
ARS researchers discovered a new biocontrol technique to reduce one of the biggest pests to wheat growers. Wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus) costs wheat growers an estimated $350 million annually. Due to the limited options for controlling this pest, its range has expanded over the past years, causing devastation to dryland winter wheat crops grown in Colorado and Nebraska. ARS researchers in Fort Collins, CO, and Sidney, MT, along with university colleagues, have developed and tested a simple yet efficient method to control sawflies in affected areas.
Scientists used bales of wheat straw to transport a native predator of sawflies, day-glow orange parasitoids (Bracon spp.), from areas where they were established to devastated wheat-growing regions in Colorado and Nebraska. These parasitoids specifically prey on the wheat stem sawfly. Collaborating with the USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, the team moved nine straw bales to the ARS field station, where roughly 67,500 parasitoids emerged. The parasitoids promptly went to work, killing sawflies in the wheat fields where they were introduced. This technique for biocontrol has great potential to significantly increase wheat yields in heavily infested areas of the Great Plains.
Taking stock
By Ben Beckman, UNL
In Nebraska, February is usually the halfway point of winter. And since we’re on the back side of the season now, this is a good time to take stock of your feed resources— especially hay.
First, how is your hay stockpile looking today? An open winter can reduce hay use, but don’t assume you’re in the clear. The goal, even in a tough year, is to avoid buying hay late in the game just to reach spring. If you’re short, make a plan now, and then ask the bigger question: how do we keep this from happening again next winter? Annual forages can provide quick yield, and if this is a repeat problem, it may be time to look at expanding grass or alfalfa acres—keeping in mind moisture and the forecast, especially on dryland.
Next, think about last year’s perennial forage yields. Did your grass or alfalfa fields perform the way you needed? If renovation is coming, the planning starts now. For example, if an old alfalfa stand needs to come out and you want that rotation “rest year” before reseeding, don’t wait until summer to decide. Even interseeding legumes into grass should be on the early-season calendar.
Maybe you don’t need a full renovation, it could be a look at fertility will boost yields. If you didn’t soil sample last fall, plan your sampling soon so plant needs match what you are providing. And don’t forget to match fertilizer timing to your dominant species; not all plants grow at the same time of year.
Finally, take a hard look at the forage budget. Do you need new equipment—and can you justify it? Or does it make more sense to buy hay, or hire custom harvesting? Costs matter, but so do labor, timing, and forage quality.
Winter gives us a chance to take stock and plan ahead. A quick check on hay inventory, last year’s yields, and the economics can make a big difference in how smoothly you hit spring.
Bracon cephi larva consuming wheat stem sawfly larva in the stem. (Photo by Erika Peirce)
Wheat stem sawfly adult on a stem of wheat. (Photo by Kelsey Dawson)
TRACTOR FOR SALE
John Deere 4430 tractor, 125 hp, 3-point hitch, 2 new batteries, 2818 hours. Real good shape, always shedded when not in use. Used last season to bale....$18,000 Phone (406) 239-4451
Managing cattle nutrition during pasture recovery
By Chevy-Lynn
Vaske, K-State Extension news service
Persistent drought has already tested ranchers across western Kansas this winter — and now, prairie fires have added another layer of strain for cattle operations working to protect both land and livestock.
During a recent segment of Agriculture Today, Justin Waggoner, K-State beef cattle expert, shared practical recommendations for caring for cattle after wildfire events.
CLAY CREEK ANGUS
“The first priority is to make sure cattle are in a safe environment with access to clean water and feed,” Waggoner said.
“You may not be able to graze that burned grass for a while,” Waggoner said. “So the focus shifts to maintaining those cattle efficiently. Most of the time, it’s not just about having feed — it’s about using it smart.”
Waggoner noted that in many wildfire situations, fellow producers step up to donate hay and supplemental resources — a gesture he says is deeply appreciated.
“It’s always appreciated when farmers donate hay,” he said. “But once those donations arrive, we have to be strategic in how we use them so we stretch those resources as far as possible.”
To help producers make informed decisions, donated hay is often separated into four quality categories based on nutrient content.
“The first category is low-quality hay, typically containing less than 7% crude protein,” Waggoner said. “That type of hay works well as a replacement for dormant native range. It can fill cows up, but it won’t provide a lot of additional nutrients.”
Moderate-quality hay includes forages such as brome or wheat hay, which offer improved protein levels and energy content.
“Moderate-quality hays step up the nutrient profile a bit,” he said. “They’re often a good fit for maintaining mature cows, depending on their stage of production.”
Higher-quality forages, such as alfalfa, are more nutrientdense than most cows require on their own. Because of that, Waggoner recommends blending when possible.
“Alfalfa and other high-quality hays contain more nutrients than a dry cow may need,” he said. “That makes them excellent blending options. You can pair them with lower-quality forage to create a balanced ration and use your resources more efficiently.”
The final category includes higher-risk forages that may pose potential concerns, such as nitrate accumulation.
“Some forages can be higher risk, especially if there are nitrate concerns,” Waggoner said. “In those cases, you may want additional testing and more information before feeding. It’s better to know what you have than to guess.”
With spring calving underway or approaching for many Kansas operations, maintaining body condition is particularly important. Nutritional shortfalls during late gestation and early lactation can have long-term impacts on cow performance and reproductive success.
“In the spring, it’s calving time, and you have to be mindful of getting those cattle the nutrients they need without letting them lose body condition,” Waggoner said. “If cows lose too much condition now, it can affect them long term — from milk production to rebreeding.”
As producers navigate pasture recovery and feed inventories, Waggoner encourages them to work closely with local extension agents and nutritionists to evaluate forage quality and develop strategic feeding plans.
Mad dogs and a deadly disease
Louis Pasteur worked on a number of vaccines including one for treating rabies. Human beings get it by being bitten or even licked by infected animals, mostly dogs, who drool and look mad–not angry, but crazy. The bad news is that no one has ever been known to recover from rabies. However, thanks to Pasteur, you can prevent it from taking hold.
Pasteur was so sure that his rabies vaccine would work that he was ready to deliberately inoculate himself with rabies in order to demonstrate his discovery. Before that could happen, a nine-year-old boy named Joseph Meister arrived in Pasteur’s laboratory. Joseph had been bitten two days earlier by a rabid dog. So, unfortunately for Pasteur, he had a guinea pig other then, himself. The treatment involved a ten-day course of injections; Joseph survived–and so did Pasteur’s reputation.
April is Straw Hat Month
Straw hats have always had something of a pastoral air to them, from the conical straw hat commonly seen in rice fields to the wide-brimmed straw hats worn by ‘hayseed farmers’ in the Americas, straw hats say agriculture.
What is largely unknown to many is how far back the history of the straw hat stretches. While some things may only get a single day of celebration dedicated to them, so important is the straw hat that it has an entire month dedicated to it!
History of Straw Hat Month
Straw Hats have appeared in cultures the world over, and have been made from just about every conceivable form of straw or grass as a result. Some of the most common are wheat straw hats, most commonly found in the Italian Peninsula, rush straws, palm leaves (did you know that a Palm Tree has much in common with grasses? Us either!) and of course rice straw and bamboo that are used in Asian Conical hats. It may seem a bit early to consider wearing a straw hat, especially since most people associate them with warm summer wear, but they really can be appropriate for much of the year, especially in milder climates.
The unique properties of the straw hat make it a great piece of attire no matter what weather you face. Is it hot and sunny out? The woven straw hat will let heat escape while protecting your head from the pounding rays of a mid-day sun. Is it raining? A properly woven straw hat will let the rain roll right off your head and away from your face and clothes, helping you to stay dry. They may not be great when dealing with truly cold weather like snow, but wrapping a cloth around your head under the straw hat will help trap heat while keeping the snow or cold winter rain off your head.
Modern straw hats are sometimes made with plastic strips, laminated grasses, or woven paper, but for our money, we think that traditional straw hats are the only appropriate wear for Straw Hat Month. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways. How to Celebrate Straw Hat Month
Well, it all starts with your choice of attire now, doesn’t it? Straw Hat Month is a great opportunity to trot out your straw hat collection and share them with the world. What’s that? Don’t you have a straw hat collection? Then this is a great excuse to start to build one!
From the Panama hat to the Conical Straw Hat, and everything in between, there’s an endless variety to choose from! There’s sure to be a straw hat that fits your style, Straw Hat Month is your excuse to find it!
HEREFORD BULLS FOR SALE
Home raised on forage only, never fed grain 16 coming 2 year olds, 13 coming yearlings, 5 older bulls
Horned and polled
Average price of 2 yr olds- $3800; yearlings $3750 Located North Central South Dakota Rick Rausch 605-380-0784 rrs@venturecomm.net
FDR put out a request for a cloth-based waterproof tape. A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson answered this request with a rubberbased adhesive material applied to a durable duck cloth backing. It worked perfectly as a water-resistant sealant. The US Army used it to mend windows, seal ammo crates, and even as a type of temporary bandage for sealing wounds. Back then, it was a standard military green color, and it was known as “duck tape” rather than “duct tape”. This was due to the waterproof duck-cloth backing that the adhesive was applied to. #####
During World War II, Americans called hamburgers “liberty steaks”. This was due to the fact that “hamburger” sounded a little bit too German! Also, during World War I, sauerkraut was re-dubbed “liberty cabbage.”
#####
A single puff of cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals.
center, quick change gear box, oil bath gears, 3 inch through hole, Kirkelie quick change tool post, sells with many tool holders, lathe dogs, & cutters
• Homemade Hyd drive slip roller, power box Hyd pump & tank, with cart, 3 phase motor
• Queen City Machine
TR 99
Hp, 240 bushel grain tank, 30.5L-32 tires, straw chopper, auger extension, picked up a rock and damaged
insides, 6,155 Engine Hr. Serial # 565677
2004 Gleaner R-65 combine, 285 HP, Hydro, 300 bushel grain tank, chaff spreader, 30.5L-32 tires, 4,218 engine Hr. 3,316 Separator Hr. Serial # R65-HN62154, sells with a 12 Ft Gleaner pickup header Serial # SJ41113 with a Victory Super 8 pickup attachment Serial # 50002/97838
• New Holland 971 36 Ft straight cut header, pickup reel, center floor is poor, sells with a header trailer
• Honey Bee SP 25 draper header, pickup reel, transport kit, Serial # K25425971569
• 10 X70 Westfield WR100-71 PTO grain auger, (tipped on its side nonoperational is has some damage), flighting is in good shape
• 8X31 Farm King load out auger, new Predator 670 CC engine,
• New Holland 1032 pull type small square bale wagon
• New Holland TR97 for parts
1993 Cat Challenger 85C , cab air heat, 355 Hp Cat 3176 engine, 10 speed power shift Trans, 36 inch tracks, 4 Hyd remotes, Trimble auto steer, CFX 750 Easy steer, 6,948 Hr.
man roll tarp, electric rear gate, good tires, only 30,849 miles
• 1974 Ford F-800 single axle truck, 361 V-8 engine, 5&2 speed, 19 Ft flat
with a hoist and 4 Ft extension for hay, 69,543 miles 1980 Ford 8000 tandem truck, 6V-71 Detroit engine, Auto Trans, 20 Ft Aluminum box, new ShurLok roll tarp, pintle hitch plumbed for rear air, diff lock, new 11R-22.5 driver tires, shows 70,186 miles • 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 4X4,
Zetor M40 tractor with ZL40 loader, 40 hp, manual transmission, 4WD, Cat 1 three point hitch, 66” bucket, only 46 hours. $21,500
Kioti CS2210HS tractor with SL2410 loader, 22 hp, 4WD, Cat 1 three point, 540 PTO, HST transmission, 37 hours. $13,000
Farmall 504 tractor with Ford HD post pounder. $5500
John Deere S100 lawn tractor with snowblower. Like new $4500
Ford 860 tractor, good condition
$3500
Oliver 88 project tractor. $1000
Kioti RX7320PC tractor with KL7320 loader, cab, heat, A/C, power shuttle transmission, 4WD, Cat II 3-point, 540 PTO. 1 in stock
Kioti CK3520SEHC tractor with KL4030 loader, cab, heat, A/C, HST transmission, 4WD, Cat I 3-point, 540 PTO, 35 hp. 1 in stock
Kioti DK4720SEH tractor, KL5521 loader, 4WD, HST transmission, Cat I 3-point, 540 PTO. 1 in stock
Kioti CK3520H tractor with KL4030 loader, 4WD, HST transmission, Cat I 3-point, 540 PTO. 1 in stock
Kioti CX2510H tractor with KL5510 loader, 25 hp, 4WD, Cat I 3-point, 540 PTO, HST transmission 1 in stock
Kioti CS2210H tractor with SL2410 loader 2 in stock
Massey-Ferguson 510 combine, Perkins diesel $3250 Ford Major tractor. $1250 New Holland 855 round baler.$3850 New Holland 1033 balewagon
NILE announces elite xtreme rodeo match
The Northern International Livestock Expo (NILE) has announced an exciting new addition to the professional rodeo calendar. Debuting October 16th – 17th during the 2026 NILE in Billings, The Riggin Masters will feature the top 24 PRCA bareback bronc riders in the world standings competing for a record-setting $100,000 purse — making it the largest standalone bareback bronc riding event in the world. The Top six Rookie bareback riders will also be invited. Sanctioned as a PRCA Rank 45 Xtreme Broncs event, the elite field is expected to include the Top 15 qualifiers for the 2026 National Finals Rodeo (NFR), offering fans a rare opportunity to see rodeo’s premier athletes compete in Billings before heading to the sport’s biggest stage in Las Vegas.
The Ultimate Bareback Showdown
The Riggin Masters will spotlight bareback bronc riding — widely regarded as rodeo’s most physically demanding event. Riders will test their strength, timing, and grit aboard some of the rankest bucking horses from leading PRCA stock contractors.
World champions including Rocker Steiner, Jess Pope, Keenan Hayes, Dean Thompson, and Tim O’Connell are sure to be among the sport’s elite bareback riders eligible for the Top 24 ranking. Montana standouts Sam Petersen, Weston Timberman, and Richmond Champion are also projected to rank among the Top 24 in the PRCA standings by season’s end as well.
“We are thrilled to receive PRCA approval for this allnew event and to showcase these incredible cowboy athletes matched up against rodeo’s rankest bucking horses,” said NILE General Manager David Allen. “Billings is in for a real treat — two wild nights of elite-level competition during the 2026 NILE.”
Why It’s Called “The Riggin Masters”
The event takes its name from the “riggin,” the specialized leather handhold device that riders grip during bareback competition. Secured tightly to the horse, the riggin serves as the rider’s only anchor point as they attempt to control a 1,200-pound animal for eight seconds of controlled chaos.
Scoring is based on the rider’s control, consistency, and spurring technique, along with the horse’s power and intensity. At the highest level, bareback riding demands extraordinary physical strength, reflexes, and anticipation — a true test of mastery for both the cowboy athlete and animal. The Riggin Masters will bring 80 head of rodeo’s rankest broncs to Billings for the two-day competition.
“The cowboys who compete at this level truly are masters of their craft,” stated Scott Moran, NILE President. “This event requires a unique combination of strength, reflexes, and instinct. Billings is set to become synonymous with the ultimate Xtreme Bareback competition in the U.S. and Canada.”
Scholarship Fundraiser & 2026 Rodeo Schedule
The competition kicks off October 15 with a Back Number and Calcutta Party benefiting the NILE Scholarship Fund. The NILE Foundation aims to raise $100,000 for scholarships in 2026. Additional announcements regarding personnel and bucking stock will follow in the coming weeks.
The Riggin Masters will be the second major pro rodeo event produced by NILE in 2026, joining year-two of Rodeo Billings, scheduled for August 13–15 during Montana Fair at MetraPark.
With top-ranked athletes, world-class bucking stock, and record-setting prize money, The Riggin Masters is poised to elevate Billings’ status as a premier destination for professional rodeo.
An On-Sale date for tickets will be announced in March. For more information about the 2026 NILE and The Riggin Masters, visit www.thenile.org or contact Alli@thenile.org.
You aren’t “You”
The average adult human body is made up of more than 30 trillion cells, all of them descendants of the one original zygote–the egg cell from your mother that was fertilized by sperm from your father. The average body also contains microbes: organisms that enter from the environment, such as the bacteria that line the intestines and aid in digestion. These beneficial microbes colonize our bodies during and shortly after birth, and they stay with us our entire lives. In fact, the average adult human body contains as many colonizing microbes as native human cells.
Controlling winter annual weeds
By Todd Whitney, UNL
Record winter high temperatures are causing earlier weeds emergence; so now is the time to control winter annual weeds in alfalfa. Thin field stands combined with open soil surfaces and adequate moisture can result in high weed pressure. So, prior to alfalfa shoot green-up or dormancy break, scout fields for early green winter annual weed patches of pennycress, downy brome, mustards, cheatgrass, and shepherd’s purse. Left unchecked, these weeds can lower first cutting hay yield, quality and palatability. Also, excessive weeds can extend dry-down and lengthen harvest time.
However, before applying any herbicide, scout current and potential weed pressure. Verify that fields have enough weeds to justify herbicide spray applications and then determine the best management options.
Winter annual weeds can grow better during cooler Spring temperatures than alfalfa; so dormant alfalfa herbicides such as: MCPA Amine; metribuzin and Gramoxone® can still be applied. Preemergent herbicides such as Warrant®; Chateau®; and Prowl H2O® can be applied soon after green-up, but these chemicals will not control weeds which have already germinated. Aim® herbicide will control early growing broadleaf weeds but not control grassy weeds. Poast® herbicide will control most growing weedy grasses but not downy brome. Pursuit® and Raptor® herbicides control growing henbit well during early alfalfa green-up, but control weeds best when air temperatures are warmer. Glyphosate products like Roundup Weathermax®/ Powermax® will control growing weeds with warmer temperatures too; however, they must be used with RoundupTolerant alfalfa varieties.
Other new alfalfa field products include: Balan®; Trust®; Moxy®; Arrow®; Select Max®; Velpar; Karmex®; Sinbar®; Pursuit; Butyrac® and Raptor®. Our UNL Extension publication, EC 130, ‘Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska provides additional information.
Winter annuals can quickly establish in hay fields, so early season weed control is important for quality hay production. Timing is essential, so control winter annuals before alfalfa breaks dormancy and before weeds render economic losses. For more alfalfa information visit: https://cropwatch.unl.edu
diesel, 4x4x4 front & rear steering, ultimate snow moving machine, complete, ready to work only 6000 miles and 700 hours Call
Ingersoll Rand P375
compressor,
CFM, 3.9 Cummins diesel, hose reel and hose, ex-city machine with only 607
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That spot on your back that you can’t scratch is called the acnestis.
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The first cloned dog to survive: Snuppy, an Afghan hound, who was born in April 2005.
Recipe Patch by Geri
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
2 pounds chuck roast, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium white onion, chopped
1 cup dry red wine, like Cabernet Sauvignon
3 stalk celery chopped
2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped
4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1 pound new potatoes, halved
3 cloves garlic, quartered
2 bay leaves
4 cups beef stock
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish
Brown the beef:
In a medium bowl, add the beef, flour, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat the beef evenly with the flour.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. Once oil is hot (rippling, but not smoking), add half of the beef and sear for 3 to 4 minutes without stirring it. Flip the beef over and brown the other side, for 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the seared beef into a bowl. Sear the remaining beef and transfer them into the bowl.
Deglaze the skillet: Turn heat down to medium-low and add the onions. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, to soften them slightly. Add the red wine. Use a wooden spatula to scrape up any brown bits stuck to the skillet.
If you don’t want to use wine, you can also use beef stock to deglaze the pan with a splash of red wine vinegar for a little acidity.
In a large slow cooker, add the celery, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, garlic, bay leaves, and beef stock. Add the browned beef and the onions and red wine from the skillet. Cover and cook on high for 5 to 6 hours or on low for 8 hours.
PLOWDOWN ALFALFA
The stew is cooked when the meat is fall-apart tender if you grab a piece with a fork. The vegetables will be cooked through and very tender as well. Taste and season the stew to your liking. It might need a pinch of salt and black pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water and stir it into the stew to thicken it slightly. It should thicken after 1 to 2 minutes of stirring.
This stew keeps and freezes fantastically. Keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days or transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop’
Slow Cooker Taco Soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound (450g) lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups (180g) diced yellow or red onions
2 to 3 cups (475ml to 710ml) chicken or beef stock (use more if you want a thinner soup)
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles
1 1/4 cups (135g) corn kernels, fresh or frozen
2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add beef and onions and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until the ground beef is browned but not completely cooked and the onions are starting to look soft around the edges. Use your spatula to break up the ground beef into smaller pieces as it cooks. Remove from heat and use immediately, or refrigerate for a day or two until needed.
SIMPLE TIP!
If you’d like to do this step ahead of time, you can do it up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate until your ready to make the soup.
Combine the browned beef, onions and the remaining soup ingredients in a slow cooker and stir. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. It’s fine if the soup cooks a little longer or the slow cooker switches to the “warm” setting.
Serve soup in bowls and top with crushed tortilla chips, sour cream, cilantro, red onion and lime juice.
This soup will keep refrigerated for 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months. of water for best results.
Revisiting Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
By Jane Mangold, Montana State University Extension Invasive Plant Specialist
Introduction
Garlic mustard, a biennial mustard native to Europe, was featured in the 2015 June Weed Post. This post revisits the species as it has been increasingly reported in Montana and is now listed in Lewis and Clark County. Efforts in Montana are focused on learning to identify garlic mustard so we can find it and manage it early and proactively.
Identification
First-year rosette leaves are kidney-shaped with scalloped margins. Leaves of second-year plants are heart-shaped at the base of the plant while upper leaves are smaller, triangular, and arranged alternately; leaves havetoothed margins and pointed tips. A plant will have single or multiple flowering stems and can range in height from one to four feet. Flowers are white with four petals and occur in button-like clusters. Long, slender seed capsules, called siliques, are green initially then turn brown and curve slightly as they mature. Leaves and stems give off a garlic odor when crushed.
Habitat
Garlic mustard forms dense stands, especially in the understory of deciduous forests, and has been especially impactful in New England and the Midwest. Garlic mustard produces phytotoxic chemicals that can inhibit growth of tree seedlings as well as alter soil biological and chemical properties. In Montana, reports of garlic mustard have been small populations in urban settings.
Management, including a recent development in biological control
Where garlic mustard is not well-established, early detection and rapid response is the main objective and being confident in garlic mustard identification is critical. Hand-pulling is effective for small infestations, and mowing second-year plants before seed development is also effective. There are several chemical control options, and the best option depends on the situation. In most cases, applications should be applied at the rosette to bolting stage. If plants are found, management should be swift and highly effective to prevent seed production and spread. For places where garlic mustard is well-established, there is good new regarding biological control: the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued approval for releasing the root crown weevil Ceutorhynchus scrobicollis to biologically control garlic mustard. The larvae of this tiny weevil eat within the root crown, shoot bases, and leaf stalks (petioles) of garlic mustard. Canada approved the release of C. scrobicollis in June 2018, and results have been encouraging.
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A 75-year-old wealthy man shows up to the golf course with a beautiful, much younger woman on his arm. His friends are more than curious. When they get their friend alone, they ask, “Is that your girlfriend?” “Actually, she’s now my wife,” the proud man says, “How in the world did you get a woman like that to marry you?” the friends inquire. “It’s easy. I simply lied about my age.” “Oh, we get it,” the friends say with knowing smiles. “Did you tell her you were 50?” “No,” came the reply, “90.”
By Chevy-Lynn Vaske, K-State Extension news service
Wet conditions that favor parasites like liver flukes are a reminder that herd health threats often develop quietly before becoming costly problems.
On a recent episode of the BCI Cattle Chat podcast, KState beef cattle experts say proactive disease management and emergency preparedness planning go hand-in-hand in building resilient cattle operations.
The team described liver flukes as parasitic worms that can damage the liver and bile ducts of livestock, especially cattle and sheep, and are more common in wet pasture environments.
These parasites can lead to a range of health issues — from reduced weight gain to sudden death in severe cases — making early detection and response planning essential for producers.
“Understanding and anticipating disease risks, like liver flukes, helps you keep animals healthier and more resilient when unexpected challenges arise,” said Christine Navarre, an extension veterinarian at Louisiana State University and guest on the weekly podcast.
Navarre emphasized that accurate diagnosis and targeted prevention strategies are key. Producers should work with their veterinarians to implement parasite control protocols, including strategic deworming and timely vaccination, where appropriate.
In addition to disease management, Navarre highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness planning.
“In any operation, you need to think ahead about access to water, feed, power, communication, and record keeping,” she said. “Being prepared means your farm can respond quickly and effectively when challenges occur, like severe weather or health emergencies.”
Steps producers can take include:
Establishing reliable backup plans for essential resources such as water and feed supplies.
Ensuring access to electricity and communication tools during outages.
Keeping accurate animal health and production records to guide decision-making in emergencies.
Developing coordinated response actions with family, staff and local veterinarians.
Navarre said emergency preparedness isn’t only about weather events or sudden health outbreaks; it’s about building resilience so that every operation can continue functioning, even under stress.
“Planning before a crisis hits gives producers confidence and control,” Navarre added.
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In India, custom calls for a body to be burned on a funeral pyre near a riverbank and a temple; the ashed are thrown into the river. Some adherents to Zoroastrianism place bodies atop towers; after the flesh is eaten by vultures, the bones are thrown into a pit at the center of the tower.
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In January 1943, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands - who lived in exile in Ottawa, Ontario, with her two daughters during World War II - gave birth to a third daughter at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. At the request of the Dutch government, the Canadian government legally designated the hospital room “Dutch soil” to ensure the princess would be exclusively a Dutch citizen (and not also a Canadian citizen), a requirement for the new princess to remain in the Dutch royal line of succession. In thanks for its wartime kindness, the Dutch government still sends Canada 20,000 tulips every year #####
Hailey Jo Bauer was born on August 8, 2008 (8/8/08) at 8:08 am. She weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz.
10
2002 Freightliner drill truck, 5.7 8-speed, Red Tool Company drill, 3.9 Cummins, 719 hours. $20,000
2006 Fallon trailer, tilt bed. $14,000
1997 International truck 60-ft. bucket, 456 diesel, 8 speed....$20,000 $25,000
1998 Ford F800 service truck, 5000 lb. crane, Cummins. $19,000
1993 International service truck, 8000# crane, air compressor, bad motor $10,000
2001 International 4WD, 60-ft. bucket truck, Altech boom. $30,000
2000 Ford F750 flatbed with 7500 lb. crane, Cummins, 6 speed $17,500
1989 International 41-ft. bucket truck, diesel, automatic. $12,000
1986 Ford F800 National 228 37-ft. crane, 14-ft. dump bed $10,000
1979 GMC chip truck $6500
How to adjust corn nitrogen rates with higher fertilizer prices
By Javed Iqbal - Extension Nutrient Management and Water Quality Specialist, Bijesh Maharjan - Extension Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist, Carolina Córdova - Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Assistant Professor and Statewide Soil Health Specialist, Nicolás Cafaro La Menza – Cropping Systems Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer prices have increased again this spring, tightening margins for Nebraska producers and putting more risk on every pound of N you apply. Instead of making across-the-board N cuts, this is a good year to tighten up efficiency and make sure every pound is working for you. While prices are not at the record highs seen in 2022, they are noticeably higher than last year. Retail bids suggest N products like urea have jumped by nearly 20-30% in a week, from approximately $800/ton to $1,000/ton. At these prices, even small rate adjustments matter. Reducing N fertilizer applications by 20 lbs/acre can save $12–$18 per acre, depending on the N source.
Why
are
Nitrogen Fertilizer Prices Higher?
$12,500
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Most of N fertilizers are made from natural gas and traded globally. The production of N fertilizer is energy-intensive to produce and globally traded. When energy supply or shipping routes are disrupted, fertilizer prices can move quickly. Recent events like the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have tightened global supplies of natural gas and ammonia, which has shown up as higher N price quotes at local retailers. Of course, we cannot control global markets, but we can control how effectively we use N fertilizers in our farms this year. Below are few strategies to consider.
Practical Ways to Respond to Higher N Prices in 2026 Recalculate Economic Optimum Nitrogen Rate (EONR)
As fertilizer prices increase relative to grain prices, the economically optimal nitrogen rate generally decreases. Revisit rate decisions using current fertilizer and grain prices, plug in your own N price and expected corn price in the UNL Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator; recheck rates if your N quote changes by more than 10-15%. The UNL Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator provides an updated, data-driven approach.
For example, at a 250 bu/acre yield goal, with $4.70/bu corn and urea increasing from $800 to $1,000 per ton, the UNL calculator suggests reducing rates from 246 to 224 lb N/acre on irrigated silt loam, saving about $22 per acre while maintaining maximum net return under current price conditions.
Shift More Nitrogen In-Season
Applying 60% or more of total N during the growing season improves synchronization with crop demand and reduces the risk of early-season loss. A base rate of 50–100 lb N/acre at planting, followed by sidedress or fertigation between V6 and R2, can reduce financial risk under volatile prices.
Find more at our recently updated Nebraska Extension NebGuide G2365, “In-Season Nitrogen Management for Irrigated Corn.”
Use Diagnostics for Fine-Tune Decisions
Active canopy sensors, satellite imagery and yield-based management zones can refine in-season adjustments. Nebraska research shows that sensor-guided N management can reduce rates by 20–40 lb/acre without sacrificing yield.
Find more here: “Nitrogen for Corn: Using Precision Agriculture and Sensor Technologies for Smarter Nitrogen Management to Boost Profits”
Credit All Nitrogen Sources
Properly account for N credits from legumes, manure, irrigation water and residual soil nitrate. Updated manure N availability factors should be used to avoid unnecessary application.
Consider Participating in the Nebraska NUE Program
In addition to improving efficiency on your own operation, Nebraska producers may consider participating in the 2026 Nebraska Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) Program. This program, funded by the Nebraska Corn Board and administered in partnership with Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) and the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE), provides incentive payments of $15 per acre for qualifying corn fields that achieve a NUE of 1.0 lb total available N per bushel or lower.
Applications for the 2026 season are due to local NRDs by May 15, 2026, with final data submission due by Jan. 15, 2027. Participation in the program provides an opportunity CONTINUED ON PAGE A35
Taking the bite out of cattle fever tick disease
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ARS researchers identified innovative ways to prevent the potential spread of the cattle fever tick, a known carrier of babesiosis, into the U.S. Babesiosis is a disease caused by a protozoan parasite that infects red blood cells. It was eradicated in the U.S. decades ago, but it continues to be a significant problem in Mexico, which raises concerns about its potential return to the U.S. The cattle fever tick is the most economically important pest of cattle worldwide. Pesticides have been shown to be effective in managing this tick, but pesticide resistance has become an emerging issue.
ARS researchers in Edinburg, TX, in collaboration with university partners, evaluated the efficacy of different organic compounds for controlling this tick, including NootkaShield™, Stop the Bites®, and BioUD®. The results indicated that NootkaShield™, Stop the Bites®, and BioUD® led to significant mortality in cattle fever ticks when dosed at low concentrations. They also demonstrated strong repellent properties and a significant reduction in the tick’s fecundity (ability to produce an abundance of offspring). These compounds show promise for controlling cattle fever ticks, and scientists plan to further test them in the field.
How to adjust corn nitrogen rates with higher
to Improve profitability by reducing N input costs, protect groundwater quality, and be recognized for strong nitrogen management. More details about enrolling in the program are available through Nebraska DWEE. Producers are encouraged to contact their local NRD for application information and guidance.
After turning 65 in Arizona, a driver’s license must be renewed in person every five years and includes a mandatory vision exam.
Female cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. (Photo by Jason Tidwell, USDA-ARS)
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And mAny different pAsture grAss mixes
By Galen Erickson, Nebraska Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist, Paul Kononoff – UNL Dairy Specialist, Rick Rasby, Nebraska Extension Specialist, Kortney Harpestad – UNL Animal Science Extension Program Associate - Part 3 of 6
Greenhouse gases are molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping back into the atmosphere leading to a warming effect. The name greenhouse gas originated from a process observed in glass greenhouses where plants are grown. The glass lets heat into the greenhouse but does not let it escape. Greenhouse gasses trap heat produced by the sun and produce a warming effect on the earth’s surface.
Ruminants like beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and other animals have a rumen, and the rumen contains microbes. Rumen fermentation is a process that converts ingested feeds into energy and protein sources for the animal to use. More specifically, microbes in the rumen take feed/food and break them down for the microbes to use and finally for the animal to use. When feeding ruminants, feeding microbes is important. The digestive process enables ruminant animals to eat plants that otherwise could not be digested. As a result of the rumen fermentation processes, methane is a byproduct. Methane is belched from the mouth of cattle into the atmosphere. Methane is one of the three major greenhouse gases.
Methane is also released into the atmosphere from lagoons. Lagoons in the feedlot collect and trap runoff from pens in a feedlot where cattle are fed. Methane is a byproduct of the breakdown of manure that is caught in lagoons.
Agriculture’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is about 10%. About 4% of the 10% is in the form of direct methane production, mostly from cattle. Methane from cattle accounts for 25% of the 11.2% of the methane in the atmosphere.
The atmospheric half-life of methane is about 9 to 12 years. This means that after approximately 9 to 12 years, half of the methane released into the atmosphere today will be removed by natural processes in 9 to 12 years. Methane has a much shorter lifespan in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide. Because methane is effective at trapping heat, small decreases in methane emissions can impact climate change.
The University of Nebraska will conduct research to determine possible strategies to economically mitigate methane production from beef and dairy cattle.
Go Fly a Kite Day
Date celebrated on the third Sunday in April
“Go fly a kite” is an idiom that is used as a way of telling someone to go away or to leave you alone. The phrase originated in the 1940s and was very popular at that time and for the next few decades. Its meaning is derived from its literal meaning: a person would probably need to go away to actually fly a kite. A similar phrase is “Go jump in a lake.” In these phrases, the important word is “go,” not the place where the person is directed to go. Another idiom with a similar meaning is “Get lost.” Go Fly a Kite Day takes place during National Kite Month, which means that the phrase should be taken literally, and people should use the day to fly kites! It is believed that kites came from Shangdong, an eastern province of China; they were spread to India by traders, who brought them to Korea, and then across Asia. Different styles of kites, as well as different cultural purposes for flying them, came about in different locations. Early kites were often made with bamboo, and covered with silk and paper. In 1295 CE, European explorer Marco Polo documented kites and how to fly them. By the sixteenth century, books and literature had publicized kites as children’s toys, which helped them gain in popularity. Eventually, kites began being used for science. In 1749, Scottish meteorologist Alexander Wilson measured air temperature at 3,000 feet with a thermometer attached to a kite. Benjamin Franklin used a kite to prove lightning is electricity in 1752. The Wright brothers used kites for research when they were building the first airplane in the late 1800s. In the first half of the twentieth century, new kite designs began taking flight, such as the diamond kite, tetrahedral kite, flexible kite, sled kite, and parafoil kite. Starting in the 1950s, NASA began using kites for spaceship recovery. Over the years kites have also been used for surveillance during war. The American Kitefliers Association was formed in 1964.
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In 1911, stuntman Bobby Leach became the first man to survive going over Niagara Falls in a steel barrel. He died 15 years later from slipping on an orange peel and getting gangrene. #####
Unpeeled oranges float in water, while peeled oranges sink. This surprising phenomenon is due to the increased buoyancy of orange peel, which contains small pockets of air. ##### The longest marriage ever recorded lasted 90 years and 291 days. Karam and Kartari Chand were married on December 11, 1925, and were together until Karam’s death on September 30, 2016.
Leonard
UPCOMING
Saturday, June 13th, 2026
2 residential lots on main street in Conrad, MT (parcel 55600 Central Add Amend. S14, R03W Block 221 Lots 15 and 16 House will sell at 12 noon sharp. (subject to seller approval) approximately 1120 square ft. Garage approximately 960 square ft.
Vehicle and Tools
Check May Trader’s Dispatch for a more complete listing. Put this Sale on your calendar, you don’t want to miss this opportunity.
Flying D Auction
The Economic Value of Irrigated Agriculture in Montana
By Nick Hagerty, Assistant Professor MSU Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics
More than a quarter of crop output in Montana is irrigated -- giving irrigated agriculture a much larger economic contribution than its share of land would suggest. My last post explored irrigated agriculture in Montana: how big it is and what crops are most important. But so far I’ve looked at these questions only in terms of land area. What about in terms of dollars – i.e., revenue, or the value of production? Last time I showed that only 7% of cropland in Montana is irrigated. But that doesn’t mean that only 7% of agricultural output comes from irrigation. For one thing, irrigation can allow you to grow highervalue crops, like sugarbeets. For another, irrigation can give you higher yields. As a hypothetical example, if only half of hay acreage is irrigated, but irrigated hayfields get twice as many cuttings, then two-thirds of hay production would be irrigated.
of water. That said, only 1% of pastureland is irrigated, so irrigation is probably a small share of cattle production.
Which irrigated crops are most valuable? You can see in the graph below, which shows the value of irrigated crops relative to all crop production in Montana and then breaks it out by crop. Alfalfa and other hay are by far the most valuable irrigated crops, at $567 million in total value of production. So now let’s go back to the example above. In my last post, I showed that only 36% of hay acreage in Montana is irrigated. But yields are very different depending on whether the hay is irrigated. Alfalfa, for example, gets an average of 2.8 tons per acre when it’s irrigated, and only 1.0 ton per acre when it’s not. As a result, 56% of hay production is irrigated. Most hay acres are not irrigated, but most hay output is. After hay, the next-most valuable irri-
I decided to calculate the production value of irrigated agriculture, using data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Here’s the bottom line: Irrigation is responsible for 26% of the value of crop production in Montana, or $737 million (in 2022 dollars). That’s more than a quarter -- much higher than you would expect just based on the acreage that’s irrigated.
As usual, this number has limitations. Probably the biggest limitation is that it’s focused only on crop production. It ignores irrigated pasture used to raise beef cattle, Montana’s single largest agricultural product, because there isn’t currently any data to calculate this. About one-quarter of irrigated land is pastureland, so it’s a sizeable share
gated crops in Montana are wheat ($67 million), barley ($48 million), sugarbeets ($42 million), and corn ($31 million). Canola, chickpeas, dry peas, lentils, and safflower together add up to $5.5 million. I had to exclude a few crops for which the USDA doesn’t report the value of production (e.g., haylage, corn silage, and oats), but they make up only 2% of harvested acres and 6% of irrigated land, so they are unlikely to affect the totals by much.
These numbers show that irrigation’s economic importance to Montana producers far exceeds its footprint on the landscape. Even though most cropland is not irrigated, a large share of crop output -- and farm income -- depends on irrigation.
Source: https://stock.adobe.com willeye
##### Doritos were engineered with an optimized mix of
##### Pogonophobia is the irrational fear of beards, and is often driven by beliefs that bearded men are unhygienic, ill, or homeless. Women account for nine out of ten cases of this phobia.
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A beekeeper in South Australia taught his dog Bazz to sniff out an infectious disease that wipes out bee colonies, then invented a dog beekeeper suit for Bazz the Beekeeper.
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With lambing season in full swing, the University of Wyoming Extension has published a new online resource for producers seeking to minimize pregnancy loss in their flocks.
Titled “Why Ewes Don’t Always Deliver What They Scan: Understanding Fetal Loss in Sheep,” the new publication synthesizes recent scientific studies to explain when, how and why pregnancies may go awry, then outlines best practices for optimizing performance.
“A benchmark in profitable and sustainable sheep production systems is maximizing pounds of lamb weaned per ewe, and doing so requires attention to detail during every stage of breeding and pregnancy,” says Whit Stewart, UW Extension sheep specialist and associate professor of animal science.
“This bulletin brings together timely knowledge and recent advances that help producers better understand how to support the ewe so she can successfully carry more lambs to full term.”
Co-authored by Stewart and Johnson County extension educator Micah Most, the new publication starts by identifying key milestones and pitfalls at each stage of pregnancy.
While a typical pregnancy lasts about 147 days, research suggests that most embryo losses occur before day 29, the authors report. Nutrition, stress and environmental factors influence potential losses throughout the pregnancy, but are especially important during the first trimester.
“Because early losses are difficult to detect, maintaining optimal nutrition and stress-free conditions throughout pregnancy—especially during early development—is key to maximizing embryonic, fetal, and newborn lamb survival,” the publication states.
In sheep, pregnancy losses are often partial: it’s not unusual for a ewe to birth just one lamb even after an early scan indicated twins or triplets. Research shows that partial losses can be linked to specific sires and even the ratio of male and female fetuses in a single pregnancy.
Still, while some factors are outside a producer’s control, preventing undernutrition can help improve embryonic survival rates. Proper nutrition, disease prevention, ample forage resources and a low-stress environment are all essential to increasing the odds of a healthy pregnancy.
The authors recommend working with a veterinarian to create a veterinary health plan that includes administering relevant vaccinations as well as practicing good hygiene, implementing quarantine measures as needed and confirming diagnoses early.
Research-based strategies to support pregnancy health also include minimizing environmental and social stressors. In a state where shearing often occurs mid-gestation and weather conditions can be harsh, this is especially important, the authors note.
“Not every fertilized oocyte becomes a lamb on the ground,” they acknowledge. “But understanding why—whether it is early embryonic loss, infection-induced fetal loss, or the effects of nutrition and hormonal signaling—helps Wyoming producers make more informed management decisions.”
To read the full publication, visit https://bit.ly/sheep-fetalloss. Contact Stewart at whit.stewart@uwyo.edu or Most at mmost@uwyo.edu with questions.
Balloon bombs awaaay!
On May 5, 1945, a group of picnickers in Oregon fell victim to one of the oddest weapons used in World War II. The party found a 32-foot balloon in the woods. When they tried to move it, it exploded, killing six of them–the only fatalities of World War II to occur on American soil. In 1944 feeling intense pressure from American air raids, Japan came up with a seemingly brilliant way of striking back. Their planes couldn’t fly all the way to the States, so they started sending balloons made of rubberized silk, each carrying an explosive device. The balloons were supposed to ride high-altitude winds across the Pacific and come down to wreak havoc on the American heartland. The U.S. Air Force estimates that Japan launched 9,000 weaponized balloons between November 1944 and April 1945. About 1,000 of those actually made it to the United States but they inflicted only minor damage. Designed to be a weapon of mass terror, Japan’s balloon bomb campaign was rather ineffective. Had the Japanese added “germ bombs” to their balloons, casualties might have been immense. It’s likely that they balked at such a step for fear the United States would retaliate with their own germ weapons.
Prairie Fare: Wintry days and the vitamin D dilemma
By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist
We were seated at a sunny table in a restaurant recently. Brightness on a cold winter day always boosts people’s moods.
When I sat in the booth, unfortunately, the sun was lasering my eyes. All the tables were full, so we could not move to a different spot. The window had no shade. I could barely see my husband across the table.
My husband noticed me moving my head from side to side as I tried to use him as a sun shield. I moved closer to the window on the side of our booth, but the wall was ice cold.
“Do you want to switch places?” he asked gallantly.
“No, I should be OK,” I said as I put on my coat and slid next to the wall.
“The sun will move out of the way soon,” he reassured me.
On a positive side, I wondered if my skin was making any vitamin D, also called “the sunshine vitamin.”
Unfortunately, sunlight through windows or windshields is not a reliable way to get vitamin D in the winter.
When my scrambled eggs and toast arrived, the glare from the sun was gone. Eggs, by the way, are a good source of vitamin D. Even if my skin wasn’t making very much vitamin D, at least my breakfast was providing some.
In the 1930s, E.V. McCollum, a faculty member at the institution that would become Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, discovered vitamin D. At the time, a severe bone-softening disease was common among children, especially in the northern U.S. Rickets can lead to the bowing of legs and disability.
Adding vitamin D to milk became a public health measure that helped eradicate rickets. Having a spoonful of cod liver oil was another, probably less palatable, method for earlier generations to get their vitamin D and protect their growing bones.
People with dark skin, those with conditions that limit fat absorption (celiac disease, Crohn’s disease), exclusively breastfed infants and those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery may be at risk of low vitamin D.
We all need vitamin D. Vitamin D plays several other roles in our body. It helps the immune system fend off bacteria and viruses, and it helps nerves fire and muscles contract. It works with calcium and other nutrients to keep our bones strong throughout life, plus it serves numerous other functions. It may reduce our risk for certain types of cancer. It may reduce cognitive decline and multiple sclerosis, but studies are ongoing.
In some studies, low levels of vitamin D have been linked to depression and diabetes; however, the study results are conflicting. In other words, taking vitamin D is not a treatment for these diseases.
Read Nutrition Facts labels because vitamin D levels are listed on many products. Unfortunately, most foods have no vitamin D unless it is added. Besides fortified milk, fortified breakfast cereals can be a good source.
Some foods naturally contain vitamin D, including egg yolks, and fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel.
Husband Appreciation Day
This holiday is celebrated on the third Saturday in April
The objective of this special day is for wives to show appreciation to their husbands in a marriage with no children. In a marriage with children, there is Father’s Day, a day to recognize the value of husbands with kids. So, it is only fitting that there be a special day to recognize and show appreciation to childless husbands. It should be very easy to show appreciation to your husband, for who he is, and for the many great things he does. You know him well, his likes and dislikes. He will love being pampered. Start by telling him he is appreciated. Give him a few examples of why. Next, select a couple of things he likes or likes to do, and make it happen. You can give him a gift today, but it is not a requirement.
While this day was originally intended to honor husbands in a childless marriage, we encourage all wives to show appreciation for their husbands on this day, too. After all, showing your appreciation today and every day is a great
have a wonderful marriage.
Prairie Fare: Wintry days and the vitamin D dilemma
Some foods naturally contain vitamin D, including egg yolks, and fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel. Be sure to visit with your health care provider, who might order tests to determine vitamin D levels. Most of us in the upper Midwest probably need a vitamin D supplement at the level suggested by our health care provider.
However, too much vitamin D through supplements can be harmful and result in muscle weakness, heart rhythm issues, kidney stones and other issues.
As we briskly walked through the parking lot to our car on that cold, sunny day, I was happy we had added a vitamin D supplement to our daily regimen.
This vitamin D-rich recipe and nutrition analysis is courtesy of the Iowa State University’s “Spend Smart. Eat Smart.” program. Rinsing canned fish in a colander can reduce the sodium content. Complete your meal with sliced fruit and a glass of vitamin D-fortified milk.
Salmon Wraps
4 ounces low-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
1 (14.75-ounce) can salmon (or tuna)
3 tablespoons light Italian dressing
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
6 (8-inch) whole-wheat tortillas
1 tomato
1 cucumber
1 ½ cups romaine lettuce or spinach leaves, rinsed Soften cream cheese at room temperature or microwave for 10 seconds. Wipe top of can before opening. Drain salmon in a colander and rinse with water. Add salmon, dressing and pepper to cream cheese. Stir to blend. Spread 1/3 cup filling on each tortilla. Spread to the edges. Slice tomato into thin slices, then slice in half. Cut cucumbers in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Lay on flat side and cut into narrow strips. Place lettuce or spinach leaves on top of filling in center of tortilla. Stop with tomato and cucumber. Roll up tightly. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
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##### Calvin Leon Graham enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. Later that year he was awarded for heroism after being wounded while serving on the USS South Dakota in the Battle of Guadalcanal. A few months after that he was thrown in the brig for three months, and in May 1943 he was dishonorably discharged from the navy. Why? Because he lied about his age when he enlisted: he was just 12 years old. (He turned 13 in April 1943) He was the youngest American to serve during World War II.
Sandhills Calving System continues to protect calf health, ranch profitability
By Natalie Jones, IANR Communications
On cold spring mornings in the Nebraska Sandhills, calving season can test even the most experienced ranchers.
Twenty-five years ago, a collaboration between a Sandhills ranch family, a rural veterinarian and University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers led to a management innovation that transformed how cattle producers prevent calf scours. Known today as the Sandhills Calving System, the approach has become one of the most widely recommended strategies for preventing neonatal calf diarrhea — a disease that historically caused significant illness, death loss and treatment costs in beef calves.
The system was first developed through a partnership between Tim Knott, a veterinarian in Arthur, Nebraska; Mart and Cindy McNutt at the McNutt Ranch west of Tryon, Nebraska; and former Husker veterinarians David Smith and Dale Grotelueschen.
Together, they sought a practical solution to outbreaks of calf scours that many ranchers across the Great Plains faced during the spring calving season.
“When you lose 10% of your calf crop and it starts hurting your financial business because you’re spending so much money trying to save them, you get willing to try something different,” Mart McNutt said.
Rather than relying solely on medical treatment, the team focused on changing how cattle were managed during calving.
The resulting system emphasizes separating calves by age and regularly moving pregnant cows that have not yet calved to clean pastures, preventing younger calves from being exposed to pathogens shed by older animals.
“Management practices can have a profound effect on the health of cattle,” said Smith, a veterinarian and epidemiologist who helped investigate the original outbreaks.
Research showed that calf scours was not typically caused by a single new disease. Instead, common pathogens built up in the environment as the calving season progressed, exposing younger calves to higher disease pressure.
“The first calves are exposed to a relatively small dose of pathogens,” Smith explained. “But later in the calving season, those pathogens accumulate in the environment, and younger calves can be exposed to much higher levels.”
By separating calves by age and moving pregnant cows to clean pastures during the calving season, producers could interrupt that cycle.
Research-backed results
Initial research conducted in commercial Sandhills ranch herds demonstrated dramatic improvements in calf health after adopting the system.
In early case studies, illness and death from calf scours dropped significantly. Some herds reported no calf deaths due to scours after implementing the system, while veterinary treatment costs during calving declined sharply.
“When we first started trying it, we didn’t know if it would work,” McNutt said. “But once you learn the basics of it, it’s just like turning the scours switch off.”
The system works by reducing the buildup and transmission of pathogens that cause scours — including viruses, bacteria and protozoa — which commonly spread from older calves to younger animals during the calving season.
According to Grotelueschen, the system emerged through close collaboration between veterinarians and ranchers working through the problem together.
“There was never a grant or funding attached to this work,” he said. “It was veterinarians and ranchers working together in a problem-solving mode.”
A Nebraska innovation with national impact
Although the Sandhills Calving System was developed and first tested in Nebraska ranch herds, its impact has extended far beyond the state.
The management approach has since been widely shared through veterinary conferences, extension programs and beef industry education efforts. Today it is commonly taught in veterinary schools and recommended by extension specialists and veterinarians across North America.
For Brian Vander Ley, a veterinarian and epidemiologist at Nebraska, the system remains one of the best examples of how applied science can solve real-world problems.
“This is bringing science to bear on a real-world problem to generate solutions that actually work for producers,” Vander Ley said.
A squeeze of lemon juice in consommé, bouillon, bean or lentil soap, in certain cream soups like tomato, asparagus and green pea and black bean soup, brings out flavor.
Unlike many disease-control strategies that rely on medications or vaccines alone, Vander Ley said the Sandhills Calving System demonstrates the power of management decisions.
“In veterinary medicine, we sometimes talk about solutions delivered through needles,” he said. “This was the opposite of that — understanding the disease, how it spreads and how ranch operations work, and adapting management to solve the problem.”
A legacy of applied research
Twenty-five years later, the Sandhills Calving System remains a cornerstone of calf health management in the beef industry. Its success highlights the power of applied research rooted in the needs of producers — and the role Nebraska’s land-grant university continues to play in developing practical solutions for ranchers.
“These guys made a real difference for a lot of people,” Vander Ley said.
What began as a practical solution tested on a Sandhills ranch has grown into a management approach now used by cattle producers across North America — improving calf health, reducing treatment costs and helping ranchers raise more healthy calves each year.
Lemon juice steps up flavor of steak, liver, chops, even fried eggs.
Snap2Graze: Turning cereal rye pasture photos into grazing decisions
By Pedro Jota Fernandes, Graduate Student, Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist, Yijie Xiong, Nebraska Extension Specialist, Precision Livestock Management
Cereal rye can be an excellent early spring grazing resource. However, because it grows rapidly, it can be challenging to apply the right grazing pressure to optimize animal performance and maintain forage quality.
Have you ever asked yourself:
How many animals should I put in that pasture?
How long can they stay?
How much forage is actually out there?
To help answer these common questions, we developed Snap2Graze, a web-based decision support tool designed specifically for cereal rye pastures.
What is Snap2Graze?
Snap2Graze is a web-based tool that estimates available forage mass of cereal rye using pictures taken with your smartphone. The tool analyzes canopy cover in the image and coverts it into an estimate of forage availability.
The goal of Snap2Graze is to support faster, more informed, and data-driven grazing decisions.
Using Snap2Graze, you can estimate:
Forage mass (pounds of dry matter per acre)
Suggested stocking rate
Number of grazing days available for a given herd size
How to Access and Use Snap2Graze
Snap2Graze is available online at: http://go.unl.edu/ snap2graze
The tool is web-based and works directly from your smartphone, no app download required.
To use Snap2Graze:
Take a photo of your cereal rye pasture from about chest height, pointing straight down at the plants.
If you have cell service, upload the photo directly from the field. If you do not have service, simply save the photo and upload it later once you have signal.
Review the estimated forage mass, suggested stocking rate, and estimated grazing days.
For best results, take multiple photos across the pasture and use the average value. A detailed user guide with photo instructions and management considerations is available directly on the website.
Important considerations and limitations
Snap2Graze is currently designed and calibrated for cereal rye pastures and performs best when cereal rye is immature, leafy stage. Accuracy declines as rye matures and begins to head out. As with any decision-support tool, Snap2Graze should complement, not replace, producer experience and observation.
Snap2Graze provides a simple way to turn what you see in the field into numbers you can use to guide stocking and rotation decisions. By helping quantify forage availability in rapidly growing cereal rye, it can support better timing of cattle moves and improve grazing efficiency. If you are grazing cereal rye this spring, consider using Snap2Graze as part of your management toolbox.
Spring Wheat: Dagmar, Sy Longmire, Vida
Barley: Metcalf, ACC Synergy, Hockett
Hay Barley: Haymaker, Lavina Oats: Otana
Peas: Green Hamptons, Yellow Peas 4152
Forage Peas: Arvika Lentils: Avondale Mustard
Durum: Raska and others available Grass Seed Alfalfa Sorghum Sudan Grass Millet
This effort is an output of funding resources supported by USDA-SARE through the grant GNC24-397, Smart Grazing: A Web-Based Solution for Pasture Management.
National Peach Cobbler Day
Date celebrated: April 13th
Today we celebrate the peach cobbler, a peach filled deep-dish fruit pie with a thick crust that is usually made of biscuit dough. Cobblers are named as such because of their rough look—they often look like they were cobbled together. There are various types of cobblers. Those in the South usually have a top and bottom crust. Fruit cobblers, such as peach, are most popular in the South as well. They are often topped with vanilla ice cream. Cobblers originated in the early years of America, and multiple sources say that National Peach Cobbler Day was created by the Georgia Peach Council in the 1950s, in order to sell canned peaches.
How to Observe National Peach Cobbler Day Celebrate the day by making yourself a peach cobbler! You could also plan a trip to the Georgia Peach Festival, where the world’s largest peach cobbler has been made.
Organ transplants
On June 17, 1950, an Illinois surgeon named Dr. Richard Lawler removed a kidney from a doner who’d been declared brain dead moments earlier and transplanted it into a 49-yearold woman named Ruth Tucker. Kidney dialysis had only recently been invented and was not yet widely available; for most people, failing kidneys were still a death sentence. A transplant wasn’t very promising either– doctors still hadn’t figured out how to stop the human body from rejecting transplanted organs. Lawler went ahead with the surgery anyway. The transplanted kidney did fail several months after the surgery, but not before taking strain off of Tucker’s remaining kidney, which began functioning normally again. Tucker lived another five years before dying of a heart complication, Dr. Lawler never performed another transplant. “I just wanted to get it started,” he explained years later.
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Do you have an NRCS Contract?
If you need a stockwater pipeline or an irrigation pivot, but haven’t received assistance yet, consider signing up with a Technical Service Provider (TSP) at your local NRCS office. The NRCS will reimburse you for hiring a TSP, so your project can be completed at no cost to you. TSPs often finish projects more quickly than NRCS itself, and I am one of the TSPs available in Montana. Typically, I can complete a design that meets NRCS approval within 30 days after a field visit.
All projects will meet USDA-NRCS specifications.
• Licensed Professional Engineer
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• Life time member of the Irrigation Association
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Prairie Fare: A meeting, a scare and a reminder about heart health
By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist
I was sitting across from someone at a community meeting when she suddenly put her hand on her chest. Then she lowered her head onto the table.
I looked wide-eyed at the intern attending the meeting with me. We both stared at the person across the table.
Did I remember CPR? I’d better review the steps after today, I thought to myself.
The Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” started running through my head. That song — along with several others — has the right number of beats per minute (100-120) to guide chest compressions.
Was there a defibrillator in the building? I had never used one, but I knew they save lives.
My phone was next to me. I was poised to call 911.
Then she lifted her head and resumed participating in the meeting, which had become fairly contentious. I’m sure I was still staring at her.
We asked if she was okay. She said she was.
A day or two later, we received an email. We had witnessed a mild heart attack. Fortunately, she was on the mend.
Now is a good time to take care of your hardworking heart, which beats about 100,000 times each day. Yes, seriously.
This fist-sized organ in the center of our chest beats about 35 million times per year, carrying blood throughout our bodies and sustaining life.
Unfortunately, according to the American Heart Association, a heart attack occurs about every 40 seconds in the United States.
Women often have less obvious symptoms than the dramatic signs we might see portrayed on television.
Women may experience pain in the chest, arm, jaw, neck, stomach or back. They might feel nauseated, lightheaded or short of breath or may break out in a cold sweat. If you have symptoms, do not drive yourself to the emergency room or home. Call an ambulance or have someone call for you. Avoid eating or drinking during a heart episode, as this can increase the risk of choking. Don’t exert yourself. Get comfortable, and be sure paramedics can enter the building.
What can we do to care for our hearts and lower our risk for heart disease?
Think of food as medicine. What we eat and drink play major roles in heart health.
Consider these tips:
Have regular health checkups and take your prescriptions as directed, especially for blood pressure, diabetes or cholesterol. Don’t skip doses.
Maintain a healthy weight. Visit with your health care provider to learn what that means for your body type and age. If you smoke, make an effort to quit. Aim for at least two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.
Eat fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans) and whole grains. Try to fill at least half your plate with fruits and vegetables.
Limit saturated and trans fats. Keep saturated fat at 10% or less of total daily calo-
National Garlic Day
Date celebrated: Every April 19th
Garlic is beloved by a variety of cultures, with many people saying that there can never be too much garlic in a dish or a meal. For those people who love garlic, then garlic day is the perfect day!
National Garlic Day celebrates the history of garlic, in addition to its glorious taste and its incredible health benefits.
National Garlic Day helps experts and average people alike to explore the history of this bulb, learning how it came to be one of the most popular flavors in the world.
History of National Garlic Day
Garlic is known as one of the most essential flavoring bulbs that have been used throughout human history.
Wild garlic has been traced back to Central Asia more than 5000 years ago. While today garlic is now considered a significant part of Mediterranean cuisine, the ancient Romans weren’t actually massive fans of it, although their soldiers did use it to inspire courage.
The earliest uses of garlic in cooking were by the people of the Medieval and Renaissance times. It was only used in small doses in sauces because it was considered to be a peasant-food since it is technically just a root dug up from the ground. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that garlic was recognized by culinary chefs.
Garlic is now included in many dishes from different cultures, ranging along the Mediterranean, Italian, and French cuisines, as well as a variety of others.
In American cuisine, it is thought that food critics such as James Beard and Craig Claiborne popularized garlic during the 20th century.
Garlic is also known for its magical and medicinal properties! These stretch so far as to include the ability to ward off creatures such as vampires, werewolves, and demons, but this may also just imply that the person who has eaten garlic has a bit of bad breath!
In addition to magical powers, garlic is known to have herbal medicinal properties, including being able to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. Today, garlic festivals exist throughout local towns in various places as garlic is used in many dishes all over the world.
Prairie Fare: A meeting, a scare
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2
ries. Read Nutrition Facts labels and check the “% Daily Value.”
Limit sodium to help reduce or manage blood pressure.
Cut back on added sugars to lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease.
If you drink alcohol, consider reducing the amount or leaving it off your menu.
As the weather warms, set a springtime goal to keep your heart in tiptop shape. This recipe from Iowa State University encourages you to personalize your salad with your favorite vegetables and fruits, along with a delicious homemade dressing.
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That moment when your teacher gets very angry with you because you’ve been nervously clicking the ball pen, but you still have to click it one more time to be able to write.
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How agri-tech is reshaping labor demand in Nebraska agriculture
By Shannon Sand, Associate Extension Educator,
UNL
Nebraska agriculture has long depended on a mix of family labor, hired workers, and custom operators. In recent years, more producers have added advanced technology to that mix to boost efficiency, manage risk, and cope with labor shortages (USDA, 2022). Automation, precision systems, robotics, and data platforms are not just changing how tasks are done; they are also changing the types of skills farms need on the payroll. Understanding these shifts in labor demand is increasingly important for farm managers, Exten sion educators, rural communities, and workforce planners (Sand, 2023; USDA, 2022).
Technology Adoption in Nebraska Agriculture
Nebraska farmers are embracing a growing range of digital tools. UNL Extension reports that Nebraska producers are among the national leaders in adopting precision agricul ture technologies, including GPS guidance, yield monitor ing, variable‑rate input application, and digital irrigation management (Irmak, 2019; Schimmelpfennig, 2016; UNL Extension, 2024a). Recent UNL work on digital agriculture notes rapidly expanding use of sensors, drones, robotics, and cloud‑based systems across both crop and livestock sectors (Balboa, et.al , 2024; Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, 2023). Broadband connectivity, documented in FCC broad band deployment reports, has improved substantially in rural Nebraska, supporting remote monitoring, farm management software, and data sharing (FCC, 2023; USDA NASS, 2023).
In livestock operations, technologies such as electronic ID tags, automated feeding systems, remote water monitoring, and precision livestock tools are spreading quickly. Research by Bewley and others on precision dairy management and automation, as well as work on precision livestock farming adoption, documents how these systems change both labor needs and management tasks (Bewley, 2015; Bewley & Dolecheck, 2018; Brummer et al., 2021; Boyle et al., 2022).
Labor Substitutions and Changing Job Roles
Automation frequently substitutes for repetitive manual labor. Robotic milking systems, automated or semi autono mous tractors, sensor driven irrigation systems, and automat ed feeding equipment can significantly reduce time spent on routine tasks (Bewley, 2015; King et al., 2020; Irmak, 2019). Rather than simply eliminating workers, however, these technologies shift labor demand toward higher‑skill roles focused on oversight, troubleshooting, and decision‑making. Employees are increasingly expected to manage data, inter face with software, and coordinate with vendors, instead of performing traditional manual labor. This creates demand for workers with blended skills in agriculture, mechanics, and information technology (USDA, 2022; Nebraska Com munity College Consortium, 2023).
Precision Agriculture and Data Driven Decision Making
Precision agriculture tools generate large volumes of data about soils, crop performance, input use, and environmental conditions. Workers now need to operate complex machin ery, move information across platforms, and use software to translate that information into day to day decisions on planting, fertility, irrigation, feeding, and animal health (Schimmelpfennig, 2016; Thompson et al., 2019; Balboa et. al, 2024). This raises demand for skills such as:
Interpreting yield maps and variable‑rate prescriptions. Managing telematics from tractors, combines, and other equipment.
Using GIS based planning and mapping systems. Calibrating, repairing, and monitoring sensor networks. Integrating agronomic and animal‑science recommenda tions with digital decision aids.
Extension publications from UNL, Iowa State University, and other land‑grant institutions emphasize that successful precision ag use hinges on management capacity and data literacy, not just equipment ownership (Thompson et al., 2019; Schimmelpfennig, 2016; NFBI, 2018). Many Ne braska producers report that hiring employees comfortable with digital tools is now one of their greatest challenges (Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, 2023; Nebraska Com munity College Consortium, 2023).
Labor Sector Differences in Labor Effects
Row-Crop Operations
Row‑crop operations, especially irrigated farms, have some of the highest precision ag adoption rates in the United States. Autosteer, telematics, yield monitors, and irrigation
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How agri-tech is reshaping labor demand in Nebraska agriculture
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B4
scheduling tools can reduce the need for seasonal labor, particularly for steering, in‑field monitoring, and pivot checks (Irmak, 2019; NF96‑305; Schimmelpfennig, 2016). At the same time, they increase demand for operators who can manage complex consoles, interpret data, and coordinate with agronomic advisors and service providers.
Cattle Ranches and Cow-Calf Operations
•
•
•
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
pollen
growth.
Cow‑calf operations lag in technology adoption due to the nature of their operations and the cost of the technology relative to the gain in performance. Remote water monitoring, GPS based grazing tools, virtual fencing, and RFID systems are reducing repetitive chores such as checking tanks or locating animals across large pastures (Boyle et al., 2022; Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, 2023). Even so, stockmanship, animal health knowledge, and range experience remain central, so technology tends to augment rather than replace labor in these systems (Brummer et al., 2021; USDA, 2022). It is likely, however, with the ever growing expansion of information technology, management systems, and AI innovations, this will change in unforeseen ways.
Feedlots and Dairies
Feedlots and dairies often realize some of the most direct labor saving benefits from automation. Automated feeding systems, hydraulic cattle‑handling facilities, and robotic milkers can significantly reduce manual tasks such as feeding, pushing up feed, or milking (Bewley, 2015; Bewley & Dolecheck, 2018). However, these technologies also create strong demand for employees who can operate and update software, recognize and diagnose technical malfunctions, and coordinate system maintenance with vendors and technicians (USDA, 2022; King et al., 2020).
Efficiency vs Labor Scarcity: What Drives Adoption?
National USDA analyses and producer surveys highlight labor scarcity as a major driver of technology adoption, especially for physically demanding tasks with irregular hours (USDA, 2022). UNL Extension outreach and producer panels similarly report that many Nebraska operations struggle to find and retain enough workers, particularly during peak seasons, and use technology to reduce dependence on hardto fill positions (Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, 2023; Balboa et al, 2024). For younger producers and multi‑generation farms, motivation also includes improving work life balance, increasing efficiency, enhancing records for lenders and regulators, and reducing risk through improved decision accuracy (Sand, 2023; USDA NASS, 2023).
For smaller and medium sized operations, access to cost share programs, custom service providers, and strong dealer support often determines whether adoption is practical. Extension resources from UNL, Kansas State, and Iowa State document how cost‑sharing, shared ownership, and custom hiring can lower financial and managerial barriers to adopting advanced technologies (Thompson et al., 2019; Schimmelpfennig, 2016).
Economic Considerations for Producers
While agricultural technology can save labor and boost efficiency, it typically involves substantial upfront investment and ongoing costs. Producers must weigh equipment purchases and installation, subscription and software fees, training or hiring needs, and potential downtime from connectivity or mechanical issues (Dolecheck & Bewley, 2018; USDA, 2022). Research on precision agriculture by USDA ERS and land‑grant economists shows that returns depend heavily on management quality, farm or ranch scale, and the degree to which data are integrated into agronomic and livestock decisions (Schimmelpfennig, 2016; Thompson et al., 2019). This means investments that make sense for a large, well staffed operation may not be profitable for a smaller farm without adequate technical support.
Long-Term Workforce Implications
As technology adoption expands, Nebraska’s agricultural workforce is undergoing structural change. Demand is rising for workers who can manage software, analyze production and financial data, and maintain complex mechanical electronic systems, and those technical skills often command higher wages in rural labor markets (USDA, 2022; Nebraska Community College Consortium, 2023). At the same time, demand for some types of low‑skill manual labor is declining in sectors where automation can perform routine or physically intensive tasks (Bewley, 2015; King et al., 2020). In response, Extension programs, community colleges, and high school agriculture departments are expanding
Prepare now in case of drought
By Jerry Volesky, UNL
This winter has been open and dry across most of Nebraska and according to the Drought Monitor, many areas are increasing in their drought classification intensity. We are a few weeks away from another growing season and who knows how much moisture lies ahead. Today I’ll suggest some ways you can limit the forage problems drought could cause.
Drought is likely to be a problem again this summer, at least somewhere. Because hay can be costly when pastures are short, we need to consider ways to minimize damages if we receive less than average rainfall. Fortunately, early spring is a time you can take action that can minimize some of drought’s problems.
For starters, prepare a strategy for using any remaining hay. One of the better options is to feed hay a bit longer into spring before turning cows out to permanent pasture. I know this action is exactly opposite of my usual recommendation to graze more and feed less hay. But, allowing pastures to accumulate a bit more growth before grazing begins will provide more total grazable forage if drought prevents much regrowth
How agritech is reshaping labor demand in Nebraska agriculture
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B6 ag-technology training and creating clearer pathways into roles such as precision agriculture technicians, livestock data managers, and integrated farm systems operators (Nebraska Community College Consortium, 2023; Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, 2023). UNL’s partnerships with USDA on precision agriculture infrastructure and digital tools are also likely to create new career paths in data management, remote sensing, and cyber-secure farm operations (UNL Research, 2024; USDA‑ARS & UNL, 2024). Ag - tech adoption is reshaping the labor landscape in Nebraska agriculture. Automation and digital tools are reducing the need for some types of manual labor while increasing demand for workers with technical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and digital literacy. Although adoption patterns differ across row-crop farms, cow - calf ranches, feedlots, and dairies, the overall trajectory points toward a more knowledgeintensive agricultural workforce that blends traditional production expertise with advanced technological competence.
later on. Leftover hay also can be used later during the grazing season to give pastures more time to recover between grazings. Another strategy is planting annual forages for pasture or hay. Some excellent choices are oats planted as early as possible or summer annual grasses like sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, and pearl millet planted once soils are good and warm. Late May or early June usually is best for these grasses. So reserve some ground now for these drought-insurance grasses, before you plant everything to corn, beans, and other crops. And don’t forget about possibly planting these grasses or even some fall cover crop forages into wheat stubble as a double crop after harvest.
If the rains don’t come, planning and acting now to reduce potential forage losses from drought will pay big dividends.
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After a cake comes from the oven, it should be placed on a rack for about five minutes. Then the sides should be loosened and the cake turned out on rack to finish cooling.
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Cory Miller - Grass Valley Farm, Missoula, MT
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What was Crayola’s first specialty crayon?
Crayola introduced its first specialty crayons in 1972, called the “Fluorescent Crayons.”
These glow-in-the-dark crayons added excitement to art projects and appealed to kids’ love of novelty.
Over the years, Crayola has expanded its specialty line to include glitter, scented, and even color-changing crayons, keeping their products fresh and engaging.
Considering carbon credits?
By Kelsey Larson Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics and
Kyle Froisland,
MSU
Graduate Student Farmers, ranchers, and foresters across Montana and the US are exploring a potential new stream of revenue: carbon credit markets. In a carbon credit market, farmers, ranchers, and foresters commit to conservation practices that increase carbon storage or reduce emissions from their land. In exchange, people and organizations that want to meet more ambitious carbon footprint goals than they can meet on their own pay the landowners for these benefits. These contracts flow through intermediaries who enter contracts with landowners, verify the carbon stored, and sell the credits to buyers. These markets are expanding rapidly, with the broader U.S. carbon credit market projected to grow from roughly $107 billion in 2022 to over $320 billion by 2030. [1] These programs provide a way to monetize conservation practices landowners may already be using or get paid for adopting new ones, but not every program in this new and mostly unregulated market is equally suited to every operation. When considering a program, it’s worth stepping back and asking a few key questions: Do I qualify? If I do, which program best fits the economics and risk profile of my operation? If I enroll, what obligations am I taking on? This post walks through the core issues Montana farmers, ranchers, and foresters should consider before enrolling in a private carbon credit program.
Eligibility: Providers typically screen applicants based on geography, acreage, and operational characteristics. Many programs require minimum acreage thresholds, often more than 500 acres, or limit enrollment to certain regions. Most also require several years of field-level data to establish a baseline against which carbon gains will be measured. Different programs work with different suites of conservation practices, with cover crops, reduced tillage, and rotational grazing being particularly common. Some programs will not accept participants who are currently or who have previously used the target conservation practice, or who have enrolled in other carbon contracts or environmental programs. Before comparing potential payments, confirm that your operation meets these requirements.
Payment structures: Programs vary widely in how much they pay, when they pay it, and how they determine the payment amount. Broadly, payments can be divided into two groups: practice-based and outcome-based payments. Practice-based programs typically offer flat, per-acre payments tied to adopting specific conservation practices. These arrangements provide relatively predictable income because compensation is based purely on whether you used the practice you said you’d use. The tradeoff, however, is that payment rates are often lower.
Outcome-based programs operate differently. These programs pay participants based on their actual carbon storage as measured and verified. Many buyers consider these credits to be higher-quality, so in strong years payments can be higher. However, returns are more variable, influenced by weather conditions, measurement results, and carbon credit prices. Payment timing also differs: some programs front-load a portion of funds to support cash flow, while others distribute payments only after multi-year verification cycles. Before enrolling, producers should have a realistic estimate of how much carbon their soils or grazing systems are likely to store and consider whether they prefer predictable practice-based payments or potentially higher (but less certain) outcomebased returns.
Contract Duration: Carbon programs are contracts, and commitment length varies considerably. Some agreements run for one to five years, while others extend for a decade or more. Longer contracts may provide income stability, but limit management flexibility if markets or management goals change.
The Fine Print: Programs need to monitor and verify that the contract, which requires sharing data with these programs. You can check the privacy terms to be sure that you’re comfortable with what they’re using the data for and how they can share it. Some programs require use of specific digital platforms or reporting systems, which can involve subscription fees, time spent learning new software, and ongoing data obligations. Some carbon credit programs are tied to agricultural input companies, and may require participants to use that company’s products. Also, most programs prohibit participating in multiple carbon credit programs at the same time.
There is no single “best” carbon program for Montana producers—only the program that best fits your operation. The right choice depends on whether you qualify, how much uncertainty you are willing to accept, and what management changes you are prepared to implement. Factors such as contract length, flexibility, data requirements, and restrictions on participating in other environmental programs all shape the true value of participation. Carbon markets may offer new revenue opportunities, but the decision to enroll should ultimately reflect your farm or ranch’s specific goals and constraints.
Brainput
As modern drivers, we all know the feeling of wanting to pay attention to the road but getting distracted by equally important activities like watching cat videos on our cell phones or eating a cheeseburger. The solution? Brain probes and robots, of course. Scientists at MTI, Indiana University, and Tufts University are working on something called “Brainput” to help us multitask more safely and effectively, because let’s face it: We’re never going to learn to actually pay attention to what we’re doing. The system works like this: You attach two probes to your forehead, and, using what is purportedly science but sounds an awful lot like diabolical voodoo, the probes sense when you attention is drifting and notify a robot to pitch in and help you out (e.g., your car drives itself for a minute so you can focus on licking a dollop of errant mustard off of the steering wheel). If the concept of robots reading your mind cases you to repeatedly scream, and then run way, don’t worry just yet: The technology has only been tested in a maze. Brainput’s application in real-life situations, like the driving-while-texting-andnoshing mentioned above, is still but a distant dream/ nightmare.
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Thank you, God, that in your eyes I’m a pearl of great price, regardless of how my luster might look to others. Thank you for including that in your Word–in Matthew 13:45-46.
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9 out of 10 voices in my head are telling me that I am too fat. The last one is calmly preparing a bowl of chips.
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Life hack - Keep the pizza hot on the ride home by putting the pizza box on your car seat and turning on the seat warmer.
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Risk forecast for wheat midge remains low heading into 2026
For the first time on record, NDSU Extension county agents found zero wheat midge cocoons, potentially reducing farmers’ inputs for wheat midge management.
A total of 23 pheromone traps were monitored in 19 counties in 2025. Pheromone traps are used as an “early warning” system to trigger field scouting if the crop is in the susceptible stage. (NDSU photo)
Soil samples from North Dakota counties indicate low levels of overwintering wheat midge larvae (cocoons) for the 2026 season.
“This is the first time since the inception of the survey in 1995 that zero wheat midge cocoons were found in the fall soil survey for the overwintering cocoons of wheat midge,” says Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University Extension entomologist.
2025 was the sixth year in a row with a low number of wheat midge cocoons present in soil samples, potentially reducing farmers’ inputs for wheat midge management.
areas receive timely rains prior to heading, wheat midge emergence is favored,” advises Knodel. “On the other hand, if we remain dry, wheat midge mortality increases, and cocoons can remain dormant for several years until soil moisture returns.”
The parasitoid wasp that kills wheat midge depends on its host for survival. As expected, those wasp populations were also low due to the decline in wheat midge. For the past six years, parasitism rates have been low, ranging from 0% in 2021-2025, with 15% in 2023.
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In fall 2025, NDSU Extension agents collected 1,970 soil samples (10 cores per field) from 197 fields in 21 northern North Dakota counties. Any larval cocoons would be extracted at the NDSU Extension entomology laboratory.
Historically, wheat midge has caused significant yield and quality losses in spring and durum wheat in the northern tier of North Dakota counties from the mid-1990s through 2010.
“The fact that zero wheat midge was detected in the 2025 soil survey indicates low overwintering populations and reduced risk of economic infestation for the upcoming growing season,” says Knodel.
The number of cocoons has been low, below 500 midge larvae per square meter, for the past 10 years. Low midge pressure is tied in part to dry weather and drought conditions, which hinder the successful emergence and overwintering of larvae, according to Knodel.
Also, Fusarium head blight was more common in wheat fields in 2025, prompting farmers to spray fungicides, often tankmixing them with an insecticide to kill wheat midge and other wheat insect pests, such as true armyworm, cereal aphids and grasshoppers. Knodel says that mixing in unnecessary insecticides isn’t good, except when insect populations are economically significant.
“With the low populations of wheat midge for the tenth year in a row,” says Knodel, “scouting for wheat midge is diminished and will be most important in continuous wheat fields.
“However, if localized wheat growing
NDSU Extension Integrated Pest Management crop scouts and insect trappers also monitored for wheat midge using sex pheromone trapping during the field season. Traps with a powerful pheromone are used as an early warning system to trigger field scouting when wheat is in the susceptible stage, heading into early flowering. If more than 10 midges per trap are observed three days after heading, field scouting is initiated to determine whether a field is at an economic threshold for wheat midge.
Twenty-three pheromone traps were monitored in 19 counties in 2025. The highest wheat midge counts were concentrated in the northwest (Burke, Ward and Williams counties), the north central (Pierce County) and the northeast (Pembina County). The wheat midge parasitoid wasp also increased, with detections on sticky trap bottoms in 13 counties in 2025, up from seven counties in 2024.
According to Knodel, future efforts will focus on pheromone trapping for wheat midge and its parasitoid wasp, as trapping is more sensitive to low wheat midge densities in fields and alerts farmers to first and peak emergence and potential economic infestations. Pheromone trapping also documents the distribution of the wheat midge and its parasitoids, and it guides scouting efforts and pest management decisions for wheat midge infestations.
The North Dakota Wheat Commission supports the wheat midge larval soil survey and pheromone trapping.
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What is the origin of the phrase “bring home the bacon”? In 12th-century England, the Dunmow Flitch Trials awarded a side of bacon to married couples who could swear they hadn’t argued for a year and a day.This practice led to the expression “bring home the bacon,” symbolizing marital harmony and respect.
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Wine bottles have been discovered dating back to 325 A.D
A total of 23 pheromone traps were monitored in 19 counties in 2025. Pheromone traps are used as an “early warning” system to trigger field scouting if the crop is in the susceptible stage. (NDSU photo)
Biosecurity practices critical in protecting against avian influenza
While it may seem as though wild bird migration has just ended, spring migration will be starting soon. As wild bird movement increases, the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) across the U.S. will rise.
North Dakota State University Extension experts are urging poultry and dairy owners to review and strengthen their biosecurity plans to reduce the risk of disease transmission on farms and rural properties.
HPAI is a strain of influenza A primarily carried by wild birds. The virus can spread to domestic poultry flocks and, in some cases, dairy cattle. It is shed in feces and respiratory secretions and can survive for extended periods in cool, damp conditions — making spring and fall migration especially high-risk times for animal owners.
“Creating and consistently following a strong biosecurity plan is the best defense poultry and dairy owners have against HPAI,” says Dr. Jake Galbreath, NDSU Extension veterinarian. “Now is the time to evaluate potential risk points on your operation and make improvements before exposure occurs.”
Recent detections of HPAI in poultry
and dairy operations across the country highlight the importance of preparedness and early identification.
Dr. Galbreath recommends the following biosecurity practices:
Limit contact between domestic animals and wild birds by housing animals when possible, and eliminate spilled feed that would attract wildlife.
Change clothing, wash hands and disinfect footwear before and after handling animals.
Restrict access to livestock areas, and minimize nonessential visitors.
Clean and disinfect tools, equipment and vehicles that travel between farms.
Isolate new animals for a period specified by a veterinarian.
“Biosecurity is not a single action — it’s a system of daily management practices that create a clear line of separation between healthy animals and potential disease threats,” explains Mary Keena, NDSU Extension livestock environmental management specialist. “Consistency is what protects individual operations and the broader agricultural community.”
In poultry, signs of HPAI may include sudden unexplained death, decreased feed and water intake, reduced egg production, and abnormal behavior. In dairy cattle, symptoms may include reduced milk production, fever, lethargy, decreased appetite and changes in milk appearance.
Livestock species are not the only farm animals at risk, warns Dr. Galbreath. Cats infected with HPAI can develop serious and fatal illness. Cat owners should avoid feeding raw meat or
milk from potentially infected animals to cats. Anyone concerned about potential HPAI infection in their cats should contact a local veterinarian.
“Poultry and dairy products from animals that test positive for HPAI are prohibited from entering the marketplace under federal law,” says Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist and disaster education coordinator.
Meehan says that properly handled and cooked poultry products remain safe to eat, and pasteurization effectively eliminates the virus in milk.
Producers who observe unusual illness or unexplained deaths in poultry or dairy animals are encouraged to contact their veterinarian or the North Dakota State Veterinarian’s Office at 701-328-2655.
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The German navy ship Wien was sunk in 1918, during World War I. The Italian navy ship PO was sunk in 1941, during World War II. What’s weird about that? It was the same ship. The sunken Wien was raised in 1921, repaired and renamed by the Italians.
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In modern Japan, bodies are washed in a Buddhist temple, dressed (men in suits, women in kimonos) and put in a casket with a white kimono, sandals, and six coins, all for the spirit’s crossing into the afterlife. After a funeral, the body is cremated. Relatives pick bones out of the ash, put them in an urn and bury it.
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Pine needles: Another threat to beef pregnancies
By: Russ Daly, Professor and SDSU Extension Veterinarian
Seasoned cow-calf producers know the long list of everything that has to go right for a cow to become pregnant during breeding season. Nutrition, as measured by cow body condition, needs to be right. The number of fertile bulls needs to be sufficient for the number of cows to be bred. Heat waves, dry spells, infectious diseases from the neighbor’s cows over the fenceline – the harmful effects of all of these have to be managed so they don’t interfere with the cow’s ability to become pregnant and to maintain that pregnancy.
Cows confirmed pregnant in the fall and winter have so far dodged all that adversity. Fortunately, once mid-gestation is reached (4-5 months post-breeding), it’s uncommon for anything bad to happen to that pregnancy; cows that are deemed pregnant at preg-check time yet open at calving time are an unusual occurrence. Studies have shown that once gestation hits even 42 days, herd pregnancy loss is only 2% at the most.
Chelated Calcium plays a crucial role in the plant’s ability to utilize nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Calcium movement within plant cells signals the presence of nitrogen fixing bacteria, triggering the development of root nodules where these good bacteria reside. Additionally, calcium helps convert nitrate nitrogen into forms needed for protein formation which = more sugars/energy in rotation, improving resiliency to pests and diseases. Got blowing soil? Try CalMax to start fixing it.
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Yet late term pregnancy loss occasionally happens. Within a given herd, it’s not unusual for a sporadic cow or two to expel her calf prematurely, oftentimes for no discernible reason. In even rarer situations, exposure to a germ or toxin
can cause large numbers of pregnancy losses.
Germs such as BVD virus, IBR virus, and Neospora are often mentioned as the usual causes of infectious abortion outbreaks. But there’s another interesting cause of pregnancy loss that cattle producers in less mountainous areas maybe haven’t heard of before –Ponderosa Pine needles.
For at least the past 50 years, consumption of Ponderosa Pine tree needles (and those from a few other pine tree species) by pregnant cattle has been recognized as a cause of abortions during the last trimester (three months) of gestation. A compound called isocupressic acid in the pine needles causes the problem. Once in the pregnant cow’s system, this chemical interferes with the production of normal hormones like progesterone that help maintain pregnancy.
One might think it unusual for cattle to eat pine tree needles, of all things. For the most part, that’s correct. When these animals have an
Ponderosa pine trees are found across South Dakota in wooded areas and are especially common across the Black Hills region. (Photo: Jessalyn Bachler, SDSU Extension)
Pine needles: Another threat to beef pregnancies
ample source of more typical, more palatable feed, they usually won’t resort to pine needles as a source of dietary sustenance. It’s during cold winter temperatures and deep snow conditions that cattle start thinking about consuming them. Cows hunkering under trees to avoid wind will encounter fallen needles to chew on (dead needles still contain the chemical). Unfortunately, those winter weather conditions often coincide with the last trimester of gestation when the fetus is most susceptible to the effects of the chemical. A great number of cattle producers won’t ever have to worry about this potential exposure since Ponderosa Pines are fairly unusual in their locations. On the other hand, for cattle producers in the Black Hills of South Dakota for example, where the trees are plentiful, the threat is all around them. Ponderosa Pines are also common in other parts of southwestern South Dakota (they’re the namesake of “Pine Ridge”), northern Nebraska, and throughout mountain forests in the western US.
There’s no vaccine against pine needle abortion, nor are there preventive medications or antidotes. The only tool at our disposal against the problem is to make sure pregnant cattle don’t have the chance to consume the needles. It’s especially important during winter once snowfall and cold temperatures encourage cows to look to these needles as something to eat. Avoidance doesn’t just apply to the standing trees themselves, but also to brush piles from pine trees and fallen needles on the ground underneath the trees. Pine needles are just one more pregnancy threat to put on the list for cattle producers to manage. If you’re a cattle producer in areas where the trees are prevalent, it’s certainly something to pay attention to.
Who has the world’s largest shell collection? The Smithsonian (over 15 million specimens).
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After WWI, the German government trained the first guide dogs to assist blind war veterans.
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The three ships boarded during the Boston Tea Party were the Dartmouth, the Eleanor and the Beaver.
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Why storage, not age, determines hay quality
By Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator, Jerry Volesky, Extension Range and Forage Specialist, Daren Redfearn, Nebraska Extension Forage and Crop Residue Specialist
When provided with hay more than a year old, it’s common to assume the quality is poorer than hay harvested more recently. While this may be commonly true, the true answer is a bit more complicated. Time alone does not drive hay quality decline — storage conditions do. Age is really a proxy for how long hay has been exposed to moisture, oxygen, and physical handling. Those factors determine whether quality is largely preserved or steadily declines.
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If hay is baled dry and stored indoors with stable moisture and temperature, biological activity is minimal and forage quality can be maintained for long periods of time. In practice, however, most hay experiences some level of moisture exposure during storage. Anytime a bale becomes wet and warm enough for microbes (bacteria and fungi) to become active again, decomposition resumes. As microbes grow, they use the forage as a food source and release carbon dioxide, which results in dry matter loss.
Moisture + heat microbial activity dry matter loss
Dry matter loss is the foundation of quality decline
Dry matter loss represents forage that is no longer available to the animal, regardless of what a forage test says. Losses occur through microbial respiration, weathering on the outside of bales, leaching of soluble nutrients, and physical loss during handling. Even if nutrient concentrations appear unchanged, fewer pounds of forage — and fewer pounds of nutrients — remain.
This dry matter loss sets the stage for most of the quality changes we associate with older hay.
Total Digestible Nutrients typically declines with storage
Total digestible nutrients (TDN) are especially sensitive to storage and weathering losses. The most digestible parts of the plant — particularly soluble carbohydrates and other readily available energy sources — are the first components microbes utilize. As these components are lost, the remaining forage becomes more fibrous and less digestible.
Over time, this shift leads to lower digestibility and reduced energy availability, so TDN tends to decline fairly consistently, especially when hay is stored outside, exposed to precipitation, or in contact with the ground where moisture can wick into the bale.
Crude protein is more complicated
Crude protein (CP) behaves differently than TDN during storage. CP can decline when the highest-quality portions of the plant are physically lost, which is most common in alfalfa. Leaves contain a large share of the protein in alfalfa, and dry hay is prone to leaf shatter. Each time a bale is moved, some leaves are lost, reducing the protein content of the hay that is actually fed. Crude protein can also decline when soluble nitrogen compounds are leached during repeated wetting events.
At the same time, crude protein is measured as a percentage of dry matter and is based on nitrogen concentration. If a bale loses dry matter primarily from sugars and other digestible energy components, crude protein concentration may remain unchanged or even appear slightly higher on a forage test. This does not mean the hay improved — it simply reflects that the bale has “shrunk” in total dry matter while nitrogen losses were proportionally smaller.
Figure 1: This example shows the effect of storage method on
highest TDN with inside storage, followed by covered outside
ered outside (on the ground). Values are based on a 58% TDN
published relative losses in digestible dry matter under different storage conditions. Actual results vary with moisture exposure, bale density, and storage duration.
Heating affects protein availability
Another important storage issue is heating. If hay is baled too wet or becomes wet during storage, heating can occur as microbes respire. Heating causes some protein to become bound to fiber through the Maillard reaction. In these cases, crude protein may still appear normal on a forage test, but protein availability to the animal is reduced. Heat-damaged protein is best identified using additional forage tests such as ADIN or NDICP.
Sorting changes what cattle actually consume
One of the most overlooked issues with older or weathered hay is animal sorting. Quality loss in outside-stored hay is often concentrated in the outer layer of the bale. This is especially important for round bales, where the outside layer can represent a large portion of the total bale.
Cows commonly sort against weathered or moldy material, leaving behind lowerquality forage. As a result, forage tests may overestimate feeding value because they represent the bale average, not what cattle actually consume. Intake declines, feeding waste increases, and energy and protein
intake can be substantially lower than ration calculations suggest.
At the same time, sorting is not always a bad thing. In situations where hay contains some moldy or low-quality material but is not severely spoiled, allowing cattle to sort can actually be used as a management tool. By giving cattle access to loose hay or unprocessed bales, animals can select the higher-quality portions and avoid the material most likely to cause intake or health issues. This approach does result in more feeding waste, but it can allow producers to safely utilize otherwise poor-quality bales when better forage is limited.
The key tradeoff is recognizing that sorting shifts the system from maximizing feed efficiency to managing risk. When producers are willing to accept some waste, sorting can reduce the likelihood of cattle consuming problematic material while still capturing value from the better portions of the bale.
A real-world reminder
A useful illustration often shared by Jerry Volesky, UNL Range and Forage Specialist, comes from extremely old, well-stored hay CONTINUED ON PAGE B17
alfalfa hay energy (TDN). The table shows
(off the ground) and lowest TDN was uncov-
alfalfa baseline and
Why storage, not age, determines hay quality
Figure 3: Comparison of forage quality and mineral concentrations between an extremely old upland Sandhills hay sample (baled 1945–1950) and a contemporary 2024 sample. Results illustrate that mineral concentrations can persist under dry storage, while organic forage quality measures are more sensitive to degradation over time.
in the Nebraska Sandhills. In some cases, hay baled decades ago and stored dry still contains identifiable plant species and recognizable structure.
While this does not mean the hay was nutritionally adequate for modern cattle, it highlights an important principle: without moisture, decomposition is extremely limited.
When quality loss occurs, it is almost always tied to moisture exposure and resulting dry matter loss rather than age alone.
Bottom Line
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) typically declines with storage and weathering as digestible components are lost.
Crude protein may decline, stay similar, or increase as a percentage, depending on leaf loss, leaching, and dry matter loss.
Dry matter loss and animal sorting often have a greater impact on cattle performance than forage test values alone.
For older hay, forage testing should be paired with visual assessment and observation of animal behavior to accurately estimate nutrient intake.
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Dip your bananas in lemon juice right after they are peeled. They will not turn dark and the faint flavor of lemon really adds quite a bit. The same may be done with apples.
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A leaf of lettuce dropped into the pot absorbs the grease from the top of the soup. Remove the lettuce and throw it away a soon as it has served its purpose.
Figure 2: Extremely old small square bale (1945/1950) used by Jerry Volesky (UNL) as
Montana Department of Agriculture 2026 Pesticide Disposal Program
If you have any old pesticides - insecticides, herbicides, rodent poison or fungicides - laying around unused, the Montana Department of Agriculture will take them off your hands. The agency will hold waste pesticide collections in Western Montana in July. Pre-registration for July events is June 30. The collections are scheduled in Polson on July 7; Hamilton on July 8; and Butte on July 9. The disposal program is a non-regulatory, service progam that offers pesticide users the opportunity to dispose of unwanted and unusable pesticides in a safe and legal way that is economical and convenient. Disposal costs are free for the first 200 pounds and $1.00/lb. per pound for additional amounts over 200 pounds. Disposal by other services can cost 5 to 10 times more. Additional information and the required preregistration forms are available by contacting Carli Davis in Richland at (406) 465-0531; mail to Dept. of Agriculture, Pesticide Disposal Program, 508 Prairie Dell Rd, Richland, MT 59260; email Carli.Davis@mt.gov; website http://agr. mt.gov/pesticide-waste-disposal-program
After wildfire: Livestock care, documentation, and recovery for Nebraska cattle operation
Recent wildfires in Nebraska have left many cattle operations facing urgent management decisions. Once humans are safe, producers should focus on three priorities: stabilizing livestock through health checks and access to clean water and feed, documenting losses and engaging with insurers and/or assistance programs, and developing a grazing recovery plan that protects rangeland health going into the next grazing season.
Cattle Care
Cattle should not be allowed back into recently burned areas. Ashes, smoldering fencelines, hay piles, and hot spots can cause significant injury to hooves and soft tissues.
If producers evacuated before all livestock were accounted for, make sure neighbors or first responders know where animals may be. In addition to brands, temporary identification such as paint or chalk marks, can help reconnect animals with owners later.
Plan to evaluate livestock multiple times over the coming days and weeks. Burnrelated hoof damage, in particular, may take time to show up.
As you assess cattle, take time to examine the areas most vulnerable to heat and smoke damage:
Hooves, udders, sheaths, and testicles for burns or swelling
Eyes and muzzle for soot, abrasions, or ulceration
Respiratory signs such as coughing or rapid breathing
On days when smoke drifts across the area, avoid working or exerting cattle unnecessarily. Respiratory irritation from smoke can worsen with handling.
Cows in late gestation and pairs may need extra monitoring. Post-fire stress can weaken maternal behavior or reduce milk production. Burned or singed udders may prevent calves from nursing.
Consult your veterinarian early for burn treatment, pain management, antibiotics if needed, and guidance about which animals are likely to recover. In some cases, humane euthanasia may be the best choice. Severely injured animals may also be unable to move safely or may not be accepted at packing plants, so evaluate transport options carefully.
Water and Short-Term Nutrition
Water access is critical. Displaced and stressed cattle often require more water. Animals that have gone without may overdrink when water becomes available again. When possible, cattle that have been without water for more than a day should be slowly adapted back to water by providing them with access to small amounts of water every half hour (3-5 gallons for cows and bulls, 1-2 gallons for growing cattle) until the cattle are no longer thirsty. Offering clean water from several access points helps
avoid crowding and reduces digestive issues linked to sudden intake.
Forage losses may require temporary feeding support. Having forage available maintains rumen health. However, if no forage is available, a low-protein (12-14% CP), low starch (8-12% crude fiber) commercial feed product can be used for 4-5 days to minimize weight loss until hay and/or grazing can be secured. If hay supplies have to be stretched, a combination of limit feeding hay and feeding a 28-32% range cube may help maintain body condition. Consult a nutritionist or your local Nebraska Extension Livestock Educator for help with developing a feeding plan in these scenarios.
Documentation and Working With Insurance and Assistance Programs
Before moving carcasses or starting repairs, take clear, date stamped photos of carcasses or injured animals; damaged fences, tanks, and infrastructure; and burned hay or feed.
Record tag numbers, brands, and locations where possible. Contact your insurance provider early for instructions.
Carcasses should be handled according to state approved disposal methods. Nebraska Statute §54-2946 limits disposal to burial, incineration, composting, rendering, or land filling. Timing of disposal often depends on insurance and regulatory guidance. Follow local directives closely and take steps to prevent contamination around disposal sites or damaged feed areas.
Producers may qualify for several USDA programs, but it’s important to contact the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office promptly. These programs can help with livestock mortality, water and feed transport, and grazing losses. Coordinate any fencing or grazing changes with the FSA and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) beforehand to ensure documentation and eligibility requirements are met. To locate your local USDA Service Center, visit https://www.farmers.gov/ working-with-us/service-center-locator Keep veterinary statements and sale receipts for animals that decline or die in the weeks following the wildfire, as these may still qualify for compensation if linked to the event.
Burned pastures need time to recover. Plan for deferred or rested grazing and reevaluate stocking rates as you track regrowth through spring and early summer. Infrastructure such as fences, tanks, and pipelines should be inspected and repaired before turnout. Temporary fencing can help keep cattle away from sensitive areas undergoing recovery.
The stress of wildfire recovery shouldn’t be overlooked. The Nebraska Rural Response Hotline (800-464-0258) provides confidential support for emotional, financial, and legal concerns associated with disasters.
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John Deere 18-in. planer, 14 pin control, carbide teeth, high flow. stk# 31623. $9900 (G)
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Prairie Fare: Discover the power of nutrition for breakfast and beyond
By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist
“I’ll have oatmeal, a bowl of fruit and whole-wheat toast with honey,” the older gentleman at the adjacent restaurant table said.
“Could I get a banana, too?” he asked. I really don’t eavesdrop on fellow diners, but our tables were only about 18 inches apart. I also have hearing like an owl.
I stared down at my generous piece of streusel coffee cake – served with a side of guilt.
My husband and I were out for our leisurely Saturday breakfast. I grinned at my husband when our fellow diner’s healthful food showed up.
“Wow, he is really having a nutritious breakfast,” my husband said. “He looks healthy, too.”
Whole-grain oatmeal is an excellent source of soluble fiber, which can reduce cholesterol. We are all encouraged to eat more whole grains. Fruit provides fiber, vitamins A and C, as well as disease-fighting
components. The added banana added potassium to help maintain blood pressure.
Maybe he was on his way to run a marathon with all that carbohydrate loading.
I was still feeling guilty about my choice. I would have suggested some protein to his menu, such as a glass of milk and a hard-cooked egg.
The rest of my meal arrived. I had scrambled eggs and breakfast potatoes, so I had plenty of protein and complex carbohydrates (starch) from the potassiumrich potatoes.
Although I didn’t need cake for breakfast, the scrambled eggs satisfied my appetite. I wasn’t hungry for several hours. I should have had a side of fruit, though.
March was National Nutrition Month, and this is a good time to reflect on what we are feeding our bodies to maintain health. Every part of our body, from our brain to our eyes, heart, muscles and bones, is fueled by our diet choices.
National Nutrition Month was first promoted in 1980 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, formerly the American Dietetic Association.
In 2026, we are encouraged to “Discover the Power of Nutrition.”
Most adults and children shortchange themselves on vegetables, fruits and whole grains. We can liven up our menus by adding a bonus of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to our meals, from breakfast through the evening.
Try an omelet stuffed with vegetables such as broccoli, peppers, onions and tomatoes.
Enjoy scrambled eggs with a side of chunky salsa. Have a breakfast sundae
made with yogurt, berries and bananas.
Grab a piece of fruit to eat on the go. Tangerines peel easily.
Make a smoothie with frozen or fresh fruit and milk or yogurt. How about a smoothie made with frozen peaches, orange juice and yogurt? Spin it in a blender for a satisfying on-the-go breakfast.
Have extra veggies on your sandwich with a side of vegetable soup.
Try some hummus with bell pepper slices and carrots for a midday snack.
Enjoy apple slices with your favorite nut butter spread on top.
Set a goal for National Nutrition Month if your diet needs a reboot. If you skip breakfast, try having some healthful food to “break the fast.” People who skip breakfast tend to more than make up for the calories they missed.
Despite my initial guilt, I really enjoyed the coffee cake, as well as the eggs and potatoes. Enjoyment of food is part of healthy living.
CONTINUED ON PAGE B21
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Two friends are out at a club when a woman walks past them wearing a leather dress. The first man looks to the wingman and says, “How sexy is that?” The second man looks at the first man and says, “Wow, I didn’t know the look of leather dress turned you on” “It’s not the look. It’s actally the smell.” “Really?” said his friend, “What is it about the smell that you like?” The man smiles sheepishly and replies, “It smells just like a new golf glove.”
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A man was attempting to book a round of golf at an exclusive club but wasn’t having any luck. “I’m sorry,” the secretary explained, “we simply don’t have any tee times today.” The man, undaunted, said, “Let we ask you a guestion. What if the president wanted to play a round today? Would you be able to find him a tee time?” “Well, of course,” responded the secretary. The man then replied, “I happen to know he’s tied up today, so I’ll take his tee time.”
(Let
HERE’S WHAT GROWERS ARE SAYING: (More testimonials available on our website)
“We normally plant dryland alfalfa the third week in May, but spring moisture allowed us to plant April 23. By 1st cut the 360-D was up to my shirt pockets.”
Steve Garrett - Casper, WY
“We get 2 Ton in a bad water year and 4 Ton in a good water year on dryland with 360-D.”
Cal Oliveras - Albin, WY “The best dryland alfalfa ever raised. The leafiness was surprising.”
Fred Walters - 40 Mile Colony / Lodge Grass, MT
“We love that alfalfa! We get 2 cuts on dryland, and we are ordering for the fourth time.”
Skip Ahlgren, Rocking TS Cattle - Winnett, MT
“We planted 2200 lbs of 360-D. Considering the ‘not so good’ soil we planted 360-D on, and our high altitude, and less than needed rainfall, the 360-D did well enough that we will de nitely plant it again”
Marlin Geier - Osage, WY
√ Will produce AT LEAST 80% of crop with 50% of water
√ Will produce a subsequent cutting after water is gone
Plant on dryland/ guaranteed to out yield Ranger or Ladak
Plant under pivots that only pump 400 gal/
Plant on elds that have only early season creek water
Plant under end guns on pivots
Plant in
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B20
However, next time, my husband and I will order one piece of streusel cake and share it. Maybe.
Here’s a recipe to inspire a healthy grab-and-go breakfast. Make this recipe before you retire for the evening. This quick-andeasy recipe is from the Iowa State University Extension’s “Spend Smart Eat Smart” program.
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
1/3 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
2 tablespoons peanut butter or other nut butter
1/3 cup reduced-fat milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon honey
Fruit (if desired)
Be creative with your own flavor combinations. Add yogurt or pumpkin puree to liven up your morning breakfast.
Pour all ingredients into a 2-cup container with a tight-fitting lid. Stir until all ingredients are combined. Seal the lid. Place in the refrigerator overnight, stir well and divide into 2 servings. Add sliced fruit such as bananas and nuts as a topping, if desired. Makes two servings. Each serving has 190 calories, 10 grams (g) fat, 8 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber and 95 milligrams sodium.
Conrad’s FFA chapter received “2026 State Star Chapter” for the state of Montana FFA at the state convention held in Great Falls, Montana, the week before Easter. This means that Conrad placed first in the National Chapter Awards program and is Montanas’s Top Chapter. Pictured above are some of the members of Conrad’s chapter.
low boy service
(Roger’s Cell) (MC# 170263 US DOT# 128029)
A new approach to fungicide development could help protect crops and human health
By Brooke Ortel
Have you ever opened your fridge to discover that those strawberries you bought last week are now coated with an unappetizing layer of gray fuzz?
UW researchers find ebselen may prevent fungi from proliferating on economically important crops, including strawberries. Photo by gumpapa, stock.adobe.com.
Those unlucky berries were probably infected with gray mold, a disease caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. This fungal pathogen can wreak havoc not only in your fridge or kitchen, but also in high-humidity environments like commercial greenhouses.
Fungal diseases threaten crop production, food security, and human health worldwide. Gray mold alone afflicts more than 200 plant species, including agricultural crops, and results in more than $10 billion in losses annually.
Unfortunately, the problem isn’t going away—in fact, it’s growing. Many fungal pathogens have flourished with shifting weather and precipitation patterns. At the same time, heavy use of conventional fungicides has resulted in widespread fungicide resistance.
“The rise of fungicide-resistant fungal pathogens poses a significant threat to human health and agriculture,” says Seungmee Jung, who graduated from UW in 2024 with a PhD in molecular biology. “The risk of a potential fungal pandemic is a pressing concern.”
But, thanks to Jung’s lab group, future fungicides may be safer, more effective, and much less vulnerable to the development of resistance.
A “self-eating” process
The new fungicide candidates discovered by Jung’s team target a cellular process known as autophagy, which recycles old, faulty, or unnecessary cell components and helps cells maintain homeostasis. Broken down to its Greek roots, the term translates to “self eating.”
Autophagy occurs in all eukaryotic organisms (those whose cells contain a nucleus), from baker’s yeast to human beings. “It’s a nutrient-recycling process in the cell that allows the cell to maintain their healthy status,” Jung explains. “Autophagy processes are boosted under stressful conditions like starvation or infection.”
In fungi, autophagy also affects pathogenicity. Previous studies have shown that many fungal pathogens lose their ability to cause disease when genes related to autophagy are deleted.
Many fungi are known for swiftly adapting to environmental conditions and nimbly evolving resistance to existing fungicides. But even these seemingly invincible pathogens would struggle to dodge a chemical treatment that blocked autophagy.
“Autophagy is a very basic process on a cellular level, so that means it’s really hard to change as time goes on,” Jung explains. “Autophagy is not only important for their
pathogenicity but also very important for their life cycle. So it would be really hard for them to just ‘delete.’”
Disrupting the fungal life cycle
In a fungal cell, the first step in autophagy is the formation of an autophagosome, a cellular “container” that forms a membrane around unnecessary cell materials and hauls them away to be digested and recycled.
The enzyme ATG4 plays a pivotal role in this process by cleaving apart a specific protein, ATG8, which then facilitates the formation of a lipid membrane around the materials to be recycled. Without ATG4 to activate the process, ATG8 cannot form this membrane and autophagy cannot be completed.
To identify chemical compounds that might disrupt autophagy, Jung and her colleagues first developed a molecular “sensor” to indirectly monitor ATG4 activity. To deploy the sensor, the researchers attached two proteins to ATG8, then measured changes in energy transfer between the two proteins when a potential fungicide compound was introduced.
In this BRET (bioluminescent resonance energy transfer) system, one of the proteins acts as an energy donor, while the other functions as an energy receptor. Energy transfer depends on the distance between the two proteins, Jung explains. If the proteins are close to each other—as they are before ATG4 cleaves ATG8 apart—the energy donor can transfer more energy to the receptor. If the proteins are farther away from one another—as they are after ATG4 cleaves ATG8—the energy donor transfers less energy to the receptor.
If the potential fungicide compound didn’t interfere with ATG4 splitting ATG8, the proteins affixed to ATG8 would wind up farther apart, resulting in a lower BRET ratio. But if the chemical inhibited ATG4’s ability to cleave ATG8, the proteins would remain close together and the BRET ratio would be higher.
The researchers’ goal was to identify compounds with high BRET ratios, as they were likely blocking autophagy in the cell. “These compounds bind directly to fungal ATG4 enzymes, disrupting their activity and impairing pathogen development and infection structures,” Jung explains.
Identifying antifungal compounds
In their search for an effective autophagy inhibitor, Jung’s team screened more than 2,400 chemical compounds using the BRET system. Ultimately, they identified several compounds that inhibit autophagy in fungi
L–R: Eunsook Park, assistant professor of molecular biology, Jongchan Woo, research scientist and developer of the BRET sensor, and Seungmee Jung, postdoctoral researcher, use the BRET sensor to test compounds that may be suitable for use as fungicides. Photo courtesy of Seungmee Jung.
A New Approach to Fungicide Development Could Help Protect Crops and Human Health
that cause diseases like gray mold, rice blast fungus, white mold, and brown rot.
One of the chemicals Jung’s team tested has been under clinical trial for potential use in human medicine. Hopefully, this will allow for the development of fungicides that are less harmful to human health than existing options.
The chemicals that most effectively blocked autophagy included a molecule known as ebselen and several closely related compounds.
Initial experiments occurred “in vitro,” meaning that the researchers tested the process using lab-grown proteins found in fungi cells. Successful candidates were then tested in actual fungi cells. Lastly, to mimic fungicide application, the researchers sprayed the finalists onto host plants, then exposed those plants to fungal
pathogens. Autophagy was completely blocked in the fungal pathogens when the compounds were applied, Jung reports—a promising sign for potential use as a fungicide. Ebselen, for example, effectively prevented fungal infection in grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, rice, and roses.
“By targeting the autophagy process in fungal pathogens, we not only reduce crop loses but also protect human health…while minimizing environmental impact,” Jung concludes.
After nearly a decade of work developing, testing, and using this BRET sensor, she’s already busy designing a secondgeneration sensor to study autophagy in animals, including humans. She hopes her work will ultimately benefit human health as well as crop production.
The Day of the Mushroom
This holiday is always observed on April 16th
This is a special day to enjoy and appreciate the culinary value of ‘Shrooms. On this holiday, enjoy this culinary treat at every meal. If you think it’s not for breakfast, think of egg omelets with mushrooms.
Mushrooms first entered the culinary scene in the 19th century, when French chefs first began using them. Since then, the popularity of mushrooms has bloomed around the world.
Shrooms are classified as a fungus. They
grow in a dark and damp areas. There are over 14,000 varieties. No matter how much you love them, don’t go out into the woods to harvest mushrooms yourself. You have to know your mushrooms, as many varieties are from mildly to highly poisonous.
One thing we know for certain, recipes abound for Shroom lovers. Find a mushroom recipe, and have a very happy Day of the Mushroom!
Did You Know? There are over 14,000 species of mushrooms. It is important to note that many are poisonous.
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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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I get all kinds of weird looks at the gym. Can’t they bring their own pizza?
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I made a beginner’s mistake and went shopping on an empty stomach. I am now the happy owner of aisle 7.
Native Dryland Items
Mountain Brome
Idaho Fescue
Rough Fescue
Sherman Big Bluegrass
Sandberg Bluegrass
Prairie Junegrass
Basin Wildrye
Streambank Wheatgrass
Thickspike Wheatgrass
Western Wheatgrass
Bluebunch Wheatgrass
Slender Wheatgrass
Blue Grama
Green Needlegrass
Indian Ricegrass
Legumes
Alfalfa
Big Sky Ladak Alfalfa
Roundup Ready Alfalfa
Sainfoin
Alsike Clover
Red Clover
Yellow Blossom Sweet Clover
Cicer Milkvetch
Birdsfoot Treefoil
Tame Dryland Items
Smooth Brome
Meadow Brome
Sheep Fescue
Hard Fescue
Paiute Orchardgrass
Russian Wildrye
Dahurian Wildrye
Tall Wheatgrass
Intermediate Wheatgrass
Pubescent Wheatgrass
A/C Saltlander
Crested Wheatgrass
Hycrest Crested Wheatgrass
Siberian Wheatgrass
Wetland Native Items
Nuttal Alkaligrass
Tufted Hairgrass
Tame Wetland Items
Reed Canarygrass
STEER program to train first responders for livestock emergencies
By John O’Connell
University of Idaho Extension has created a new program to prepare the state’s first responders to assist in livestock transportation accidents, filling an important training gap.
Extension’s new Stock Transportation Emergency Education and Response (STEER) program includes a half day of classroom learning and a half day of hands-on training with live beef and dairy cows, horses and sheep.
Sessions will cater to law enforcement officers, firefighters, county brand inspectors and other first responders who may be called upon when livestock are loose or injured due to vehicle accidents on public roadways.
“In talking with the police supervisors, the county sheriffs and others, they say that there isn’t a training on this that they are provided by their own statewide organizations,” said Extension Educator Sawyer Fonnesbeck, Oneida County. “If a livestock trailer crashes, for example, usually they’re going to be responsible for the crash and the vehicle. As far as the livestock, they are kind of like, ‘OK, what do we do?’ Sometimes they just call the owner of the livestock and see if they can do anything.”
Livestock emergencies are bound to happen periodically in rural Idaho, which is one of eight states in which the population of cattle exceeds the total human population, though protocols on how to respond to such emergencies are not always clear.
“I’m out of Weiser, and in the three years since I’ve been here, we’ve had two different occasions of cattle getting out in the middle of town, as well as about two months ago there was a flock of sheep running around through our downtown,” said University of Idaho Extension Educator Tyler O’Donnell, Washington County.
The offices of Idaho’s state veterinarian, who is part of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and the state brand inspector, who is affiliated with Idaho State Police, organized a similar course for law enforcement officers more than a decade ago, but it’s been a few years since they last offered it.
“I think it’s a great idea, and it’s something that is needed within the state,” said Idaho Brand Inspector Cody Burlile. “I would love to help out in whatever capacity I can.”
Typically, county deputies and Idaho State Police are the first to respond to livestock emergencies, and Burlile’s staff are often called later to assist.
“It seems like a lot of times we’ll get calls to respond to truck accidents — maybe a cow trailer tipped over; it seems like we’ll get called out to several of those per year in some capacity — or maybe it’s just livestock out on the road,” Burlile said.
University of Idaho Extension Educator Selena Davila, Lincoln County, was recently chosen as U of I’s new point of contact for the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), which is a collaborative initiative aimed at improving disaster preparedness and response through researchbased education provided by U.S Cooperative Extension Service. Davila received a $25,000 grant through EDEN to launch STEER, which Extension plans to continue teaching throughout the state long after the initial grant funds are exhausted.
The UI Extension team hopes to eventually get STEER approved for continuing education credits for law enforcement professionals through Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training.
Davila, Fonnesbeck and O’Donnell got the idea for STEER after seeing a poster about a similar program offered by Michigan State University (MSU) Extension while attending a conference. MSU sent U of I their program curriculum to help them get started in creating a version for Idaho. Davila and Fonnesbeck are also planning a trip to meet with The Ohio State University Extension to learn about their livestock emergency-response training program.
Participants in U of I’s training will learn skills such as how to put a halter on a horse and how to safely move livestock.
Area producers will contribute livestock and a livestock trailer for training sessions.
Garrison Creeping Foxtail
Timothy
“At least when first responders get out and there are a bunch of cows on the road, they will have a better idea of how to move them and how they are going to respond,” Davila said.
Participants will receive homework to help their departments prepare for livestock emergencies, such as developing CONTINUED ON PAGE B25
STEER program to train first responders for livestock emergencies
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B24
a list of contacts who may wish to be notified about livestock emergencies or might lend assistance. Potential contacts could include local feedlots that may house livestock temporarily, ranchers willing to help round up livestock, fairgrounds groundskeepers, veterinarians and a county brand inspector.
The sessions will be hosted April 20 in Eastern Idaho, April 21 in Jerome, April 22 in Caldwell and April 24-25 in Moscow. Furthermore, U of I meat science and veterinary science students will participate in the April 25 training on the Moscow campus.
Registration is $10 per person, and Extension will accept up to 30 participants per workshop. STEER will give one tote bag for each department involved in the training with supplies for use in livestock emergencies such as lariats, information cards, livestock halters and livestock triage chalk.
Other STEER program organizers include Extension educators Cheyanne Fisher, Canyon County; and Meranda Small, Idaho County; as well as Dr. Lauren Christensen, a veterinarian with the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences. Contact Davila for more information about STEER.
2025 Montana barley crop quality report
By E. Wallace, H. Uhlmann,
J. Sherman, C. Hinson. Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, MSU, Bozeman MT
This is the sixteenth annual crop quality report for barley grown in Montana. Collection of barley samples was coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). Grain quality evaluations were performed by the Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab at Montana State University and grade information was determined by the Montana State Grain Lab. The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee provided financial support.
Production:
According to the USDA – NASS September 2025 Small Grains Summary, 34% of barley acres planted in the US in were in Montana. This equates to 780,000 acres of barley planted in Montana. Of these barley
acres, 585,000 acres were harvested. This is down 19% from the 720,000 acres harvested in 2024.
The USDA reported an average yield of 54 bushels per acre (bu/acre). This was up 3 bu/acre from 2024 when the average yield was 51 bu/acre.
Following a national trend, overall barley production in Montana was down 14% with 31.6 million bushels produced, compared to 2024 when 36.7 million bushels were reported.
Materials and Methods:
The 2025 Montana barley crop survey consists of four districts within the state (Table 1). The objective of the crop quality survey was to collect a representative number of
samples from each district. The number of barley samples collected was determined by previous and projected barley production in the counties of each district.
During harvest, a total of 85 two-rowed barley samples weighing between 0.5 and 2 pounds were collected from farms and grain elevators in selected Montana counties. Sample details, including barley variety, were provided by the grower or elevator representative (Table 2).
Upon receipt, initial moisture content was recorded for each submission and samples in excess of 13.5% were allowed to air-dry prior to subsequent analyses. A subsample of each entry was then removed prior to cleaning. These subsamples were later bulked based on suitability for malting to create regional composite samples. After sub-sampling, the remaining grain was cleaned to remove dockage prior to testing for this report.
After dockage was removed, test weight,
moisture, protein, and kernel assortment were determined for each of the samples. Percent total protein, reported on a dry-matter basis, was determined by near infrared transmittance on a Foss Infratec Nova grain analyzer. Table 3 displays results. The values for state and district averages represent results of malting quality or feed quality samples from that region.
Barley samples were deemed to have suitable malting quality based on protein and plump values. Barley having protein greater than 14% or plumps over a 6/64th sieve less than 70% were rejected as not suitable qual-
ity. District composite samples were made from suitable barley samples and submitted to the Montana State Grain Laboratory for determination of grade, Table 4.
Barley samples having suitable malting quality were sorted and pooled within variety (i.e. Beaut, Buzz, Churchill, Connect, Eagle, Endurance, Explorer, Hockett, Mayflower, Moravian 165, Raptor, and Synergy) or within variety and region for varieties having more entries (BC-100, Metcalfe, and Voyager). New this year, barley samples were also sorted based on growing conditions (dryland or irrigated).
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Cattle Chat: Bull selection strategies
By Chevy-Lynn Vaske, K-State Extension news service
Making sound bull purchasing decisions can be one of the most important management choices a cattle operation makes, according to experts speaking on Kanaas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute Cattle Chat podcast.
The team sat down with K-State Purebred Beef Unit Manager Christian Magana and Jason Warner, cow-calf extension specialist, to discuss bull selection strategies producers can use to improve herd performance.
Magana emphasized the importance of defining clear breeding objectives before making a purchase. “A bull should match the goals of your operation — whether that’s maternal performance, calving ease, or terminal traits — because genetics are a long-term investment,” he said.
Warner and Magana highlighted that K-State’s Legacy bull sale magazine offers expected progeny differences (EPD’s) that can aid the producer in making the decision for their operation, rather than overwhelming producers with so many numbers.
Warner added that fertility and soundness need to be prioritized alongside genetic potential.
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“Breeding soundness and structural soundness are fundamental; if a bull can’t do his job physically or reproductively, all the genetics in the world don’t matter,” he said.
The BCI team also highlighted the upcoming Legacy Bull Sale, stressing that producer preparation and a clear understanding of herd goals can make the difference between a good purchase and an outstanding one.
To hear the full discussion on bull buying decisions and other industry insights, visit the BCI website or listen to the latest Cattle Chat episode on your preferred podcast platform. Send questions by email to bci@ksu.edu.
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Russia and Japan have still not signed a peace treaty officially ending their participation in World War II.
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Rabbits are more closely related to horses than to rodents.
2025 Montana barley crop quality report
Pooled grain was then malted in a two-steep malting profile using MSU’s CLP micromalters. Malt quality data was obtained and is reported in Table 5.
Varieties:
The majority of barley acreage in Montana was planted to malting varieties (NASS). AC Metcalfe, Bill Coors 100, and Hockett are among the most commonly planted two-rowed malting varieties. The most collected barley variety in 2025 was AC Metcalfe. It comprised 33% of the samples (Table 2). Bill Coors 100, and Endurance were the next most collected varieties, at 7%, respectively. They were followed by Voyager and Moravian 165 at 6%.
Quality of Two-Rowed Malting Barley Varieties:
State and district averages of individual tworowed malting barley samples are presented in Table 3. Of the 85 samples collected, 77 were of acceptable malting quality. The average moisture of the these two-rowed barley samples was 10.8%. The average two-rowed barley test weight was 49.9 lb/bu and average barley protein content was 11.5%. The average kernel assortment was 96.7% plump with 1.1% thin kernels.
North District
The North District had the highest percentage of samples rejected. Notwithstanding, 87% of samples collected were of suitable malting quality. Of those, the average test weight was 51.3 lb/bu. Barley protein content was 11.1%. The average kernel plumpness was 96.5% with 1.1% thin kernels.
West District
The West District only had three samples rejected with 89% being of suitable malting quality. The average test weight was 49.7 lb/ bu. Barley protein content was 12.0%. The average kernel plumpness was 95.8% with 1.5% thin kernels.
Central District
95% of Central District samples were of suitable malting quality with only one rejected. This district had an average protein of 10.7%. The average test weight was 47.8 lb/bu. Central had an average kernel plumpness of 97.4% with 0.7% thin kernels.
South District
The South District had only one sample rejected with 92% being of suitable malting quality. The samples had the highest average test weight at 51.4 lb/bu, and the lowest protein content at 10.9%. The district also had the highest average kernel plumpness at 97.9% plump with 0.9% thin kernels.
Barley Grades:
Montana district composite samples were inspected for an official grade (Table 4) by the State Grain Lab in Great Falls. The North District composite was graded as U.S. No. 3 two-rowed malting barley with test weights of 50.5 lb/bu. The South District composite was graded U.S. No. 4 two-rowed malting barley with a test weight of 51.5 lb/bu.
The West District was graded as U.S. No. 4 as well, and had a test weight of 49.5 lb/bu and the highest protein of the composites at 12.3%.
While all four composites had minimal dockage, the Central District composite was the only sample to have significant damage with 24.1% noted as skinned and broken.
The North District had the lowest skinned and broken percentage at 3.0%, while Central had the lowest level of thin kernels at 0.3%. The Central District composite sample was graded as U.S. Sample Grade barley and had a test weight of 48.0 lb/bu and a protein of 11.9%.
Malting Process:
Barley samples were pooled based on variety to generate representative statewide samples, or if there were enough samples, a region of the state. Malts were generated at the MSU Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab with a program that consisted of two steeps (23 hrs wet, 17 hrs rest, 4 hrs wet) and 100 hrs of germination time. Malting was held at 13ᵒC during the steeping phase and 18 ᵒC during the germination phase. Malts were kilned in a base malt profile consisting of 12 hrs at 60 ᵒC, 6 hrs at 65 ᵒC, 2 hrs at 75ᵒC, and 3 hrs at 85 ᵒC. Samples were manually de-culmed and malt quality analysis was performed directly.
Malting Observations:
Most varieties demonstrated extract of 80% or better, with BC-100 from the South District and North Districts and Endurance in the Central District, having the three highest values of 82.7%, 82.6% and 82.5%, respectively. Moravian 165 had the lowest extract at 77.4%. Almost all varieties had good breakdown of Bglucan with all but Connect under 100 mg/L. Raptor had the highest FAN values being over 300 mg/L.
All varieties generated appropriate enzyme content for brewing and distilling. BC-100 had the highest DP value at 249.7 ᵒASBC with Moravian 165 right behind it at 243.6ᵒASBC. Buzz was the lowest at 134.9 ᵒ ASBC. Aamylase ranged from 50 D.U. to 144.2 D.U. with Connect at the low end and Buzz at the high end.
Research suggests higher omega-3 content can increase milk production
By Colton Tripp, K-State Extension news service
With an ever-growing population, agriculturists and researchers continually strive to find new ways and innovations to enhance food production.
Following a recent trial at the Kansas State University Dairy Research and Teaching Center, one researcher suggests that a higher omega-3 diet in dairy cattle can increase milk production and aid in maintaining a pregnancy.
Victor Gomez-Leon, an assistant professor and dairy specialist with K-State Extension, said researchers found that dairy cattle that were fed a higher concentration of omega-3 over a 130-day trial period produced 2-4 pounds more milk compared to the control group that was fed a higher omega-6 diet.
Omega-6 in cattle feed is derived generally from corn and soybeans, whereas omega-3 comes from flaxseed in combination with an algae product. According to Gomez-Leon, this different type of feed combination allows the producers to feed the same amount of fat, just through a different fat profile. This feeding regime was started 15 days after calving and ended around 140 days after calving.
“What we saw in terms of milk production is that the cows fed the high omega-3 diet produce about 2-4 pounds more milk than cows fed low omega-3 diets,” Gomez-Leon said. “Our cows at the KState Dairy Research and Teaching Center produce 100 pounds of milk per day, so the omega-3 cows were producing 102 to 104 pounds.”
Along with an increase of omega-3 in the cattle’s diet, researchers found there was an increase in the omega-3 content in the milk produced by these cows.
Alongside the study’s research into the effects on milk and dairy production, it also looked into how omega-3 impacts reproduction in dairy cattle.
“We study the corpus luteum and progesterone, which are key components involved in maintaining pregnancy in cattle,” Gomez-Leon said. “We also evaluate the blood flow and the size of the ovary.”
Gomez-Leon added that researchers observed an increase in blood flow to the corpus luteum -- the structure that maintains the pregnancy -- at specific times during this trial.
He said: “While progesterone levels remained the same across diets, the observed change in the corpus luteum may represent physiologic advantages of
feeding omega-3 to cattle, and align with other studies that reported a decrease in pregnancy losses.”
“One of the challenges that we have with both beef and dairy production is that the rumen, one of the four compartments in the cow’s stomach, digests some of the omega-3, so it does not get absorbed well in the intestines,” Gomez-Leon said.
Through a proposed multidisciplinary study, K-State researchers hope to continue studying the inclusion of omega-3 in cattle diets, more specifically in beef-on-dairy research. Gomez-Leon said the researchers hope to understand if meat from calves born to dams fed omega-3 diets contains higher omega-3 content.
He adds that they will also aim to examine the effect of omega-3 on different dairy products. These studies should also help in the understanding of the underlying causes of pregnancy losses or maintenance across species.
More information on dairy cattle is available online from the K-State Department of Animal Science and Industry.
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Labels on food packages include both added and naturally occurring sugars, while ingredient lists include only added sugars. Added sugars are usually natural sweeteners other than granulated sugars.
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M&Ms were the first candies to go into space.
Prairie Fare: Sweet truths — What to know about artificial sweeteners
By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist
“What’s the difference between these packets?” my husband asked me after he picked up his cup of coffee.
“These are different non-nutritive sweeteners,” I replied as I read the ingredient statement. “Some are sweeter than others.”
“Could you pick out a packet for me?” he added.
I selected a pink packet for him because it caught my eye. I think I used a blue packet.
I don’t know why we sweeten our coffee at restaurants. We probably just don’t like the flavor of the coffee, because we don’t add anything to our coffee at home.
I’m not too worried about the minor amount of these sweeteners we use. These substances are so sweet that most of the powder in the packet is actually bulk filler, such as maltodextrin.
Non-nutritive, or artificial, sweeteners include aspartame, acesulfame-K, neotame, saccharin and sucralose. Stevia, for example, is a type of herbal sweetener.
Artificial sweeteners provide virtually no calories and no nutrients. Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, while sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar.
The common sweetener aspartame comprises two amino acids: aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Foods and beverages containing aspartame must carry a warning for those who have phenylketonuria.
People with the disorder cannot break down phenylalanine, so they must follow a strict low-protein diet for life. The disorder can cause seizures and intellectual disability. Newborns are screened for this rare genetic condition. Many years ago, I used to have one can of diet cola every day at work. My colleagues thought I drank pop all day, but I was actually just filling the empty can with water and sipping that. Since I no longer drink pop regularly, it tastes extremely sweet to me now.
Diet pop, like sweetened pop, is not good for our teeth. Phosphoric acid and citric acid in beverages can erode tooth enamel.
The Food and Drug Administration sets limits on the “Acceptable Daily Intake” of various artificial sweeteners. It’s usually set at one-hundredth the level considered toxic in animals.
People thought that if they simply cut out sugar calories from their diets, any excess pounds on their bodies would disappear. Unfortunately, despite the introduction of many artificial sweeteners, the overweight and obesity rates have increased.
Researchers continue to explore why this has occurred. People tend to overcompensate for the missed calories by eating other high-calorie foods, or they develop a “supersweet tooth.”
On the other hand, some studies have shown that artificial sweeteners allow people with diabetes or obesity to occasionally enjoy something sweet.
However, some research suggests associations between frequent consumption of certain artificial sweeteners and conditions such as fatty liver disease, insulin resistance and gastrointestinal issues.
Some recent studies link artificial sweeteners with disrupting our gut microbiome – the large group of microorganisms that live in our gut and help keep us healthy.
What about cancer risk? Cyclamates and saccharine increased bladder cancer risk in large doses in 1970s-era animal studies, but these findings have not been confirmed in humans at typical intake levels. FDA scientists “do not have safety concerns about aspartame when used under the approved conditions.”
Nutrition experts recommend avoiding non-nutritive sweeteners in toddlers’ diets and greatly limiting them in children. Pregnant women are advised to minimize or completely avoid them.
If anyone is sipping a diet pop as you read this, I do not mean to alarm you. If you are drinking many bottles or cans of diet soda a day, you are not doing your body a favor. What’s a person to do?
Think about your own beverage consumption. Quench your thirst with water.
Enjoy milk or a calcium-rich substitute with meals for the calcium and protein it provides.
If you like real sugar in your coffee, enjoy it in modera-
CONTINUED ON PAGE C3
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How P2P works
• Peer-to-peer file sharing, or simply P2P, prefers to a specific type of Internet file-sharing network. It allows people with the appropriate programs to make their computers part of an entire file-sharing network, including its bandwidth (meaning how much data can be transferred) and storage capabilities. That means that as more people enter into a P2P network, they automatically increase the network’s ability to handle more information.
• This stands against the more conventional client/server systems in which a finite number of servers–computers that “serve” many users in varying ways–can become slower as more and more people use them. (If you have an e-mail account with Yahoo! or Google, for example, you’re the client, and you use their servers to send and receive e-mails.)
• The concept of a P2P system was actually part of how the early Internet worked: In 1969 ARPANET, the “Grandfather of the Internet,” connected computers at UCLA, Stanford, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah in what was basically a P2P system students could use to access the different schools’ computers and files. Each computer was, therefore, both server and client.
Prairie Fare: Sweet truths
tion. A teaspoon of sugar has about 15 calories.
Be sure to keep sugar-free gum containing xylitol away from your pets, because it can be toxic to them.
Train your taste buds to enjoy less sweetness overall.
Consider a natural sweetener such as honey, but remember it is still an added sugar. Honey contains antioxidants and some trace minerals. Cinnamon, an antioxidant-rich spice, enhances the natural sweetness of food such as this dip.
Honey Yogurt Fruit Dip
1 cup low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons honey (to taste)
Red and green apple slices
Mix ingredients for dip. Rinse and slice apples right before serving.
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Optimizing nitrogen management for sustainable, profitable sugar beet production
By
Godfred Ankomah – Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL; Nicole Heldt – Research Project Coordinator, Maharjan Soils Lab, UNL PREEC; Sujani De Silva – PhD Student, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL; Bijesh Maharjan – Extension Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist, UNL while reducing environmental losses.
Reducing nitrogen rates in sugar beet production may be possible without sacrificing yield, and early results from on-farm trials in Nebraska and Colorado suggest growers could cut inputs while maintaining profitability.
Background
Nitrogen (N) plays a complex role in sugar beet production, as insufficient rates can limit root yield, while excessive rates reduce sugar concentration and extraction efficiency, ultimately lowering recoverable sugar yield. This tradeoff makes N management challenging for growers, directly affecting profitability, processing quality and environmental outcomes. Improving N management, therefore, represents a key opportunity to enhance both economic returns and conservation outcomes in sugar beet production.
To address this challenge, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), in collaboration with Western Sugar Cooperative (WSC), has initiated a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – funded project focused on optimizing N management for sugar beet growers. This five-year effort (2025-29) aims to promote the adoption of Conservation Practice Standard 590 (Nutrient Management) for sugar beet by validating reduced N fertilizer strategies that improve sugar yield and quality
On-Farm Research Approach
Over the course of four years, the project will engage 50 sugar beet growers across Nebraska and Colorado (Figure 1) through on-farm, split-pivot side-by-side comparisons of traditional N fertilizer recommendations based on root yield and a new model based on the estimated recoverable sugar (ERS).
Our small-plot research experiments suggested that beet growers can reduce N input without a yield penalty when they use the ERS-based N recommendation. The traditional root yield model estimates that 8 lb of N is needed to produce 1 ton of sugar beet. In contrast, the ERS model estimates a lower requirement – about 6.5 lb of N per ton of beet produced.
Thus, the ERS model reduces N fertilizer application by 45 lb/acre for an average beet yield of 30 tons/acre.
This on-farm research aims to test the ERS-based N model on the farm scale and includes economic and environmental analyses to support the model. Nebraska and Colorado were selected to ensure consistency in soil and N management and irrigation systems, thereby enabling a thorough regional evaluation of the new model’s effects.
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Environmental nitrogen losses via leaching and emissiions were measured weekly on three sugar beet farms in Nebraska in 2025 to assess the effectiveness of the new nitrogen model. Photo by Nicole Heidt/Maharjan Soils Lab
Geographic location of 50 farms through 2025-2029
Optimizing nitrogen management for sustainable, profitable sugar beet production
CONTINUED FROM PAGE C4
The effectiveness of the ERS-based N model will be assessed by measuring environmental impacts and agronomic performance over the four years of the study:
Soil, water, and plant tissue sampling and analysis (20 selected sites)
Measurement of environmental N loss via leaching and emissions (20 selected sites)
Evaluation of root yield, sugar concentration, estimated recoverable sugar (ERS), and sugar loss to molasses (SLM) (50 selected sites)
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) (50 selected sites)
Economic analysis in the final year (50 selected sites)
Life cycle assessment to quantify broader environmental impacts
Preliminary Results
Results from the project’s first year, averaged across all locations, demonstrated that reduced N inputs under the ERS model could maintain or slightly improve productivity while substantially minimizing environmental impact. The N concentration in sugar beet leaf, NDVI, and NUE indicated that the ERS N model did not limit sugar beet N utilization.
Overall, compared with the traditional N treatment, the ERS N model resulted in:
Slight increase in root yield (1.4%), sugar concentration (0.6%), and ERS (2%) (average of 12 locations).
18% less nitrous oxide emissions and >80% less nitrate concentration in leachate water samples collected at 4-foot depth (average of 3 locations).
23% and 25% increase in NUE based on the root yield and ERS, respectively (aver-
age of 9 locations).
Project Progression
The primary objective of this USDA NRCS– funded project is to generate reliable, regionally relevant data associated with reduced N inputs. Data collected from 50 farms will provide the foundation for future conservation incentive programs and confidence in nutrient management recommendations.
As a wholly grower-owned cooperative, WSC provides a trusted and direct pathway for sharing research results with producers. Grower fact sheets, field updates and educational materials will be distributed throughout the cooperative to promote confidence in the ERS N model and to encourage adoption of improved stewardship practices. Surveys conducted among growers before and after the study, in collaboration with the UNL Bureau of Sociological Research, will help identify barriers and opportunities for broader implementation.
For additional information and on-farm trial enrollment for the 2026 season, contact bmaharjan@unl.edu or nheldt@unl.edu. Farmers enrolled in this project save on N inputs based on the ERS model and also receive $118.80 per acre for each acre on which N input is reduced as per the ERS model. Incentives are meant to compensate for any foregone income due to potential yield loss but are paid regardless of yield outcome.
Through collaboration with WSC leadership and technical staff, UNL aims to support profitable sugar beet production while advancing conservation stewardship across the northern sugar beet-producing region.
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Helping young children recover after natural disasters
From Nebraska Extension
Nebraska wildfires that began on March 12 burned around 800,000 acres, covering an area about the size of Rhode Island, according to data from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. The natural disaster will affect ranching families and communities, causing various levels of stress for adults and children.
The Nebraska Extension has suggestions for parents and guardians on how to help children cope with stress after a natural disaster. The most important thing right now is to help children feel safe and protected. It is the first step in the process of mental health or emotional recovery.
Trauma from such events is what a person experiences inside and is not the event itself, so one child may be experiencing traumatic stress while another child may not. Because the experience is within each person, adults should carefully watch for behavioral changes that can provide clues into what the child is experiencing.
In the early phase after an event, children may display a wide range of symptoms, from showing no behavioral changes at all to behavior changes such as becoming tearful, aggressive, or not wanting their parent (teacher or other caregiver) out of their sight. Care should be taken not to assume that the child showing almost no behavioral change is not experiencing any distress from a natural disaster. Many children will internalize their distress, showing few outward signs, while other children will externalize it, making their distress easier to see.
Watch for children signaling what they need. Parent or guardian’s nearby presence, or that of another trusted caregiver or teacher, is probably the single most important factor in helping a child recover from a disturbing event in a healthy way.
Routines can be especially helpful in conveying a sense of safety and protection to children. Children find comfort in the predictable rhythms of their usual day, particularly when something has disrupted their ability to predict what is coming next. So, keeping or returning to a child’s typical daily routines and times of going to bed, waking up, eating, bathing, playing, etc., can be very therapeutic for children.
For infants and very young, pre-verbal children, their experience is mostly driven by the parent or other caregiver. When adults are distressed, children will notice subtle changes in face, voice, and behavior, even when adults think they may be disguising their emotions. Caregivers need to think about ways to take care of themselves, to cope with fear, anger, sadness, exhaustion, etc.
It is helpful to tell children (even infants and very young children) that being upset about something is not because of anything they have done. And reassure them that you will still be there to care for them. At times, a caregiver may need help from other caring adults to look after their children, so they can seek support for mental health and well-being.
Nebraska Extension is your trusted source for disasterrelated information. Learning Child and 4-H campus and county-based experts are ready to help you get the answers you need to support children, youth, and the adults in their lives during life-changing events.
For more information, visit https://disaster.unl.edu or https://child.unl.edu/read4resilience
Five freaky facts about…FRO-YO
• Frozen yogurt isn’t just regular yogurt that’s been frozen. If you put yogurt into a soft-serve machine, you’ll end up with a milky slush. (And if you put that into the freezer… you’ll get a weird brick of white stuff.)
• The ingredient that chemically gives fro-yo an ice-creamlike consistency is sugar–lots of sugar, as much as ice cream has. The science: sugar molecules block ice crystals from forming.
• Frozen yogurt contains a bunch of processed dairy products and dairy by-products, such as pasteurized nonfat milk, pasteurized buttermilk, whey, dry milk, and milk protein isolate–plus carrageenan, an extract from seaweed.
• Most commercial frozen yogurts include live yogurt cultures.
• Self-serve frozen yogurt parlors that charge by weight have become one of the most heavily franchised businesses. They’ve got low overhead, and the yogurt is sold at a markup estimated at about 500 percent.
Cattle Chat: The role of estrus expression in reproductive success
By Chevy-Lynn Vaske, K-State Extension news service
Beef cattle experts at Kansas State University say estrus expression plays an important role in reproductive success for beef cattle herds.
On a recent Cattle Chat podcast hosted by the Beef Cattle Institute, experts say recognizing heat activity and pairing it with effective synchronization strategies can help producers improve breeding outcomes and manage their breeding season more efficiently.
The episode featured guest Adrienne Lulay of Lulay Livestock Company, who shared insights on monitoring estrus behavior.
“When cows show strong estrus expression, it is often an indication that hormone levels are where they should be for successful breeding,” Lulay said.
Synchronization protocols are commonly used to help align the reproductive cycles of multiple cows, allowing producers to breed animals at a more predictable time. These programs can improve efficiency, especially for operations using artificial insemination or focused breeding windows.
However, the experts emphasized that successful reproduction goes beyond timing alone. Nutrition, body condition, herd management, and overall animal health all play a role in ensuring cows cycle properly and conceive.
The discussion also highlighted estrus detection technologies that help producers identify cows in heat more accurately. These tools can improve breeding timing and help producers better manage their reproduction programs.
To hear the full discussion on bull buying decisions and other industry insights, visit the BCI website or listen to the latest Cattle Chat episode on your preferred podcast platform.
If you have any questions you’d like answered, send an email to bci@ksu.edu.
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Beef Quality Assurance has high value
Beef Quality Assurance, a program developed by cattlemen in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is central to ensuring beef products are raised with animal welfare, food safety and responsible management in mind. In Nebraska, veterinarians are directly involved in that work, helping producers apply research-based practices to their operations, which ultimately affects what reaches the consumer.
Sierra Rush, DVM, is one of those veterinarians. Through her work with feedlot and cow-calf operations through Rice Veterinarian Services in Broken Bow, Nebraska, Rush is involved in Beef Quality Assurance training. This allows her to work directly with producers to improve cattle care and management practices.
“Veterinarians are the middlemen, really,” she said. “We work with the producers, and then we work with Nebraska BQA, and we’re given that research on how best we can use husbandry skills to advance care at the production level.”
Rush said her involvement in BQA stems from seeing how closely animal care and consumer trust are connected.
BQA boosts public confidence by letting consumers know “that we are doing everything we absolutely can do at each operation to make sure welfare is top priority,” she said.
As a veterinarian, Rush brings research-backed knowledge and hands-on experience into BQA trainings. She uses research to explain why certain practices matter, while helping producers understand how those practices fit into daily operations.
By using research to support BQA practices, Rush helps producers understand that the program is not about meeting minimum requirements but, rather, about improving consistency and accountability across the beef supply chain.
Rush’s trainings focus on key BQA areas including animal behavior and handling, herd health management, biosecurity, record keeping, emergency action planning and transportation. She also incorporates mobility scoring and handling discussions that relate directly to cattle condition prior to transport, an important factor in both animal welfare and beef quality.
She often addresses BQA principles when visiting an operation, helping producers see how small changes can improve outcomes.
“When we’re working cattle, I’m not afraid to kind of have a conversation when cattle aren’t flowing down the alley very well,” said Rush, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumna.
“Like, how about we do it this way?” That approach has helped build trust and has led to a strong number of producers returning to her BQA clinics. Many attend not only to maintain certification but also to better understand how research-based practices could improve animal care.
Rush is especially focused on supporting young producers and employees who may be newer to the industry.
“When young producers think of BQA, they think of the general, typical things like where to give shots or hot shot use, ” she said. “But there’s so much more with the program.”
After BQA trainings, Rush often sees management changes that reflect the principles of BQA.
Examples range from “the smallest things like how to mix a vaccine, to producers calling me to sit down and help them create a biosecurity plan,” she said.
Rush also serves as a trainer and member of the newly formed Nebraska BQA advisory board. She said the program has historically been more focused on feedlot operations, but she sees it continuing to expand across all sectors of the industry as operations switch over to younger people.
By connecting research to daily cattle care, veterinarians like Rush help ensure Beef Quality Assurance remains an effective tool for producers and a source of confidence for consumers.
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Ag producers from Eastern Montana, Western North Dakota, and Canada came to Plentywood for the KATQ Northeast Montana Farm Expo in Plentywood, MT in March to listen to a variety of speakers, and visit with the various vendors who had booths at the trade show during the 2-day event.Photo by Suzy Benzing
Webinar series to address grazing leases, stocking rates
and risk management
Livestock producers are making key decisions this spring on pasture rental rates, stocking levels and managing risk in uncertain conditions. A three-part webinar series from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, in collaboration with Nebraska Extension’s Livestock Systems team, will present practical guidance to help inform these decisions.
The first webinars was held at noon Central Time on April 9. The next two webinars are April 16 and 23, and are designed to provide practical guidance for landowners and livestock producers as they plan for the 2026 grazing season. All sessions are free to attend, with registration and details available at cap.unl.edu/webinars.
“Pasture decisions often come down to balancing productivity with long-term sustainability,” said Jim Jansen, Extension agricultural economist. “These sessions are built to help producers and landowners work through those decisions with current data and practical tools.”
The series began April 9 with “Understanding Grazing Land Rental Rates and Lease Agreements in 2026,” presented by Jansen and Anastasia Meyer, Extension agricultural economists. The session highlighted recent Nebraska Farm Real Estate Survey results on grazing land rental rates and lease arrangements, along with considerations to help landowners and tenants develop clear, workable agreements.
On April 16, “Stocking Rates 101: Matching Livestock to Your Grass” will be led by livestock systems Extension educators Ben Beckman and Ryan Benjamin. The webinar will walk through practical ways to estimate forage availability, set appropriate stocking rates and adjust as conditions change to protect pasture health and profitability.
The series concludes April 23 with “Managing Grazing Risk: Leases, Flexibility, and Drought Decisions,” also presented by Beckman and Benjamin. The session will focus on building flexibility into lease agreements, along with strategies for drought planning, disaster recovery and managing grazing risk when conditions shift.
The sessions are intended to help producers make informed decisions heading into the grazing season, particularly as weather variability and input costs continue to shape management choices.
More information and registration for each webinar is available on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website at cap.unl.edu/webinars.
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How has bacon been used in unconventional products? Beyond the plate, bacon has inspired products like bacon-scented cologne, baconflavored dental floss, and even bacon-infused soap. These novelty items cater to bacon enthusiasts eager to incorporate their favorite flavor into everyday life.
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Are fresh squeezed juices good for you? Fresh squeezed juices are high in vitamins and minerals, but may raise the blood sugar levels and do not have as much fiber as a piece of whole fruit.
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How to make fresh squeezed orange juice? The easiest way is to roll an orange around on the counter several times until it is soft, heat it briefly in the microwave, then cut into eight pieces to squeeze the juice out.
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What is the “Flitch of Bacon” custom? The “Flitch of Bacon” is an old English custom where married couples could win a flitch (side) of bacon if they could prove, after a year and a day of marriage, that they had lived in harmony and had not regretted their union. This tradition dates back to at least the 13th century and has been revived in some English towns.
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A Viking funeral: At sunset, the dead man was placed on a small boat. As it drifted out to sea, it was lit on fire. If the color of the sunset was the same as that of the fire, it meant the deceased was bound for Valhalla (Viking heaven).
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In some parts of England, rum is used to wash a baby’s head for good luck.
Educational high tunnel videos now available from SDSU Extension
South Dakota State University Extension is continuing its efforts to educate specialty crop producers on high tunnel assembly, management and cropping innovations with a new educational video series.
The series is available online at “How to Build High Tunnels”. It covers major topics for anyone interested in building a high tunnel, from cost to site preparation through the different stages of construction.
The videos feature Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist; Tanner Aiken, SDSU Project Manager/Horticulturist; and South Dakota producers Shannon Mutschelknaus, of Wayward Springs LLC; Dirk Oudman, of Blue Sky Vegetable Co.; and Darin Waldner, of Waldner Farms.
Each producer outlines their own experiences with using high tunnels to grow produce in South Dakota, along with input from Aiken, who supervised the build of two high tunnels at the SDSU Specialty Crop Research Field in 2024.
“My favorite part is the diverse ideas each farmer expert brought to the videos,” said Lang. “They often discuss multiple ways to approach high tunnel construction, and I think that’s highly valuable.”
Lang said high tunnel education has continuously evolved since 2014 and a focus on high tunnel education benefits the growing population of specialty crop producers across South Dakota. After building the first high tunnel, SDSU Extension offered the public a chance to gain hands-on experience during the construction of the second high tunnel – a 30-by96-foot gothic-style, double-poly structure.
“Building high tunnels on campus allows us to have a high-impact research program that helps people optimize production in the tunnels they have built,” Lang said. “At the end of the day, this work is about getting more South Dakota-grown food onto tables in our state.”
That open build, along with workshops and other outreach efforts, has helped build momentum that participants are using to create their own programs.
Chris Goldade, a soil health technician with the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, has participated in numerous SDSU Extension workshops and field days, and progressed to co-hosting workshops with SDSU Extension, conservation districts, Sisseton Wahpeton College and the Natural Resources Conservation Service because he sees the need for more education.
“People have an interest in learning more about high tunnels but there are very few examples to be found in South Dakota,” he said.
Erica Fischer, Extension director at Sisseton Wahpeton College, learned about high tunnels through Lang’s outreach, and attended the high tunnel build on SDSU’s campus. That inspired her to participate in the workshop later co-hosted at Sisseton Wahpeton College.
“Our community has had high tunnels distributed and we thought it would be great to get some of the individuals involved in the SDSU build to come to our community and share their experience,” she said.
Also known as a hoop house, a high tunnel is a protective structure used to extend the growing season and improve the quality of produce. An increasingly popular option for vegetable and flower growers, high tunnels offer a less expensive alternative to greenhouses. Plants in a high tunnel are still grown directly in the soil, unlike a greenhouse.
For more information, contact Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist.
Heart History
• In a cave in Pindal, Spain, there’s a surprisingly well drawn wall painting of an elephant made some 50,000 years ago. In the chest area is a red mark that some people argue is the creature’s ear, a handprint, or a mistake on the artwork. But others say it’s the animal’s heart.
• Ancient Egyptians knew about hearts (which they removed and stored in jars alongside their wrapped, entombed dead).
• Early Chinese medical practitioners knew it as part of the circulatory system.
• The centuries-old sacred Hindu test, the Atharvaveda, included chants for heart health.
For Montana State students, veterinary medicine is a family affair
By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service
Bob Syvrud practiced veterinary medicine in North Dakota and California and later in Polson beginning in the 1970s. He founded an independent research company and worked in equine health for 25 years, passing that family business down to his son, Kevin.
Now, at Montana State University, Bob’s grandson Jabin is carrying on his family legacy in veterinary medicine. He is one of four current students in the WA-MT Cooperative Program in Veterinary Medicine who plan to be second – or in Jabin’s case, third – generation veterinarians. For a program with an annual class of 16 students, it’s a significant proportion.
Jabin Syvrud grew up in Helena and graduated from MSU with a degree in cell biology and neuroscience in 2021. After working on a ranch near Polson after graduation, he realized the family business he’d been around his whole life was becoming more appealing than his original goal of pursuing medical school. He returned to MSU, applying for the unique cooperative veterinary program in which Montana
residents spend their first year at MSU before completing the final two years of their training at Washington State University in Pullman, followed by a fourth year of clinical rotations. As part of the cooperative program, Montana students save money on tuition by completing their first year in their home state. Once they transition to Pullman, they pay the same tuition as WSU’s in-state residents.
“I absolutely adored the family I worked for, so it would be very fulfilling to be able to be a veterinarian and be around this type of people, helping them continue their way of life,” Syvrud said of his decision to pursue his veterinary degree. “In Montana, people have so much more of a relationship with their vet in terms of the proximity that they work in.”
In a state with a documented and significant dearth of veterinarians, the program, housed at MSU in the College of Agriculture, aims to fill a very real need for rural communities. Each year, 16 accepted students study anatomy, histology, immunology, nutrition and more with faculty who are themselves professional and practicing veterinarians. They then bring an established group relationship to Pullman, where they join a total class size of roughly 140.
Now halfway through their year at MSU, Syvrud and his classmates are preparing for that transition. The first-year curriculum at MSU and WSU is virtually identical, and as they progress toward their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees, the students
Montana State University veterinary medicine student Jabin Syvrud. MSU photo by Marcus “Doc” Cravens
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For Montana State students, veterinary medicine is a family affair
CONTINUED FROM PAGE C11
will transition from learning the science to practicing it in vet clinics and WSU’s teaching hospital.
Drew Newman, who is originally from Great Falls, hopes to one day take over his own family’s practice, and said it’s been particularly fascinating to compare his own educational experience with that of his parents.
One of his favorite courses has been Principles of Surgery – something current students are introduced to in their very first semester.
“Talking to my parents, they didn’t talk about surgery until the third or fourth year,” Newman said. “We’re building up the little skills now, and then it will be in the back of our heads when we revisit it. It’s a more hands-on class, but it’s fun. It’s cool to think that you can get some of those more advanced principles, just in your first year.”
In first-year anatomy, for example, students perform dissections, overseen by faculty, familiarizing themselves with the wide range of animal bodies they will someday treat. Kala Bertolino, who grew up outside of Red Lodge and whose mother’s veterinary practice was based in their home, has shared Newman’s interest in comparing her own education with that of previous generations.
After receiving a degree in math from MSU in 2022, she took a few years off, working in a human hospital before return-
ing to the field of veterinary medicine. She said that sharing her education with her mother has expanded their mother-daughter relationship to include a professional and collegial element.
“When I’m learning about these things, I think back a lot of times about how she would do something. I have a profound sense of understanding that I’m not learning this just to pass a test. I’m learning this for the rest of my life,” she said. “Having a small cohort, we get to see a lot of important things at an up-close and hands-on level. It’s helpful to understand that the muscle memory I’m building now or the techniques I’m building now are forever.”
Students in the cooperative program do not have to have a degree in any particular field to apply; admission is based on completing scientific prerequisites, GPA and other academic factors. But Bertolino has found that her math studies fostered a way of thinking that has deeply impacted her approach to veterinary medicine.
“I’m still very passionate about math. I love it, and I really see how a solid foundation in logic it helpful no matter what you’re doing,” she said. “I took a lot of math classes where it was like, ‘Here’s a problem you haven’t seen before. How can you think through it?’ So I think when I see a problem,
Animals with heart
Like humans, most other creatures need hearts to stay alive–the exceptions are jelly fish and coral, which don’t have hearts. But that doesn’t mean that all heart work like ours do.
• Instead of circulating oxygen-rich blood back to the lungs, a fish’s heart sends the blood to its gills.
• Frogs have three-chambered hearts: two atria and just one ventricle.
• Insects have hearts (of sorts), but their circulatory system is open. This means that bug blood (called hemolymph) flows throughout the insect’s body–not in arteries and capillaries like ours–propelled by a vessel in is abdomen that functions as a heart.
• The blue whale is the largest creature on earth, so it stands to reason that the whale’s heart is the largest, too. A blue whale’s heart can weigh 1,300 pounds…about half the size of the average compact car.
• A hovering hummingbird’s heart flutters at 1,200 beats a minute or more.
• The giraffe has the highest blood pressure in the animal world because its heart must pump blood with extra force to overcome the gravity associated with a head so high. That doesn’t mean the giraffe is a big-hearted fellow, though–its heart is as big as any animal its size. Instead, the walls of a giraffe’s heart are thicker and more powerful. And to accommodate all that extra pressure, the giraffe’s blood vessels also thicken as the animal (and its neck) grows.
• During hibernation, a bear’s heart rate drops to about 22 percent of the number of beats it needs when it’s active–about 19 beats per minute in hibernation versus the normal 84 beats per minute while it’s doing things like raiding your campsite looking for marshmallows.
Montana State University veterinary medicine student Drew Newman. MSU photo by Marcus “Doc” Cravens
Montana State University veterinary medicine student Kala Bertolino. MSU photo by Marcus “Doc” Cravens
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What kinds of messages were carried by the Pony Express? The Pony Express often carried urgent government dispatches, business documents, and personal letters. It was also used to deliver news faster than traditional methods. One famous delivery included President Lincoln’s inaugural address, which reached California in just seven days—an impressive feat in 1861.
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Most of the fat you burn during exercise is expelled as carbon dioxide when you breathe out.
Cattle Chat: What goes into your vet school application
By Chevy-Lynn Vaske, K-State Extension news service
Experts from the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute recently provided insight into the veterinary school application process during an episode of the BCI Cattle Chat podcast, offering practical advice for students preparing to apply to veterinary programs.
Panelists emphasized that academic performance remains a key component of a competitive application. Students are encouraged to maintain strong grades in prerequisite science courses while also demonstrating consistency and resilience throughout their academic careers.
The experts emphasized the importance of hands-on experience and say applicants should seek opportunities in a variety of veterinary settings — such as small animal clinics, food animal practices and mixed animal operations — to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of the profession.
“It’s not just the depth of your experiences, it’s the breadth,” veterinarian Todd Gunderson said.
According to BCI experts, veterinary programs look for more than just hours logged. Quality of experience, mentorship relationships and meaningful involvement in animal care can help set applicants apart. Leadership roles, communication skills and involvement in extracurricular activities also strengthen an application.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of planning ahead.
Cultivate relationships with mentors who can provide strong letters of recommendation.
Reflect thoughtfully when preparing personal statements to clearly communicate motivation and career goals.
Stay organized throughout the application timeline to meet deadlines and submission requirements.
BCI experts encouraged applicants to seek feedback, remain persistent and view the application process as a professional development experience in itself.
World and International Jugglers Day
International Juggler’s Day is always April 18. World Juggler’s Day is the Saturday closest to June 17.
International Jugglers Day and World Juggler’s Day celebrates the skill of juggling and those talented people who can juggle many balls and objects at a time. Common objects include balls, clubs, swords, plates, rings, and flaming sticks. The best jugglers can juggle up to ten balls at a time. And, the world record is more than that.
Juggling is a skill and form of entertainment that has been around for thousands and thousands of years. Some of the earliest recorded history supplies proof that juggling was around during the early days of civilized Man. Juggling is primarily entertainment. It is most well documented in Medieval times in Europe. Juggling remains popular today. It can be most frequently seen when the circus comes to town.
Some might suggest that office workers are jugglers, as they multi-task and keep several “balls” (projects) going at the same time. And when you think of it, aren’t we all jugglers as we try to manage the many tasks and demands of our daily lives!??
For the Record: Alex Barron of the United Kingdom holds the world record for the most balls juggled in the air. He juggled 11 balls, achieving 23 consecutive catches. His balancing act was performed at the Roehampton Squash Club, London, UK, on April 3, 2012.
This special holiday event was created in 2007 by Sari Grandstaff. In 2012, the Haiku Foundation picked up on this holiday and began promoting it.
Honey and items immersed in honey can be preserved for centuries. The long shelf life is due to an enzyme found in the stomachs of bees.
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For Montana State students, veterinary medicine is a family affair
like a certain disease or some biomarker, I’m trying to think through the logic. How did we get here? How do I solve this?”
Maria Becker is not only the daughter of two veterinarians but also has three brothers who all graduated from MSU, one of whom now works as a wildlife veterinary technician. Originally from Shelby, she said she values the opportunity to gain a highquality and experiential education close to home, and she hopes to transition into emergency veterinary medicine after she graduates. But her own family experience has exposed her to the true breadth of possibility in the field.
“My mom is a small animal general practitioner, while my dad works for USDAAPHIS as a regulatory vet,” she said. “He has a very niche job of where he gets to see an array of animals crossing the border from Canada into the U.S., such as cattle, horses, pigs, elk, and occasionally various zoo animals. The ability to immediately practice veterinary medicine, either in Montana or elsewhere, is the exact goal of the cooperative program, said Garret Ryerson, a teaching
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professor and the assistant director for MSU’s Montana Veterinary Medicine program. And being able to start out in a small group allows for a more tailored experience so that each student gets the hands-on practice they need to gain a full understanding of critical concepts.
“Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including those with lifelong ties to veterinary medicine and others who discovered the profession more recently,” said Ryerson. “Over the past 12 years, we have been proud to see our graduates now serving in critical roles as associate veterinarians, practice owners, state veterinarians, boarded specialists and leaders in their communities. We know this next generation of students will make meaningful contributions to human and animal health, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will have across the state and wherever their careers take them.”
The tight-knit relationships at MSU reflect the importance of veterinarians in their communities across Montana, a key element of why returning home to practice in Montana is a priority for many of the program’s aspiring vets.
“I am pursuing a career in veterinary medicine because not only is it a blend of all my interests, but also provides the opportunity to live a fulfilling life,” said Becker. “ I look forward to returning to rural Montana and practicing the veterinary skills that I am learning now.”
WA-MT Cooperative Program in Veterinary Medicine: vetmed@montana.edu or 406-994-2922
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How to make ice
How do they maintain the ice in rinks, especially in warmweather places like Florida? We caught up Ken Friedenberger, Director of Facility Operations for the St. Petersburg Times Forum home of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, for the rundown:
• Two layers of sand and gravel mixture form the foundation of the ice. The two layers and the precise mixture, Friedenberger said, prevent it from freezing into permafrost (perpetually frozen soil), which would “eventually crack the piping and turn it into a big mess, which would look like spaghetti”.
• “The piping” he refers to is perhaps the most important part of the rink. Five to ten miles of it run under and through a massive concrete slab that sits on the base. A liquid similar to antifreeze, is cooled by massive air conditioning units to below freezing and pumped through the piping, making the temperature of the concrete slab below freezing, too.
• Water is hosed onto the concrete and allowed to freeze in a very thin layer. When it’s frozen, another layer is added… and the process is repeated until there are 24 layers of ice, each one from ¾ of an inch to a full inch thick.
• When all of this is finished, the ice surface temperature hovers between 22 degrees F and 26 degrees F. And because of the constantly cooled concrete below, the temperature inside the stadium stays in the 60s or 70s even when the air temperature outside is in the 90s.
• The lines, circles, and spots are painted on before each game, and four to five new layers of ice are frozen over them to protect them.
• A Zamboni machine smooths out the ice before a game–and it’s time for the opening faceoff.
Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges. #####
Today, my son came to me and gave me a hug – out of the blue. I was very pleasantly surprised – that is, until I heard him tell his father, “You’re right. She did gain weight.”
Montana State University
WIMU veterinary medicine student Maria Becker is pictured at the BART Farm on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026 in Bozeman, Mont. MSU photo by Marcus “Doc” Cravens
April is Active Dog Month
Dogs need exercise and fun just as much—if not more—than their humans. After a long, cold winter it can be tough getting motivated to get physical activity in. Taking advantage of the nicer weather is a great way to start exercise for you and your dog and bond with your most beloved friend.
History of Active Dog Month
Active Dog Month became a holiday out of the inspiration of Om Shanti Pups, a blog website that writes about natural and holistic treatments to take care of your dog. Natasha Thompson, the blogger, and creator of Om Shanti Pups created Active Dog Month out of a long winter up in Alaska, where she noticed that her dog was feeling cabin fever too. Hence she proclaimed the month of April Active Dog Month, a month dedicated to keeping your dog active, happy, and healthy.
Om Shanti Pups gives her readers plenty of activities and ideas to do during Active Dog Month. According to her webpage, she gives tips on how to keep your dog active, such as getting them a leash, starting with 10-minute walks, play chase, play frisbee, learn nose work, and more. She also provides dog games, puzzle games, and more.
How to Celebrate Active Dog Month
Get involved by spending the month of April getting more active with your dog. Take longer walks, explore new areas, and spend time in the warm sunshine! All you need is a leash to get started. Discover new, creative ideas for logging beneficial activity with your dog. After all, a tired dog is a happy dog! It’s not just about physical activity, though. Mental stimulation is a wonderful way to wear out your dog and provide fun interaction for you both. Find some puzzle games to keep your dog’s brain in check or play hide and seek games to boost their senses and keep them interested.
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Tracking the toxic metals left behind by wildfires
By Brian Owens, Canadian Light Source
Between 2023 and 2025, more than 30 million hectares burned in Canada due to wildfires. The threat from increasingly frequent and intense wildfires goes beyond fire and smoke - the heat can also transform naturally occurring metals in soil into more toxic forms that could pose a threat to human health.
Researcher Derek Peak and colleagues used the powerful X-ray beamlines at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) to study how chromium can change into a toxic form, and how it interacts with iron in soils during fires. The interaction with iron is important because the two elements “tend to travel in the same circles” in nature, says Peak, a soil chemist in USask’s Soil Science department.
“This project was looking at fundamental mechanisms under controlled conditions so that we can start to predict or model the process better,” he said. The CLS’s SXRMB beamline was vital to this work, Peak says, because it is difficult to study the oxidation states of iron and chromium without ultrabright synchrotron light.
The researchers heated both lab minerals and soils naturally rich in chromium and iron to see how they were transformed by the heat. In both cases benign chromium-3 turned into toxic chromium-6 at temperatures up to around 600oC -- but then switched back into the safe form as the temperature rose to 800oC. Wildfires typically burn at temperatures ranging from 800°C and 1200°C. The team’s findings, which show iron in soil controls when and how chromium becomes toxic during fires, are published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
“Fires, depending on their temperature and severity, can oxidize and create chromium-6, but [the chromium] can also undergo a variety of reactions to re-reduce and return back into soils,” said Peak. “Where it ends up and how toxic it is is going to be site- or fire-specific, and this research shows it couples with iron oxidation.”
Peak says their findings suggest it may be helpful to also focus on a soil’s iron content after a wildfire, to confirm things are returning to normal; this is cheaper than monitoring chromium.
“There’s probably a year or two-year period where you need to track iron and chromium chemistry in soil and observe how oxidation states are changing,” he said. “This may give you a simple screen to assess a site and track those areas where there is a particular concern.”
Planning summer grazing
By Jerry Volesky, UNL
With a new growing season just around the corner, it is time to finalize the coming spring and summer’s grazing and forage plans. Last fall and this winter has been dry leaving most parts of the state in some level of drought. While we do not know for certain how much moisture lies ahead; long-term forecasts into this spring and summer suggest the possibility of drier than normal conditions.
With the possibility of droughty conditions for the coming season, an important first step is to develop or adjust a good forage and grazing drought plan for your operation. Some components of this might include things like stocking rates, turnout dates to summer pastures, purchasing any supplemental hay or feed, securing additional pasture, fertilizer decisions on introduced grass pastures, or seeding of any annual forages.
For spring or cool-season annual forages, the recommended planting period of late March to early April will be here soon. Forages would include things like oats, spring barley, spring triticale, and field peas. With that planting date, these would provide grazing beginning in late May through early July.
For the summer annual forages, the planting period is typically late May and on into the summer months. This would include things like forage sorghum, sudangrass, sorghumsudan hybrids, pearl millet, and foxtail millet. Additionally, other species or legumes that are typical of some cover crop mixes could be part of the package as well. With a late-May or early-June planting of a summer annual, grazing should be available in July. #####
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G03 GATHERING SYSTEM
For more than 55 years, Fantini has been coming up with great ideas to make harvest better … like the gathering system on our G03 sunflower header. The unique rubber tooth design delivers sunflower heads to the auger gently, but firmly, for better crop retrieval than any other header on the market.
Canyon Ferry temporary closures
The Bureau of Reclamation began a shoreline protection project at Canyon Ferry Reservoir on March 25, 2026 to improve visitor safety, protect natural resources and support long-term recreation access.
Work along East side of the reservoir was anticipated to begin first. All roads are expected to remain open, but heavy equipment will be utilizing East Shore Drive and Highway 284 to move material to sites along the shoreline. Approximately one-half mile of East Shore Dive will be used as a haul route from the intersection with Highway 284.
Some campsites at Hellgate Campground and Court Sheriff Campground, along with the Cave Bay Day Use Area, will be temporarily closed. East Shore construction work and recreation closures are anticipated to be completed by May 15, 2026. Affected sites will be unavailable for reservation through Recreation.gov while work is underway. Work along the West side of the reservoir will commence in Spring 2027.
Planned closures include:
Hellgate Campground: Sites 41–69
Court Sheriff Campground: Sites 2, 3 and 12–48
These closures are necessary to allow construction activities to proceed safely and efficiently. Visitors using open sites in these campgrounds should expect increased vehicle and equipment traffic during the project period.
Reclamation will reopen campsites for reservation as soon as work is complete. Updates will be posted on Canyon Ferry’s website here and social media channels.
Facts about Canyon Ferry:
Construction on Canyon Ferry Dam began in May of 1948 and was completed in June of 1954. The dam, powerplant, and reservoir constitute the Canyon Ferry Unit. Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wide range of water resources, including flood prevention, hydropower generation, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities.
Canyon Ferry Reservoir is located approximately 15 miles east of Helena. Travel East on East Custer Avenue, which turns into Canyon Ferry Road, approximately 15 miles to the dam.
Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, perch, ling, and walleye, with 33,500 surface acres of water and 96 shoreline miles. Concrete boat ramps, campgrounds, day-use areas, shelters, swimming, and three marinas are also available. View available recreation information
Herbalist Day
This holiday is always celebrated on April 17th
Herbalism is an important study and profession. These professionals use medicinal herbs to create herbal remedies to help cure what ails you.
Herbalist Day, sometimes referred to as “Thank a Herbalist Day”, is a celebration and awareness of the importance of herbs and herbalists in our lives. According to the Herbal Academy, this holiday is a “celebration of the many teachers, peers, and herbs that have guided us through our journey as herbalists thus far”.
Herbs unquestioningly play a very important part in our lives. There are many, many different herbs, providing medicinal, culinary, cosmetic, and aromatic uses. We use herbs to flavor countless foods. When you think about it, food would be pretty bland without herbs. Medicinally, herbs are used extensively, to treat a wide range of ailments. They are often infused in tea, or used in baths and topical solutions. Some herbs also offer an aromatic benefit. Lavender readily comes to mind. Herbs are an ingredient in many cosmetics and beauty products. Ornamental herbs are commonly used in fresh or dried arrangements. Many herbs serve more than one of these uses.
Herbs are natural remedies for many ailments. Herbalists believe they are better for you than chemical medicines. Are herbs in actuality better or healthier for you? That is often the subject of much debate. Herbalists use their extensive knowledge of all the various herbs, to put them to good use for good health.
History and Origin of Herbalist Day
Medicinal herbs have been around to make herbal remedies since ancient times. Herbalist Day appears to have started around 2014. We believe the Herbal Academy of New England created this holiday event. While they do not come right out and claim to be the creators, their website has a wealth of information about this day, and how to celebrate it.
CATTLE HANDLING & LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT
Supplementing dryland wheat and irrigated corn with proso millet
By Rituraj Khound, UNL post-doctoral research associate / Dipak K. Santra, Nebraska Extension Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist
The United States High Plains region often experiences low winter precipitation, impacting its crop productivity. Extensive climate analyses indicate that years with significant precipitation deficits, including dry winters, amplify drought severity. As this season’s winter has brought negligible snow thus far, the risk of severe or even extreme drought could be seen in western Nebraska.
“This calls for amplified efforts to adopt water-useefficient alternative crops that can buffer major crops during drier years or in the event of crop failure,” said Rituraj Khound, UNL post-doctoral research associate at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff.
Khound has been researching proso millet, also known as hog millet or millet, which is recognized for its ability to efficiently utilize moisture to produce a considerable yield. Compared to corn and winter wheat, proso millet can produce grain with considerably less water, making it wellsuited to water-limited environments. Proso millet’s short growing season allows for more flexible planting windows. Studies show that replacing summer fallow with proso millet significantly improves winter wheat yield. “Owing to its remarkable agronomic attributes, proso millet has been integral to dryland cropping systems in the High Plains, particularly in eastern Colorado, western Nebraska, and South Dakota,” Khound said.
Corn production is primarily concentrated in eastern Nebraska, but western Nebraska maintains substantial irrigated corn acreage, relying heavily on groundwater resources for sustaining production. However, when corn production becomes risky due to low water availability during drier years, it could be a low-water-demanding alternative to preserve water for corn and stabilize farm income. Proso millet is highly versatile for mitigating water-related risks in crop production while providing a highly nutritious alternative to irrigated corn. Proso millet is an excellent, water-efficient (using 50 percent less water than corn) alternative for supplementing or replacing corn in livestock rations, with comparable energy values for swine and cattle. A grower could plant approximately 25 percent of irrigated corn acres with proso millet to ensure that limited irrigation allocations do not jeopardize corn’s full yield potential.
The Alternative Crops Breeding Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is a leader in proso millet breeding. Dipak Santra, Nebraska Extension Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center, leads the program in Scottsbluff. The program has released the varieties Horizon, Earlybird, Huntsman, Plateau, Sunrise, and Dawn for commercial production in the U.S. Efforts continue to improve the crop for essential traits such as early maturity, grain maturity, and lodging and grain shattering tolerance through a robust breeding scheme, extensive multi-site testing, and germplasm screening for novel genetics. UNL has developed modern plant breeding tools, including linkage mapping, genome-wide association studies, and UAV-based high-throughput phenotyping, to enhance breeding efficiency. Furthermore, a collection of more than 400 proso millet lines from around the world is being evaluated in field and greenhouse trials to identify the best candidates for future variety development. The Alternative Crops Breeding Lab has recently partnered with several prestigious institutions in an international initiative supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, to implement mutation breeding to develop novel varieties.
“Proso millet offers more than diversification. It can offer resilience to both dryland and irrigated cropping systems as a risk-buffering alternative crop,” Khound said. “By integrating millet into corn-based systems and leveraging modern breeding tools, growers in the High Plains can build robust cropping systems that maintain both profitability and productivity.”
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“Canary girls” was a term for women who worked in British artillery factories during World War I. They were so called because prolonged exposure to TNT causes skin to turn orangish-yellow.
Cattle Chat: Managing calf scours
By Chevy-Lynn Vaske, K-State Extension news service
Managing calf scours starts with prevention and early intervention, according to experts from the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University.
During a recent episode of the BCI Cattle Chat, the veterinary team discussed strategies producers can use to manage and prevent calf scours, one of the most common health challenges in young calves.
According to the experts, scours -- commonly referred to as calf diarrhea -- can quickly become a serious issue if calves become dehydrated or weak. While multiple pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites may cause the disease, management practices play a major role in determining how severely it affects a herd.
“Prevention is really the best strategy when it comes to scours,” veterinarian Bob Larson said.
Experts emphasize that reducing pathogen exposure in the calving environment is a critical first step. Keeping calving areas clean and dry and minimizing contact between older calves and newborn calves can help reduce the spread of disease-causing organisms.
Another key factor in preventing scours is ensuring calves receive adequate colostrum shortly after birth. Colostrum provides antibodies that help protect newborn calves while their immune systems are still developing.
Even with strong prevention strategies, some calves may still develop scours. In those cases, early treatment is essential. Veterinary specialists stressed that dehydration is often the most immediate threat to calves with diarrhea, making fluid and electrolyte therapy an important part of treatment. Early intervention can help calves recover and reduce the risk of more severe illness. By focusing on sanitation, colostrum management and prompt treatment, producers can significantly reduce the impact of scours during calving season and improve overall calf health and survival.
To hear the full discussion and a research update from a BCI student, visit the BCI website or listen to the latest Cattle Chat episode on your preferred podcast platform. If you have any questions you’d like answered, send an email to bci@ksu.edu.
We are always looking for pictures of 4-H kids and their projects. E-mail them to info@tradersdispatch.com along with captions and we will print what we have room for.
Bigger cattle, greater need for animal welfare and management
By Colton Tripp, K-State Extension news service
Since 2010, the USDA has reported that the U.S. beef cattle herd has declined 12%, from 31.7 million in 2010 to 27.9 million in 2025, though producers are still able to meet beef demands through efficient cattle.
But a Kansas State University researcher suggests that producers need to take a closer look at the management of their cattle, as they progressively get larger in the next generation.
A.J. Tarpoff, an associate professor and beef veterinarian with K-State Extension, suggests that producers need to take a deeper look at how cattle are managed while in transportation and in finishing facilities, considering that they are bigger and more efficient than ever before.
“As an industry we are using less feed, less water, and less time to be able to get these animals on a per-pound-ofbeef basis,” Tarpoff said. “We’re doing better than we ever have before.”
He suggests that even though the individual welfare of the animals themselves is not the major concern, there are concerns in the facilities and management when transporting and finishing these cattle.
“From our beef quality audits, we have seen an increase in bruising issues on the carcass,” Tarpoff said. “We are seeing a lot of bruising on our middle meats, the ribeye, the strips and the sirloin. These three major cuts are seeing a majority of these bigger bruises and are having to get trimmed off at the processing plant.”
The cuts that are trimmed cannot be processed into a finished product, and the beef that remains after the trimming tends to be downgraded.
“It’s a huge financial discount to our industry dealing with some of these bruising issues,” Tarpoff said.
He said that bruises often are caused during transportation. As cattle grow to a larger size and live weight, trailer compartments have been known to not be conducive to a 1,600- to 1,800-pound steer. Tarpoff urges producers and others who manage the cattle to be aware of these issues when loading and unloading the animals.
Tarpoff also suggests taking into account animal welfare, even past the producer’s control.
“Even in basic facilities at the processing facility, there are some animals that may not necessarily fit through the working facilities,” Tarpoff said.
He emphasized that even processors can prepare their facility and transportation plans to prepare for larger, more efficient cattle.
“We need to prepare for the future. We don’t anticipate that we’re going to take a drastic 90-degree turn and go to a much smaller framed animal, not in today’s marketplace,” Tarpoff said. “We’re going to make them bigger. We’re making them more efficient. We’re going to continue down that path.”
Alongside the management of these animals, Tarpoff said producers need to manage the welfare of cattle while finishing them once they are off the farm.
“It’s important in our industry looking forward, that we need to be nimble enough to make individual decisions at a population level,” Tarpoff said. “If there’s an individual within a pen that probably shouldn’t go to 1800 pounds, we want to make sure that it gets marketed before there’s a locomotion(the movement, gait and ability of cattle to walk, stand and move from place to place) concern.”
He adds: “We need to be making sure our pen floor is as comfortable and structurally sound as possible, so our animals don’t have any issues. We should be asking ourselves whether we are moving those animals in an appropriate way to make sure that we are maintaining their locomotion, that we’re monitoring that regularly before an issue becomes larger.”
Tarpoff said the locomotion of the animal does not always derive from the farm of orgin; better decisions need to be made on the feedlot to understand when they need to go; and when they can continue to feed the animals.
“We just want to challenge the industry to make sure everyone is aware of the concerns that if we’re going to move forward and plan for the future, I think this is where we start,” he said.
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Look next time you yawn: 55% of people yawn within 5 minutes of seeing someone else yawn.
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85% of Americans have Rh positive blood.
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Acne treatment, circa A.D. 350: “wipe pimples with a cloth while watching a falling star.”
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A study from Harvard University finds that having no friends can be just as deadly as smoking. Both affect levels of a bloodclotting protein.
USDA invests in projects to boost rural Montana agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced that the 2026 Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) application period is officially open, offering Montana agricultural producers an opportunity to secure funding that supports business growth, product development, and expanded market access.
Producers may apply for up to $200,000 in working capital and $50,000 for planning activities, which may be used for processing, packaging, labeling, payroll, marketing, distribution, feasibility studies, business plans, and other eligible operational costs for up to 36 months. The program requires a 1:1 match, ensuring long-term investment in project sustainability.
“VAPG is one of USDA’s most impactful tools for helping producers capture more value from the goods they work so hard to raise and grow,” said USDA Rural Development Montana State Director Bill Warden. “We encourage Montana producers to take advantage of this opportunity to expand their markets, diversify their operations, and strengthen rural economies.”
USDA Rural Development is also announcing $1,049,900 in new investments supporting five Montana producers through the 2025 VAPG program:
4 Diamond Ranch at Wallrock – Park County – $250,000 4 Diamond Ranch will use its grant to expand distribution of its direct-to-consumer beef products, sourced from its grassfed, grass-finished American Wagyu herd. Funding will support working capital needs as the ranch scales up processing, packaging, and marketing to meet growing demand for premium Montana beef.
Big Mountain Ciderworks – Flathead County – $250,000 This family-owned orchard and cider house will use its grant to support working capital for the production and distribution of its locally crafted hard ciders. The funding will help Big Mountain Ciderworks increase production capacity, enhance marketing efforts, and reach new wholesale and retail markets across the region.
Mannix Brothers Ranch – Powell County – $250,000 Mannix Brothers Ranch will use its award to process, package, and deliver its pasture-raised beef products to a broader customer base. The grant will support expanded marketing, distribution, and working capital needs as the ranch continues to grow its direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels.
Shepherd of the Bees – Dawson County – $49,900 Shepherd of the Bees will use its grant to expand the market for its value-added honey products, including items made from raw honeycomb. Funding will support packaging, marketing, and distribution efforts to help the business reach new customers and increase production capacity.
Wustner Brothers Honey – Missoula County – $250,000
This family-owned honey producer will use its grant to support working capital needs as it expands production and distribution of its Montana-made honey products. The funding will help the business strengthen its brand presence, reach new markets, and continue its long tradition of local honey production.
A Montana Success Story: Previous VAPG recipient Montana Prime Meats of Fort Smith demonstrates the program’s long-term impact. As highlighted by the Montana Ag Network, the ranch-to-table beef business has expanded processing capacity, strengthened partnerships with local ranchers, and increased access to high-quality Montana beef for consumers in larger communities like Billings. Their growth shows how VAPG funding helps producers build resilient, value-driven business models that keep more dollars in rural communities.
These investments reflect USDA Rural Development’s commitment to helping Montana producers innovate, diversify, and build stronger rural economies by moving beyond raw commodity sales and into value-added markets. How to Apply - Applications are being accepted through the Grant Application Portal until April 22, 2026. Interested applicants in Montana should contact Marlee Johnston at marlee.johnston@usda.gov or 406-312-0189.
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Only about 25 percent of a sloth’s body weight is muscle (most mammals have about 50 percent), and they are unable to shiver in the cold. Their body temperature is lowest and most variable among mammals, ranging for 74° to 92°F.
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1993 Landoll 50 ton Lowboy 25-ft. well x 102” wide, air ride, 65% 255/70r22.5’s, self contained, hydraulic detachable non-ground bearing, T-1 frame, flipouts, 51-ft. long, 16” and 36” kingpin settings. $39,500
1997 International Water Truck 250hp DTA466, 6spd Allison AT, Exhaust Brake, AC, PS, 16K front, 40K rears on Hendrickson, 6 spray heads, 4000 Gallon baffled tank, live pto pump, self drafting, 112k miles, 95% 22.5 tires. $42,500
1992 Volvo WG Dump Truck N14 Cummins, 13 spd, Jake, AC, clean Dbl. Frame, 16k front, 40k rears on Hendrickson, 12k lift axle, 85% tires, 15-ft. rock box, runs and drives good. $29,500
1998 Freightliner FL70
4x4 Bucket Truck
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1992 Ford L9000 Water Truck
2500 gal. tank, PTO pump, front and rear spray, hose reel, 350hp ser. 60, 9spd., Locker, PS, AB, 50% 11r24.5’s, runs and sprays great. $25,500
2005 JLG G6-42A 4x4x4 telehandler
U of I study links feed efficiency to heat stress in cattle
A new University of Idaho-led study explores the scientific reason why some cows spend hot summer days lazing along a shady streambank while others brave the heat and graze the hillsides.
By John O’Connell
The study suggests cattle that inefficiently convert feed into body mass are more apt to struggle with heat stress while grazing rangeland in hot weather than their efficient counterparts. Consequently, efficient cattle tracked for the study took fuller advantage of the forage throughout their range, including on steep slopes, during hot days while their inefficient counterparts hunkered in lowlands and were more apt to trample riparian areas.
“There are adaptations that cows take to adapt to their environment, and it’s different between the efficient and inefficient cattle,” said Jim Sprinkle, a UI Extension beef specialist and principal author of the study. “They adapted their grazing differently, and it’s influenced by their physiology.”
The researchers conducted the experiment in 2016, closely tracking 12 efficient and 12 inefficient 2-year-old HerefordAngus cross cows on rangeland at U of I’s Rinker Rock Creek Ranch in the Wood River Valley of central Idaho. They followed the cattle over four days in June and for four more days in August.
about how they graze. They get in and get it done,” Sprinkle said.
In June, when forage was lush and easily digestible, efficient and inefficient cows grazed rugged terrain and slopes. In August, however, efficient cattle continued grazing the hillsides, but inefficient cattle stuck to the lowlands, near shade and water. Sprinkle and his colleagues discovered inefficient cows had significantly more undigested forage in their rumen than their efficient counterparts during August grazing, when vegetation was dry and full of less digestible fiber. The inefficient cows were driven to keep eating to gain adequate nutrition and became overwhelmed by the combination of the summer heat and the heat generated inside of their rumen as forage accumulated.
Based on the study results, Sprinkle advises ranchers who graze on rugged terrain in the summer to consider selecting their replacement heifers with efficiency in mind.
Unlike in a feedlot, where ration sizes can be controlled, it’s extremely difficult to estimate how much forage cattle consume on rangeland. The team devised a creative method to quantify rangeland grazing — adding a small amount of a marker molecule to the rumen before starting the trial. The researchers followed each cow and collected its manure throughout the experiment to calculate forage consumption based on the dissipation of the marker in the manure over time.
“The majority of ranchers are not going to test their cows. However, you can buy bulls that have been tested for feed efficiency,” Sprinkle said. “You could do some selection over time to try to get some of those efficient cattle that presumably would use more of the rugged terrain.”
The paper was published in the Dec. 13, 2025, edition of Journal of Animal Science.
Other U of I co-authors of the paper “Forage Intake and Digesta Kinetics of Lactating Beef Cattle Differing in Feed Efficiency While Grazing Idaho Rangelands,” include UI Extension Educator Carmen Willmore, Bingham County; John Hall, Extension beef specialist and lead at Rinker Rock Creek Ranch; and Melinda Ellison, Extension specialist in range livestock and sheep.
Co-authors from other institutions include Ronald Lewis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Douglas Tolleson, Texas A&M AgriLife Research-Sonora; and David Jaramillo, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
6600 lbs. lift cap, 42-ft. lift height, JD 4045 turbo, 5600 hours, 4WD, Crab-Steering, 4 spd, powershift transmission, 48” Forks, 60% foam flled tires, weights 20K#, runs and works great
To validate estimates from their markerbased approach, they conducted the same analysis with cattle given the same marker and fed a known amount of forage in a feed intake monitoring system known as a GrowSafe unit. Those calculations enabled the researchers to create a table for adjusting forage-consumption estimates obtained from the rangeland trials.
Cattle in the study were classified as efficient or inefficient as yearlings, based on the amount of feed they consumed in a GrowSafe unit.
$29,500
As expected, inefficient cattle spent more time grazing to meet their nutritional requirements.
“The efficient cows are more purposeful
Carmen Willmore observes experimental cattle grazing the rugged rangelands at the U of I Rinker Rock Creek Ranch in August 2016.
Experimental cows graze sagebrush steppe pasture at U of I’s Rinker Rock Creek Ranch.
Carmen Willmore observes experimental cattle grazing the rugged rangelands at the U of I Rinker Rock Creek Ranch in August 2016.
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Garden influencers don’t understand the birds and the bees
By Esther E. McGinnis, NDSU Extension horticulturist
What is your primary source of gardening information? The 2025 Axiom Gardening Outlook Survey shows that approximately 40% of gardeners get their information from websites and social media. One of my hobbies is perusing the web and social media to see which false information is gaining traction.
My favorite garden influencer fail concerns the gender of bell peppers. Social media would have you believe that bell peppers with four or five lobes or bumps are female and sweeter than male peppers containing four lobes.
When influencers started perpetuating this myth, we horticulturists laughed ourselves silly! This is as scientifically accurate as a child saying that babies come from the stork.
Pepper plants produce flowers that contain both male (stamens with pollen) and female (stigma, style and ovary) components. Male pollen grains land on the female stigma and fertilize the ovules in the flower’s ovary. The ovary swells to become the pepper fruit we consume, and it contains seeds, which are the product of the male and female union.
What does this mean for you in the grocery store or in the garden? The number of lobes on the bottom of the bell pepper fruit has nothing to do with sweetness or with gender. Sweetness is determined by a pepper’s ripeness stage. For example, if you grow a bell pepper in the garden, it will initially be green. If you leave the pepper on the plant to further ripen, it will turn red, orange or yellow, depending on the cultivar. Red, orange or yellow bell peppers are much sweeter than immature green peppers.
The most persistent social media garden myth asserts that applying Epsom salts to soil prevents blossom end rot in tomatoes. Nothing could be further from the truth! Blossom end rot in tomatoes is caused by an internal calcium deficiency in the tomato fruit. The fruit cannot grow cell walls without calcium. Therefore, the bottom of the fruit rots. The best way to prevent blossom end rot is to properly irrigate your tomato plants to dissolve calcium in the soil, allowing the roots to take the nutrient and transport it into the plant.
Epsom salts, composed of magnesium sulfate, cannot remedy a calcium deficiency. In fact, excessive magnesium levels will interfere with a plant’s ability to take up calcium from the soil. This garden influencer myth is not just inaccurate; it is harmful. Do not add magnesium to soils unless a soil test reveals a deficiency.
These are just two examples from a host of persistent garden myths. Don’t fall for garden influencers that lack horticultural training and make their money from Instagram clicks. If you have a gardening question, don’t hesitate to contact your local North Dakota State University Extension office, whose mission is to provide unbiased, science-based information.
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2014 Case IH Titan 3530 Litter Bed, diesel engine, Raven Viper Pro Smartrax Autosteer, Chandler CL fertilizer, litter, compost, shavings spreader, 16-ft. length, twin hydraulic spinners, 3255 hours. Cracked front windshield. $142,000
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350, 8.9L Cummins diesel engine, Pre DEF, Allison automatic transmission, Case 810 70-ft. air boom, triple bin, 4WD, Viper 4, auto steer, 3211 hours. $132,500
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EXCAVATORS
Vigilance in monitoring calf health following exposure to wildfire smoke
By Brock Ortner, UNL Extension Educator
Wildfires occurring in western and central Nebraska mirror a broader trend of increasing wildfire frequency and magnitude across the western United States. While the immediate impacts of wildfire are devastating to beef production and rural communities, the effects of wildfire smoke may also pose risks to both human and animal health. In the weeks and months following a wildfire event, producers should remain vigilant and monitor calves for signs of respiratory disease or illness.
Combustion of biomass during wildfires produces carbon dioxide and water vapor but also generates ash, a mixture of inorganic compounds. Of particular concern is ultrafine particulate matter (< 2.5 µm), which can travel deep into the lung alveoli and enter the bloodstream. In humans, these particles have been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress.
Limited research has examined wildfire smoke exposure in cattle. However, work conducted by Ranches and others (2026) in a small group of Simmental × Jersey calves reported increased concentrations of cortisol, an indicator of stress, following exposure to smoke from a wildfire approximately 10 miles away from the study site. In the same study, concentrations of ceruloplasmin, a marker of systemic inflammation, were elevated following the wildfire event. Antibodies including IgM and IgA were also increased, suggesting activation of the immune system.
Physiological stress and inflammation can negatively affect cattle performance and immune function. When immune defenses are compromised, calves may become more susceptible to respiratory pathogens. In the development of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), opportunistic bacterial pathogens—including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, and Mycoplasma bovis—are normally present at low levels in healthy calves. However, when viral infection or physiological stress suppresses immune function, these bacteria can proliferate in the respiratory tract, leading to morbidity, reduced performance, and potentially death.
Because stressors such as wildfire smoke may increase disease susceptibility, monitoring calves closely for early signs of illness is important. One practical approach is the D.A.R.T. method, which helps producers identify calves that may require further evaluation.
D – Depression:
Observe calf posture and behavior. Droopy ears or head carriage, lethargy, increased time spent lying down, and separation from pasture mates may indicate illness. Because cattle are prey animals and tend to hide sickness, subtle behavioral differences may only become apparent after calves become accustomed to your presence.
A – Appetite:
Reduced appetite—whether at the feed bunk or during nursing—can indicate a health challenge. On pasture, reduced gut fill relative to herdmates may also signal decreased intake.
R – Respiration:
Healthy cattle typically take 10–30 breaths per minute. Increased respiratory rate, shallow breathing, or abnormal sounds such as coughing or raspy breathing may indicate respiratory disease. Nasal discharge or excessive eye secretions may also accompany illness.
T – Temperature:
Rectal temperatures of approximately 103.5–104.0°F or greater are indicative of fever and warrant further attention. Early detection and treatment of sick calves improves the likelihood of recovery and helps reduce performance losses associated with respiratory disease. Extra vigilance and responsiveness may help mitigate adverse health outcomes in the weeks and months following exposure to wildfire smoke.
#####
A married couple is out on the course when out of nowhere the husband asks, “Babe, if I die will you marry again?”
Wife: “Of course not.”
Husband: “I think you should.”
Wife: “Fine, I probably will.”
Husband: “Will you let him sleep in our bed?”
Wife: “Probably.”
Husband: “Would you let him use my golf clubs.”
Wife: “Of course not, he’s left-handed.”
2027 NILE Merit Heifer Program
An incredible opportunity for today’s youth to get involved in the cattle industry is the NILE Merit Heifer Program. Applications are now being accepted for the 2026-2027 year.
The NILE Merit Heifer program is a live animal scholarship. Recipients receive a heifer calf to help them get a start in the beef cattle business and gain knowledge about the beef industry. During the program, participants are responsible for caretaking, record keeping, breeding, and bringing the heifer back to the NILE Stock Show as a bred heifer to compete for honors such as top showman, top heifer, and top herdsman.
Program participants are chosen based on merit, future goals, and ability to care for the animal. 4-H or FFA members who are 12-16 years old may apply. Applicants are not limited to Montana residents.
This program is possible due to the generous support of our donors, and we are truly grateful for the cattle producers who have supported the program since its inception.
The NILE Merit Heifer Program is seeking producers interested in donating a heifer calf for the upcoming year. If you are interested, please contact Shelby at (406) 256-2499.
Applications and a link to the YouTube video must be submitted ONLINE no later than June 30, 2026. No hard copies will be accepted. The 2027 recipients will be announced in late summer of 2026. Applications are available online here.
Application Requirements:
Complete application
Six character references (three to contact; three letters of reference)
Written essay
3-5 minute YouTube video (should include, but is not limited to):
An introduction Facility tour
Current 4-H/FFA projects
Goals and objectives for the Merit Heifer Voiced by the applicant
For more information regarding the NILE Merit Heifer Program, please email Shelby at shelby@thenile.org or call the NILE Office at (406) 256-2499
The Japanese term for a shotgun wedding is “dekichatta kekkon,” which literally translates to “oopswe-did-it marriage.
2011 Case IH 1203 with 25ft. header, 680 engine hours. $89,500
2019 John Deere L341 26k bales, very clean and well maintained $62,500
2009 New Holland 8040 with 16-ft. header, 2150 hours. $59,500
2015
2016 New Holland SR160 1580 hours, 16-ft. header, cab and rear axle suspension. $89,999
2013 Case IH 1203 with 16ft. header, 609 hours.$97,500
John Deere 1910 drill, 60-ft. 7.5”, Nematic wheels, 550 pound shanks, ground driven, primary blockage monitor, 150+200 bushel tanks, belt conveyor, New primary hoses, packers in good shape. $87,500
2016 New Holland SR160 with 16-ft. header, 2150 hours, cab and rear axle suspension. $79,500
2012 New Holland 8080 1503 hours with 35-ft. triple delivery, double knife drive, header transport, cab and rear axle suspension, fully serviced. $72,500
2005 Case IH 2388 2799 & 3813 hours, very clean and well maintained, small grains combine.
South Dakota State University Extension 4-H members won second place in the national Family and Consumer Sciences Skill-a-thon.
The 4-H FCS National Championship and Conference was January 14-17, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. The competition includes Skill-a-thon, Consumer Decision Making, Fashion Revue, educational presentations and quiz bowl competitions. To compete, 4-H youth must qualify at a state contest.
Representing South Dakota on the Skill-a-thon team were: Lydia Helkenn, Beadle County; Lexy Faulhaber, Aurora County; Lillie Boden, Lincoln County; and Regan Rasmussen, Union County. In addition to their second-place finish, the team placed third in the life skills assessment, and Helkenn won second place overall individually.
In the Skill-a-thon, contestants must be able to identify 25 sewing and clothing items, 25 interior design/housing items, 25 food and cooking items and answer 25 questions related to the items. The life skills assessment is completed as a team, giving them a scenario and a limited amount of time to develop and present their response.
Wendy Sweeter, SDSU Extension 4-H Educator - Lincoln County, said the team came together in November and gelled quickly. Sweeter and Aubrey Anderson, SDSU Extension 4-H Educator - Minnehaha County, co-coached the team, meeting via Zoom throughout December to prepare. She added that South Dakota doesn’t offer the life skills contest, making the team’s third-place finish in the category even more impressive.
“It’s just a testament to how good our teams are at communicating and working together,” Sweeter said. “It was very exciting for our team.”
Fashion Revue competitors either buy or construct (sew) an outfit. Competitors are evaluated on their oral presentation, the overall appearance of their outfit, responses to judges’ questions, and modeling.
“We are incredibly proud of our 4 H team’s outstanding performance at the FCS Skill-a-thon. Earning second place as a team and celebrating Lydia, who also placed second individually, speaks to their dedication, teamwork and the hours of preparation they invested,” said Amanda Stade, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth-In-Action Program Manager. “Their success reflects the strength of our youth program and the bright future these young leaders are building.”
For more information, contact Amanda Stade, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth-in-Action Program Manager.
2011 New Holland 30-ft. header, single knife, transport, will fit New Holland swathers. $10,000
John Deere 500R 16-ft., V10 steel conditioners. $23,500
2012 John Deere 635D poly skids, double knife drive. $24,500
2015
triple delivery, double knife drive, fits John Deere swathers, low acres, very nice shape. $32,500
$39,500
South Dakota State University Extension 4-H members won second place in the Skill-a-thon at the 4-H FCS National Championship and Contest.
Aubrey Underwood, Brookings County, competed in Fashion Revue, after placing first in the 2025 4-H Fashion Revue contest at the South Dakota State Fair.
judging skills
4-H’ers from around the area took advantage of the sunshine to participate in the 2026 Dawson County Beef Judging Contest at the Darr Feedlot Bull Development Center. Pictured from left to right in the front row are Kadynce Killough, Holdrege; and Ashton Vonderschmidt, Farnam. Pictured left to right in the second row are Kylee Odell, Holdrege; Kahlia Killough, Holdrege; Cadey Wolf, Cozad; Gabby Caraway, Lexington; Megan Walahoski, Overton; and Bristol McConville, Lexington. Pictured from left to right in the back row are Grant Walahoski, Overton; Owen Lassen, Overton; Clay Terrell, Gothenburg; Samual Winter, Cozad; and Riggs McConville, Lexington.
Area 4-H’ers took advantage of the sunny weather at the recent Bull Judging Clinic held at the Darr Feedlot Bull Development Center.
Twelve 4-H age youth and one clover kid from across the county participated. This excellent educational opportunity gives youths the chance to practice lifelong skills such as decision making and communication. Youth gave reasons, answered questions, and judged four different classes of bulls and one class of feedlot cattle. Shannon Peterson, Gothenburg, Paul Peterson, Gothenburg; Sarah Fanning, UNL Extension Educator, and Taryn Vonderschmidt, Farnam; coordinated the event and said it would not be successful without the great partnership with Darr Feedlot, Inc. and the volunteers that give their time to put on the event including Mitch Ziebell who lined up the bulls and was a tremendous help. Also helping with the event were Eric Miller, Cozad; Tigh Renken, Bertrand, and Dylan Russman, Bertrand; who serve as Livestock Judging coaches. Dawson County participants received the following ribbon awards:
Blue – Kylee Odell, Holdrege. Clover Kid: Ashton Vonderschmidt, Farnam.
4)
2025
Cascadia
2025 Freightliner Cascadia
DD15,
1994
Aluminum & steel fuel tanks.
2006 Freightliner complete hood, good condition.
Wide selection truck transmissions drop ins & axles.
1991 GMC Top Kick complete cab.
Wide selection, medium & heavy truck doors. (4) Used hoist assemblies, scissor & center post.
Large selection, medium duty truck hoods.
(30) Steel wheels, hub, pilot and Budd.
1980 Ford F150 shop pickup, 300/6 engine, 60,000 actual miles (as is) $1000
(36) Transport chains and binders, 3/8 through 3/4 hi tensile.
FIRE CAT D6C – WORK-READY, HARD TO FIND
FOR SALE: Caterpillar D6C 76A DOZER - $42,000 OBO
Old school iron that still shows up ready to work
Approximately 1970, 5,110 hours, S/N: 76A1330.
Former California Fire Cat – built for extreme conditions. 50-ton winch, Hydraulic tilt blade, Fire curtains & lights. Condition: Starts easily, runs strong. Hydraulics responsive, winch operates as it should. Undercarriage in great condition (rails, pads & sprockets). Ideal for ranch work, land clearing, timber, or general dirt work. Selling due to job completion/ no longer needed. Call/text for video of it running & working.
With NSF award, WSU crop scientist harnesses AI to identify higher-yielding wheat
By Seth Truscott, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Using the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to process vast amounts of complex data, scientists at Washington State University aim to speed up the breeding of higher-yielding wheat crops.
Zhiwu Zhang, professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, leads a team of scientists in the U.S., India, and Japan as they harness neural networks — computer models that mimic how the brain processes information — to analyze massive amounts of data on wheat genetics, performance, and environmental conditions. Their work is part of a new National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative bridging AI and agriculture.
“Wheat feeds billions worldwide,” Zhang said. “It provides a fifth of global calories, yet breeders are only able to boost yields by about 1% annually.”
Zhang, who specializes in developing AI and statistical tools and models for wheat breeders, aims to better that number. Part of the first cohort of NSF’s Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen AGriculturE (AI-ENGAGE) initiative, he received a $400,000 grant to develop a new, open-source computer system that can process a thousandfold more data than conventional techniques.
The team of scientists from WSU, the University of Tokyo, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research will genotype nearly 1,000 unique wheat plant samples, then train AI to process data on plant performance, genetics, growing patterns, and many environmental variables affecting crop performance. Their final product will be a free tool that breeders can use to select improved varieties of wheat and other food crops.
“By accelerating the development of high-performing varieties, we’re boosting breeding efficiency and contributing to the global food supply,” Zhang said. “Our work builds on decades of advancements in genomic selection, allowing us to capture complex genotype and environmental interactions that traditional methods often miss.”
AI-ENGAGE is a collaboration between NSF, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The WSU project was one of six to receive initial awards totaling $6 million from NSF and its international partners.
Named as one of five Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers at WSU in 2025, Zhang described the NSF funding award as a tremendous honor that validates his research team’s interdisciplinary approach. He thanked colleagues in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, and the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture for their support and expertise.
“Their encouragement has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of AI in agriculture,” Zhang said. “Together, we’re advancing science that truly matters for our planet’s future.”
#####
A nervous golfer was pacing back and forth in a hospital looking quite nervous. When the nurse inquired, he told her that a ball had been hit awry and ended up in the throat of the man in surgery. The nurse then asked, “Is the patient a relative of yours? Is that why you’re so nervous?” “Actually,” the man said, “I’m just hoping to get my ball back.”
Artificial intelligence tools can analyze vast amounts of genetic and environmental data to help researchers identify higher-yielding wheat varieties (photo courtesy of Adobe Stock).
Why canola meal is
fit for dairy diets
From Canolamazing
As dairy nutritionists navigate increasingly narrow profit margins and heightened expectations regarding animal performance, ingredient selection must go beyond crude protein values.
cies in protein synthesis.
Protein ingredients are required to deliver metabolizable amino acids plus available energy, and contribute to both feed and economic efficiency, improving not just performance measures but also improved income over feed cost (IOFC). Research and industry experience indicate that canola meal is uniquely positioned to deliver on both fronts.
“Nutritionists today are not simply formulating for protein — they’re evaluating ingredients for their contribution to amino acids and energy needs,” says Essi Evans, Ph.D., E+E Technical Advisory Services. “Canola meal offers a balanced amino acid profile along with a meaningful energy contribution. That combination allows us to optimize both sides of the ration equation.”
Canola meal at first glance
Canola meal is widely regarded as a valuable ingredient in dairy rations, backed by an extensive body of research.
In fact, since 2011, five meta-analyses have evaluated canola meal in lactating dairy diets, each combining past results from different angles. Across varying approaches, researchers consistently observed increased milk production — ranging from 1.54 to 5.29 pounds per cow per day — along with reductions in milk urea nitrogen (MUN) of 1 to 1.5 mg/dL.
“When diets formulated to the same specifications consistently exceed expectations, it tells you something important,” explains Dr. Evans. “Canola meal is often undervalued in many formulation models. The biological response we measure in cows is greater than the assigned nutrient values predict.”
That discrepancy has led researchers to explore what Dr. Evans calls “hidden attributes” — nutritional advantages not fully captured in traditional ration formulation systems.
Hidden protein advantages
On the protein side, canola meal contains a high proportion of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) that is not accurately reflected by older assays such as the nylon bag technique. Modern research has demonstrated that some soluble proteins degrade more slowly than previously assumed, allowing a greater portion to escape the rumen and contribute directly to the metabolizable protein supply.
“Canola meal’s storage proteins behave differently than proteins in many other vegetable sources,” says Dr. Evans. “Although soluble, a significant portion escapes rumen degradation, which supports higher milk output without increasing nitrogen waste.”
Equally important is canola meal’s amino acid balance. Its profile closely resembles microbial protein and the amino acid composition of milk and body tissue. While many ration programs focus primarily on lysine and methionine, canola meal provides a broader spectrum of essential amino acids — including higher levels of methionine and cysteine — that help reduce inefficien-
“If the absorbed amino acid profile closely matches the cow’s requirement, there’s less energy spent converting excesses or compensating for deficiencies,” explains Dr. Evans. “That efficiency shows up as lower MUN and improved nitrogen utilization.”
Energy: more than a calculated value
Protein is only part of the two-for-one equation. Energy is the other half. Historically, the assigned energy value of canola meal has been conservative. However, recent work measuring net portal nutrient absorption has shown that its energy supply is comparable to that of soybean meal.
“There’s growing evidence that the calculated energy values don’t fully represent what the cow actually receives,” says Dr. Evans. “When we measure energy at the tissue level, canola meal performs right alongside other major protein sources.”
Dr. Evans states, “Increasing evidence indicates that the calculated energy value may not accurately reflect the energy actually utilized by the cow. When assessed at the tissue level, canola meal demonstrates comparable performance to soybean meal.”
Additional research has identified greater than predicted fiber digestibility and reductions in methane production when canola meal is included in the diet. These are unaccounted for factors that contribute to the usable energy supply while supporting sustainability goals.
Early lactation studies offer particularly compelling data. Recent early lactation studies show that replacing soybean meal with canola meal yields 4.4 to 8.8 pounds more milk per cow per day without compromising body condition or reproduction.
“That tells us we’re not just pushing cows harder,” notes Dr. Evans. “We’re supporting them more efficiently.”
Efficiency that shows up in IOFC
For nutritionists working under feed cost pressure, the implications are clear. By delivering balanced amino acids and metabolizable energy, canola meal allows for precise nutrient supply without unnecessary excess. That precision supports higher milk yield, reduces nitrogen losses, and ultimately strengthens IOFC.
“As we refine formulation models, we’re beginning to appreciate ingredients that provide both protein quality and energy value,” says Dr. Evans. “Canola meal truly is a two-for-one fit for dairy diets.”
In a market demanding precision and performance, ingredients that deliver on both fronts stand out. To explore the research and learn more about how canola meal can support dairy performance, visit canolamazing.com.
About Canolamazing
Canola meal is a coproduct of canola processing and is approximately 42% crude protein on a dry matter basis, with a high bypass protein value and amino acid profile well-suited for milk production. Because of its high protein content, canola meal is often used as a protein supplement for animal feeds, including dairy rations. Visit canolamazing.com to learn more.
#####
Moe and Joe were playing a delightful round when Moe hit an errant drive. The drive was so far off track that it actually struck another golfer in the head on an adjoining hole. Moe and Joe rushed to the wounded player and found him lying on the course unconscious. “Oh my God,” yelled Moe. “What should we do?” “Well, definitely don’t move him, Joe replied. “If we leave him in place, he will be deemed an immovable obstruction, and you can either play the ball as it lies or take a two-club-length drop.”
NH Bale Wagons & Retrievers
Selfies are deadlier than shark attacks, causing about 28 deaths annually, with falls from heights being the most common cause.
Grazing after a wildfire
By Ben Beckman,,UNL
This spring has already been a historic one for wildfires in Nebraska. Our thoughts are with the producers impacted, and our thanks go out to the fire crews and first responders who have put in long hours protecting lives, livestock, and property. As producers are able to assess damage and plan next steps, grazing management will be an important part of pasture recovery.
While the aftermath of a wildfire can look severe, perennial pasture grasses are often more resilient than they first appear. With many still dormant early in the season, growing points and root systems are largely protected, and recovery is possible. But with this spring also looking dry, recovery may be slower, and our management decisions carry more weight than they would in a normal year.
One of the biggest concerns after a fire, especially on sandy soils, is the loss of residue and litter on the soil surface. That cover helps reduce erosion and conserve soil moisture as grasses begin regrowth.
Because of that, one of the most important grazing decisions after a wildfire is to delay turnout. In some cases, that may mean waiting longer than normal to let grasses regrow and rebuild before grazing pressure is added.
Stocking rates may also need to be reduced. If moisture stays limited, plants simply will not recover as quickly, so leaving adequate residue becomes even more important. Rainfall through May and June should guide turnout and stocking decisions.
Also be sure to assess fence damage before turnout. In partially burned pastures, expect cattle to concentrate grazing on the burned areas first, so temporary fence or adjustments in grazing timing and pasture use may be needed. If you’re making fencing or grazing changes after a fire, be sure to coordinate with FSA and NRCS ahead of time so needed documentation and program eligibility are not affected. Recovery is coming, but this year it’s going to need some patience and a little rain.
2019 John Deere 560M w/both twine and surface wrap , 1000 PTO 21.5l-16.1 10 ply tires Mega Wide Plus pickup, bale push bar, variable core valve. Stock #94610 $34,500 (12)
2015 John Deere 569 baler w/ twine & net, Mega Wide pickup, flotation tires, push bar, hydraulic pickup lift, 1000 PTO. Stock #94409 $28,500 (11)
2015 John Deere 569 w/Both Twine and Surface Wrap ,1000 PTO, 21.5l-16.1 10 ply tires Mega Wide Plus Pickup, Bale push bar, Variable core valve. Stock #96097 $27,000 (12)
HAY PRODUCTS
Haying season will soon be upon us. See our large selection of round
2023 John Deere 341R high density baler, w/wide pickup, mass flow, moisture monitor, eletronic trip, baler assist, auto luber, bale mobile, tandem wheels, 3238 bale count. Stock #95972
$205,000 (15)
2014 John Deere 569 w/1000 pto, net & twine, megawideplus pickup, push bar, hydraulic pickup, 21.5L-16.1 tires, monitor. Stock #93040
2012 John Deere 9560RT w/18/6 Powershift transmission, 5 SCV w/hi-flow hydraulics, PTO, 2630 display w/AutoTrac, 3000 receiver, CommandView II Cab, electric RH & LH mirrors, 36” DuraBuilt 5500 series tracks, premium lighting, front weight bracket w/27 weights, 4-450 lbs front idler weights, tow cable. Stock #95203 $185,000 (14)
2023 John Deere 9R 540 w/LSW800 duals w/HydraCushion suspension, E18 transmission, PTO, 5 remotes (standard flow 55 gpm), ultimate cab, Active Seat II, ultimate lighting, dual 4600 displays w/automation 4.0 activation, 7000 receiver (SF1), Cat 5 drawbar 1/2” power beyond coupler, 36 front weights. Stock #95459
$487,500 (14)
$89,500 (15)
2002 Case IH STX450 QuadTrac, Powershift transmission, 30” tracks, 5 SCV’s, Trimble Autosteer system, new batteries, 6 new injectors, clean tractor, local tractor. Stock #94730
2018 Versatile 610DT w/605 HP, 16 speed Powershift transmission, 36 inch track, deluxe cab, LED lights, guidance ready w/receiver and 10 inch display, diff lock , 6 SCVs, 2 sets of low pressure couplers.
Stock #91193
$400,000 (12)
2004 John Deere 9420 4WD w/425 / 302 hp, 4WD, cab, 18/6 powershift, 5 SCVs, no PTO, no 3 pt, premium cab, standard flow hyd (48 gpm), 480/80R50 triples (90%), big weight package. Stock #93194
$115,000 (1)
1979 Big Bud 600/80
$105,000 (1)
SELF PROPELLED SPREADERS & SPRAYERS
Several used John Deere and competitive self-propelled sprayers and applicators in stock! Variety of boom and widths available. Several units are ready to roll with turnkey GPS!
2024 John Deere 616R w/120’ steel, 20”, Exact Apply, aut solution control, hi-flow pump, front fill, 5 sensor boom level, boom air purge, ultimate vis lights, eductor, Ultimate Comfort Package, Cat 1 cab filtration, pressure recirc and reclaim, fence row nozzles, VF420/95R50, Gen4 4600 & extended monitor w/ 4.0 activation, integrated receiver with SF-RTK capable. Stock #91440 $560,000 (1)
2021 John Deere 616 with 132-ft. carbon fiber, 20”, CVIII cab, Exact Apply, premium radio, auto solution control, hi-flow pump, 5 sensor boom level, boom air purge, eductor, ultimate comfort package, fence row nozzles, skinny tires includes - 4.0 AT act, 4600 armrest display, section control, SF6000. Stock #89240 $399,000 (1)
2021 John Deere 9520RX w/18/6 Powershift, high flow hydraulics, 5 SCVs, 1000 PTO, 36”
tracks, 87” track spacing, ACS
dual radar, refrigerator, 1/2” Power Beyond, Case drain, hydraulic trailer brake, 4600 command arm display with AutoTrac, no receiver. Stock #95378 $345,000 (14)
2016 John Deere 9570R w/high low dual pumps @115 gpm, 1000 PTO, 5 hyd, 14.9l Cummins engine, E18 Powershift transmission, 800/70R38 duals, premium cab/radio/ lighting, Active seat, radar, greaseable pins, 8500# weight package, Gen 4 4600 command arm display with AutoTrac activation. Stock #95406
$349,000 (14)
Check out our website: www.frontlineagsolutions.com to see photos and info on inventory
DRILLS & SEEDERS
Fall seeding is upon us.
See our lineup of good used seeders to get that crop seeded quickly Many others in stock - please call.
2024 John Deere 616R w/120-ft. steel boom, 20” spacing, 1600 gallon stainless steel tank, Ultimate Comfort and conv package, Active Seat II, front fill, high-flow solution pump, eductor, auto solution control, boom air purge, Exact Apply nozzle control, VF 420/95R50 tires, Starfire RTL receiver, Gen 4 4600 display and extended display with 4.0 activation. Stock #94246 $575,000 (1)
2023 John Deere 616R w/Signature edition, less See and Spray, 1600 gal. SS tank, guidance, Active Seat, VF420/95R50 tires, hi flow solution pump, less eductor, less front fill, 120-ft. steel boom, 20 in. nozzle spacing w/Exact Apply nozzle control, air purge, fenders. Stock #92779..$520,000 (2)
2025 John Deere 412R w/120 ft. boom w/leveling, SS tank, narrow tires, hydraulic tread adjust, guidance-ready, guidance receiver, guidance display, traction control, nozzle spacing 20 in. Stock #95231 $549,000 (12)
2022 John Deere 410R w/100-Ft. boom, boom leveling, stainless tank, narrow tires, hydraulic tread adjust, guidance-ready, guidance display, traction control, nozzle spacing 20 in., No See and Spray™. Stock #95207
$270,000 (15)
R4045 w/Command
II Plus cab, guidance, section control, 120 ft. boom w/auto boom leveling, stainless steel tank, foam markers, RH and LH fence row nozzles, no eductor, 420/95R50 tires. Stock #86591 $155,000 (12)
2024 John Deere N560F 60-ft. width, 10” spacing, double shoot, All Run Blkg, cast serrated closing wheel, spoked narrow gauge wheels, dry fert. delivery tube, tow behind C850 cart with secion command, (4) IF850/75R42 tires, (2) IF900/75R32 tires, tank scales C850. Stock #92736
$685,000 (1)
2023 John Deere N560FF w/60-ft. double shoot, cast serrated closing wheels, spoked narrow gauge wheels, All Run Blkg., tow behind C850 cart. Stock #93529
2019 John Deere 1890 60-ft., 7.5” spacing, narrow spoked gauge wheels, 90 Series openers, smooth closing wheel, Intelligent Ag All Run Blockage, 350 tow between cart w/12” conveyor with KSI low profile hopper. Does NOT have section control, 800 single tires on cart, float tires on frame & caster wheels. Stock #96114 $180,000 (1)
2023 John Deere 616R w/132-ft. carbon fiber, 20”, CVIII cab, Exact Apply, premium radio, auto solution control, hi-flow pump, 5 sensor boom level, boom air purge, ultimate vis lights, eductor, ultimate comfort package, Cat 1 cab filtration, fence row nozzles, skinny tires includes - 4.0 AT act, 4600 armrest display, section control, SF6000. Stock #89331 $495,000 (12)
2023 John Deere N560 60-ft. 10” spacing, Pro Series opener, spoked narrow gauge wheels, crumbler closing wheel, All Run (Deere) Blockage, Tru Set pressure control, 430 tow between cart w/ section control, 12” conveyor w/low profile hopper, dual 520 cart tires. Stock #95463
$325,000 (14)
2021 John Deere 1890 60-ft. drill, 10” spacing, single shoot disk drill w/Pro Series openers, narrow/spoked gauge wheels, crumbler closing wheels, John Deere All Run Blockage, 1910 tow between cart, 430 bushel, 12” conveyor with KSI hopper, 800/70R38 singles, no section control. Stock #96017
$245,000 (14)
2014 John Deere 1890 42-ft. air drill, 7.5” spacing, single shoot, All Run Blockage, dual 31x13.5-15 hi-float tires, spoked gauge wheels, has 1910 tow behind 430 cart, non section command. Stock #92797
$162,500 (1)
2015 John Deere1890 w/60-ft., 7.5” spacing, SS, All Run Blockage, solid gauge wheel, 430 bu tow behind cart, 3 tank, 8 run, hydraulic drive (section command), 10” fill auger. Stock #90868 $157,500 (12)
2012 John Deere 1890 w/60-ft. 7.5” spacing, 8 run,single shoot, primary blockage, 350 bu tow behind cart, 12” conveyor, rear duals, ground drive, & variable rate. Stock #90382
$132,000 (12)
4WD w/600 hp, 4WD, cab, clark 4 speed w/ torq converter, 4 scv, no 3pt/PTO, NEW Cummings QSX15 535 hp engine with 1211 hours, aftermarket high flow (?? Gpm) hyd pump. Stock #96338
3500
steering, leather trim,
2015 John Deere
View
#91048
#91193
#96114
#95378
#94246
#86591
#92736
#95231
#96338
By Halden Clark, DVM MS, Health Stewardship; Great Plains
Calf scours outbreaks are the result of a contaminated calving and nursing environment. This environmental contamination develops following a period of pathogen (germ) buildup, or amplification. Cows shed relatively small amounts of these bacteria and viruses into the environment often without showing any clinical symptoms. Other scours-causing pathogens, such as coccidia, can persist in the environment year after year. As calves are born, they are exposed to these pathogens and begin the cycle of replication and shedding of disease potentials. They shed many times more germs than they were originally exposed to, which is why we call this “amplification.” The first calves born may not show clinical symptoms of scours because the pathogen load may not be high enough to overwhelm the immune system. However, as more calves are born and stocking density increases, the pathogen load can become too much. This is when a scours outbreak occurs.
How to reduce the risk of scours
Reducing the risk of scours can be accomplished by addressing different areas of management. One way to do this is by following the Sandhills Calving Method, or a modified version of it. The concept is to place calves into similar age groups, calving on clean environments with each group. Ideally, calves should be within 10-14 days of age in each calving area. Late gestation cows will then be moved away from new babies to calve in a fresh environment and begin another age group, and so on. This will allow reduction of pathogen shedding and exposure dose. The original concept can be modified to fit most operations by having an idea of calving dates and a little creativity.
Limiting stress during calving is another preventative measure. One example of stress includes weather concerns. Having a place for calves to get out of storms and mud may help. This can be accomplished by utilizing shelters or creating a calf escape area by adding a hot wire in the corner of the lot where calves can freely enter but cows remain outside the space. Shelters can become sources of contamination if left unclean and wet. Because ventilation and sunshine are vital factors in keeping calves healthy, moving shelters or utilizing open air concepts have been shown to be beneficial. Testing is necessary to get a final diagnosis on what pathogens are causing problems and often the condition contains two or more species of bacteria, viruses, or protozoa. Age of calf is helpful in knowing what may be causing the problem as each pathogen affects calves at different time frames. Understanding crucial management areas and establishing prevention protocols with your veterinarian are essential for your operation’s calf health plan.
Interviews with the authors of BeefWatch newsletter articles become available as podcasts throughout the month of publication and are accessible at https://go.unl. edu/podcast.
A “moment” was a medieval measurement of time that corresponded to approximately 90 seconds.
MISCELLANEOUS
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2021 Haybuster 2800 round and square bale processor, right hand discharge. Stock #95740. $25,000
2023 John Deere 8RX 370 IVT transmission with right hand reverser, 24” tracks, 85 GPM hydraulic pump, 6 SCVs, Ultimate cab with air seat and cab suspension, 954 hours. PowrTrain Warranty. Good till January 2027 or 2500 hours. Stock #92170.$440,000
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
2017 Haybuster 2660 round bale processor, right hand discharge, hydraulic deflector chute, grain tank, new flotation tires. Stock #95472
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1998 Highline 7000 bale processor, left hand discharge, 1000 PTO. Stock #95737
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2024 John Deere 8R 370 tractor, IVT transmission, ILS, dual hydraulic pump 85 GPM, 6 SCVs, autonomy prep package, cab suspension, 480/95/50 rear tires with duals, 480/70/34 front tires with duals, 1800# rear weights, 22 front weights, 604 hours. Stock #94392 $445,000
(2) 2025 John Deere 6155 cab tractor, MFWD, 640R loader and grapple, 20 speed PowrQuad with left hand reverser, AutoTrac ready less receiver, 3 rear SCV’s, beacon and work lights, triple link front suspension,. 2-450# weights each side and ballast. Each. $219,000
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2023 John Deere 320P backhoe, cab with heat/AC, MFWD, Extendahoe, thumb, auxiliary hydraulics, front quick attach, 783 hours. Stock #94978
2024 John Deere 8R 340 with IVT transmission, right hand reverser, air seat, cab suspension, autonomy prep package, 6 SCVs, 84 GPM hydraulic pump, 420/85/34 front tires with duals, 480/80/50 rear tires with duals, 1500# each side rear, 22 front weights, 1300 hours. Stock #94391 $385,000
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
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(2) 2024 Twin Star 2030 G3-7 hydraulic V rakes. Each. $37,500
(2) 2018 New Holland 216 hydraulic rake. Stock #88660 & Stock #91171. Each.
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John Deere 455 25-ft. grain drill, 6” spacing, grass, grain and fertilizer boxes. Used 2 season.
By Chevy-Lynn Vaske, K-State Extension news service
Understanding how much nitrate is present in irrigation water is important not only for farm management decisions, but also for protecting the quality of drinking water, according to research from Kansas State University
Micah Cameron-Harp, K-State assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, and Matt Kirk, professor of geology, said recognizing nitrate contributions from irrigation water helps improve nutrient efficiency in crop production while also reducing the risk of excess nitrogen reaching water used by consumers.
“Many producers are not considering the amount of nitrate already being applied through their irrigation water,” Cameron-Harp said. “When you measure what’s there, you may be able to reduce fertilizer applications, which saves money and helps limit excess nitrate from moving into groundwater.”
Listen to an interview by Shelby Varner with Micah Cameron Harp and Matt Kirk on the weekday radio program, Agriculture Today
Nitrate is highly soluble and moves easily with water through the soil profile. When more nitrogen is applied than crops can use, the excess can leach into aquifers — a primary source of drinking water for many rural communities.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established a maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of nitrate-nitrogen in public drinking water systems to protect human health. At levels about 10 mg/L, nitrate can cause a condition known as methemoglobinemia, which prevents blood from carrying enough oxygen, causing bluish skin, headache, fatigue and difficulty breathing. Kirk noted that groundwater monitoring across Kansas, shows variability in nitrate levels, making local testing essential.
“Every well and every water source is different,” Kirk said. “The only way to know how much nitrate is present in your irrigation water is to test it. Once you have that information, you can incorporate it into your nutrient management plan.”
Researchers emphasized that some neighboring states, including Nebraska, have more widely adopted irrigation water testing as part of routine nutrient management. In contrast, many Kansas producers have historically focused on soil testing without accounting for nitrate contributions from irrigation water.
According to Cameron-Harp, this overlooked input can represent a significant amount of applied nitrogen over the course of a growing season.
“If irrigation water contains measurable nitrate, that nitrogen still counts,” Cameron-Harp said. “Recognizing it allows producers to credit that amount toward their total crop needs, improving efficiency while advancing water quality goals.”
Producers interested in determining nitrate levels in their irrigation water can submit samples to commercial laboratories across the state or through Kansas State University testing services. Results can then be used alongside soil test data to fine-tune fertilizer recommendations.
Researchers highlight that proactive nutrient management benefits both farm profitability and community health.
“Protecting water quality doesn’t have to come at the expense of productivity,” Kirk said. “With good data and informed decision-making, we can support agricultural production while safeguarding drinking water for future generations.”
For more information on nitrate testing and nutrient management strategies, contact your local K-State Extension office.
New World Screwworm What to look for
HAY FOR SALE
500 bales of alfalfa hay
Some alfalfa feeder hay
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RETIRED- MACHINERY FOR SALE
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Summer pasture rental rates on a price per ton basis consumed by the cow-calf pair
Pasture rental rates in Nebraska continue to be at a premium compared to the rest of the country. This author is unaware of anywhere else that has a higher price per pair per month, when compared to Nebraska’s summer grazing rates.
This means that summer grass in some parts of Nebraska is actually more expensive on a per ton basis than current hay prices (Spring 2026). This article shows how to compare apples (summer grazing) to oranges (baled hay), by converting both into air-dried forage per ton.
Nebraska pasture rental rates continue to be higher in the eastern Sandhills area compared to other parts of Nebraska. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln conducts yearly surveys of cash rental rates across Nebraska. The report for 2025 pasture rental rates can be viewed at https://cap.unl.edu/ realestate/ .
ESTIMATING COW/CALF CONSUMPTION
When grass is readily available, of excellent quality, and the rate of passage is rapid, consumption of grass will be higher as a percentage of a cow’s body weight than later in the grazing season when quality declines. Grass consumption by calves generally increases throughout the grazing season as calf size and rumen capacity increase. This occurs simultaneously while cow milk production decreases.
Estimating the amount of forage consumed by the cow is just that, an estimate. Recent research from Oklahoma State
University of cows eating medium quality grass hay has shown tremendous variation in forage consumption within a herd, even when cows are of similar size and weight.
SUMMER GRASS VERSUS PRICE OF HAY
Estimating the value of the grazed forage on a per-ton basis allows a person to compare grazed grass directly to what it would cost to buy hay. In this calculation, no labor, waste or machinery cost is accounted for when moving, storing, or feeding the hay.
Let’s use an example to value the grazed air-dried forage going into the cow on a per ton basis. For our example, the following assumptions are used.
One Animal Unit Month is an estimate of how much a 1,000 pound bovine would eat in a month, and the estimated consumption is 780 lbs. of air-dried forage per month.
A cow-calf pair is made up of a 1350 lb. cow and 400 lb. calf. These weights convert to 1.75 Animal Unit Month (AUM), averaged over the 5-month summer grazing period.
To figure the pounds of air-dried forage consumed in one month of summer grazing, take 1.75 Animal Unit Month (AUM) multiplied by 780 lbs. of forage to get 1365 lbs. of air-dried forage per pair. (1.75 x 780 = 1365)
Table 1 below shows the price of summer grazing per pair and what the estimated hay price would be per ton. (Remember our pair is a 1350 lb. cow and 400 lb. calf).
Table 1: Converting Summer Grazing Rates to Equivalent Hay Price Summer Grazing Rate
Estimated Equivalent Price
Per Pair (1.75 AUM) for Hay (per ton)
$50 per pair/month
$60 per pair/month
$70 per pair/month
$80 per pair/month
$90 per pair/month
$100 per pair/month
CONSIDERATIONS
Currently hay can be bought in Nebraska for a cost per ton equivalent, that in many cases is equal to or less than the cost per ton for grazed forage rates paid for cowcalf pairs.
The quality of grazed grass early in the grazing season will likely be equal to or better than good quality hay that can be purchased. In the later summer and fall, the quality of the hay based on energy and protein basis may be better than grazed forage.
If hay is to be fed versus grazing pastures, most medium quality hays will not meet the nutrition requirements of a milking cow with a calf. Another feed resource that would enhance the quality of a roughage diet, and readily available in Nebraska, are ethanol coproducts. Currently, dried distillers grains can be purchased at approximately $160 ton at the plant. Distillers grains supplemented with medium quality hay could meet a milking cow’s nutritional requirements.
HOW TO SUPPLEMENT HAY WITH DISTILLERS GRAINS
On a dry basis, a pound of distillers grains will have almost twice the energy and will be more than twice the protein of most hay sources. That means that a pound of distillers grains has about the same energy and protein as two pounds of an average quality hay. Using a combination of hay and distillers grains could be an economic and
$73 per ton
$88 per ton
$103 per ton
$117 per ton
$131 per ton
$147 per ton
feasible option to develop a balanced ration for many operations.
When feeding hay and distillers grains, the additional costs of labor, equipment, and waste during storage and feeding need to be considered. However, when hay or distillers grains are purchased and fed, nutrients are brought in that have value as fertilizer (once the feed passes through the animal onto the ground), when they are captured and utilized effectively.
CONCLUSION
Summer pasture rental rates in Nebraska have seen significant increases over the last few years with wide ranges being paid per pair per month depending upon a variety of factors. Current market prices for harvested feed are competitive in many cases with pasture rental rates when compared on a price per ton basis. The quality and value of forage consumed, whether by grazing or as hay, need to be considered as producers evaluate grazing and feeding options for the cow herd this spring and summer.
#####
1997 - National Bacon Day is created. Although some disputes exist about the origins of National Bacon Day, one story goes that two friends want a gift-giving day at the end of the year that is unrelated to religion. Naming it National Bacon Day includes paying homage to famous cartoon character Homer Simpson and his love for bacon.
2017 John Deere 1890 (PH), Stk #85061, 42ft. 10” Single Shoot, 37,118 Acres, All Run Blockage, 430 Bushel Cart, Meters Good $149,900 $139,900
Will Come with New LED Readout, Walking Tandems, RH Dogleg.
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2014 John Deere DB90 (PI), Stk #86615, 36R30, 45,000 Acres, Set Up For Dry Fertilizer, Pin Adjust Row Cleaners, Dawn Curvetine Closing Wheels $124,900 2013 John Deere 1770NT (BL), Stk #91729, 16R30, 16,111 Acres, 600 Gallon Tank, Pneumatic Down Force, Will Get New Row Unit Opener Blades $57,500
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2019 John Deere W235 (BF), Stk #91134, 1,221 Hours, 16-ft. 500R Cutter Head with
With Blue & Green Meter.
John Deere 1890 (PI), Stk #90066, 42ft. 7.5” Single Shoot, 43,908 Acres, Smooth Gauge Wheel, Intelligent Ag Blockage.
