North Dakota

Bridging Genetics, Management and Technology in Beef Production

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:37:44 GMT

701x is a North Dakota-based agricultural technology company specializing in smart, connected, solar-powered GPS ear tags and management software for the cattle industry. It enables ranchers to monitor livestock health, location, breeding activity and behavior.

“There’s a lot of pressures on the ranching industry today, and there’s not a lot of technology or tools that can help them,” summarizes Sam Fisher, 701x vice president of sales and marketing.

701x was created by Kevin Biffert, a ranch-raised engineer, who saw the lack of effective technological tools available for ranchers.

“We have to develop a feature set that offers a lot more to the rancher,” Fisher adds.

(Photo: 701X)

Three Pillars: Registry Services, Herd Management, Devices

Fisher explains 701x’s offerings fall into three primary buckets.

1. Registry Services

701x acquired Digital Beef, a software solution for breed associations. This registry allows users to register animals, manage pedigrees and integrate performance data. He explains 701x is currently working on a rebuild of the registry product to make it a sustainable platform.

2. Herd Management Tools

“Think of this as your on-ranch record-keeping system ,” Fisher explains. “Digital calving book, chute‑side mode, breeding record system, even a financial section in there, all available for kind of on‑ranch records.”

701x is working to provide a unified, modern platform that streamlines data from herd management straight into registry services, minimizing manual entry and ensuring consistent, usable records.

Fisher says the 701x system eliminates double/triple entry of data; it makes data searchable and usable and replaces paper records with quick digital access.

Montana Angus producer Sara Stevenson says, “How I best describe 701x is the solution to a long-time problem I was looking for.”

701x helps her manage and communicate herd data. She explains the biggest historical challenge wasn’t collecting data but organizing it over many years and sending accurate information to the American Angus Association and other breed associations.

She says 701x has replaced scattered notebooks and multiple Excel files with one central, long-term system. It allows the Stevenson family to track every animal from birth to sale in one place, including:

Birth, weaning, yearling data and ratios.
Health events such as treatments, navel issues, deaths and injuries.
Fertility records.
Exact reason an animal leaves the herd — feet, fertility, open or death.

Stevenson emphasizes that bad or incomplete data is worse than no data, and 701x makes it realistic to maintain high-quality, multiyear records.

She shares these additional 701x advantages:

Time, stress and marriage-saving benefits. Before 701x, Stevenson says Maternal Plus reporting meant referring to years of calving books and tedious backtracking, causing weeks of work, frustration and “marriage” conflict. “701x eliminated the annual stress and fights,” she summarizes.
Data entry is now done chute-side or same day versus months later, which reduces errors and guesswork. The 701x system ties together EID (electronic identification) tags, wand, scale head and software reducing transposed numbers, missing digits as well as duplicate or outdated spreadsheets.
Digital workflow keeps accurate cow and calf pasture counts, as well as provides the ability to figure correct vaccine dose and mineral needs and get an immediate check of what animals were missed after working cattle. Stevenson admits they keep paper copies as backup, but the digital data saves their ranch money and time, improves accuracy and reduces stress.
Strong customer service and partnership. Stevenson compliments the 701x team for being accessible and willing to help when needed. She says 701x is not just a tool; it is a partner in their operation.

“What they’re really going for is that one-stop shop — the Apple of cattle data — and we are very happy with it,” Stevenson summarizes.

3. Smart Livestock Devices

701x offers two types of smart ear tag devices: the xTpro tag for bulls and cows and the xTlite tag for calves.

Fisher says the tags are a management tool providing tangible, practical benefits like GPS tracking, health and behavior alerts and reproductive data. The tags help producers improve breeding rates, reduce losses and gain actionable data, making the investment cost-effective over time.

The Stevensons use xTpro tags in donor cows and herd bulls to help:

Detect estrus in older donor cows that don’t show strong physical heat signs.
Track bull activity (steps, mounts) and correlate that with actual calves sired via DNA, revealing which bulls are working harder versus just being lazier. She says this leads to data-backed decisions about which bulls and cows are performing.

Dakota Gerloff of Gerloff Farms , Bland, Mo., manages about 400 seedstock cows and 120 commercial cows. The Gerloffs put xTpro tags in all their herd bulls. He says the biggest benefit of the tags is the peace of mind the system provides his family during breeding season.

While he typically checks his fall cows in person every other day during breeding season, 701x allows him to open the app and see how individual bulls are behaving throughout the day: how active they’ve been, whether they’ve been mounting cows and, generally whether they appear to be doing their job.

He says the tags are a valuable tool in an era when good labor is hard to find. Gerloff adds that he plans to tag his cow herd for heat detection and calving alerts, which could reduce manpower needs by providing timely notifications instead of relying solely on constant physical checking.

(Photos: 701X)

User-Friendly Purchasing and Setup

The company aims to make technologically advanced cattle management solutions simple, accessible and valuable to both seedstock and commercial beef producers. Producers can order products directly online through a marketplace. Ongoing support, educational videos and in-person field staff are available to streamline onboarding and maximize value.

Fisher says transparent pricing and simple online purchasing eliminate barriers for adoption.

“We focused on easy, easy, easy, easy,” he says. “You go to 701x.com, there’s a tab for the marketplace ... add to cart ... check out and it’s shipped directly to you.”

Fisher explains the tags come pre-integrated into the software ecosystem, which makes the setup seamless. Producers are supported by educational materials, responsive field staff and personal phone/video help as needed.

When inserting xTpro tags, place the buttons between the two main ribs of the ear. Apply the tag so the solar panel sits forward and up for best sunlight exposure.

(701x)

The tags are designed to be robust, solar-powered and connected by both cellular and satellite networks for maximum utility and minimal hassle. The system’s value is demonstrable through examples of loss prevention, breeding improvement and labor savings.

Fisher says customer feedback shapes product development and issue resolution, and all customers have open access to knowledgeable staff. 701x continually refines its algorithms and is developing new features like feedyard systems and more advanced monitoring to adapt to industry needs and drive future genetic improvements.

(701x)

A Seedstock Supplier Service for Bull Buyers

The Gerloff family hosts an annual bull sale each October selling 80 bulls. As a customer service, the Gerloffs tagged all 2025 sale bulls with 701x’s xTpro. If a bull sold for more than $6,500, the buyer was offered a one-year 701x app subscription.

Gerloff says the tag process went smoothly and praises retention and durability. He says they tagged the sale bulls 10 days before the sale. He was originally concerned about the bulls fighting and losing tags before sale day. He reports they didn’t lose any tags despite the tendencies of 20-month-old bulls.

Gerloff says more than half of the buyers who qualified to use the system have made a 701x account thus far. He also notes he has not received one negative call or frustration about the tag.

701x’s core aim is to help both commercial and seedstock producers be more profitable and sustainable by providing customers cutting-edge, practical tools that deliver real-world results.

“I really believe we’re building tools that actually matter,” Fisher summarizes. “Tools that will actually keep people in the beef business, keep families on the same piece of dirt that they’ve always ranched.”

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Dakota Ranchers: New Program Available To Promote Data-Backed Grazing Management

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:36:10 GMT

Ducks Unlimited and AgriWebb are joining forces and taking aim at addressing the challenges of grazing on public lands in North and South Dakota.

Supported by a grant through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the program provides livestock producers in cow-calf or stocker operations with digital tools and infrastructure to manage their public land, livestock and profitability more effectively. Ranchers enrolled in the program benefit from AgriWebb software combined with temporary and virtual fencing to holistically manage their livestock and land.

“Keeping grasslands intact is essential to the long-term sustainability of waterfowl and other wildlife,” notes Billy Gascoigne, DU senior director of agriculture & strategic partnerships. “Ranchers are the primary stewards of these landscapes, and it’s imperative that we develop solutions that help them implement adaptive, profitable grazing practices while ensuring the next generation can continue this important work.”

According to the organizations, the partnership will provide a streamlined way to report livestock numbers and managed acreage to NFWF. By capturing this data, the partnership is tackling some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including:

● Enhance grassland health: Promoting vibrant nesting cover for waterfowl through ample rest and rotation.
● Empower producers: Providing the “productivity-driving” insights needed to manage herds more effectively on complex public lands.
● Strengthen the food chain: Ensuring long-term land fertility to support a growing global population.

“Producers wear many hats, but none are more critical than feeding the world while stewarding the land,” says Campbell Mauchan, AgriWebb vice president of partnerships. “By combining DU’s conservation expertise with AgriWebb’s ability to turn simple data collection into actionable insights, we are helping ranchers nurture the ecosystems we all rely on. When a rancher is equipped to not just record their data, but use it, they are able to make decisions that help them nurture the ecosystems that support their legacies.”

According to the organizations, the initial roll out focused on Dakotas state trust lands is being considered a pilot for a scalable model in how technology and conservation can work to support ranchers across North America.

For more information, ranchers can visit ag.ducks.org .

No, John Deere is Not Freezing Production or Stepping Away From its U.S. Factories

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:48:45 GMT

An online report last week claimed John Deere is shutting down ALL manufacturing in response to the ongoing tariff situation in the U.S.

But we looked into it, and we’re here to tell you: don’t take the bait — or, as the kids say, feed the trolls — because it’s simply not true.

An article authored by Kieran Schalkwyk and titled “John Deere Freezes U.S. Manufacturing in Unprecedented Shutdown” appeared on MSN.com and was aggregated by Google News feeds last week, claiming the manufacturer is “making a radical move that some might think is ‘un-American.’”

John Deere shared the following LinkedIn post Friday afternoon. You can also visit Deere.com for more information on the company’s U.S. manufacturing presence.

The MSN.com post has since been taken down and brings up an error page:

MSN.com screenshot

(MSN.com)

It’s somewhat bewildering timing for this particular misinformation ploy.

John Deere recently put out a blog post outlining its commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The statement says John Deere will invest $20 billion into its U.S. footprint over the next decade, which includes major expansion projects in Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Today, the company has 60 manufacturing facilities in more than 16 U.S. states and employs over 30,000 American workers.

What is true is over the past 18 months, the company has been forced to lay off some employees , and it strategically slowed manufacturing at some production facilities in Iowa in response to depressed farmer demand for new tractors and combines.

Of course, John Deere is not alone navigating a treacherous global farm economy. Machinery rivals AGCO and CNH also made the tough choice to layoff factory workers over the past 12 months. CNH even completely shutdown its overseas machinery imports during the first few days of the tariff policy rollout, although that pause was only temporary.

In February, we updated our popular “Who Makes What Where” feature showing where major farm equipment is manufactured around the world.

Our analysis of John Deere’s global factory network shows that of the 60 John Deere machines relevant to U.S. farmers, 50 of them (83%) are manufactured here in North America. Of all the major farm equipment manufacturers we polled, John Deere has the largest U.S.-based manufacturing footprint other than Canadian-based Buhler Industries, which is 100% North America based.

So, it feels safe to say we can put this rumor to bed once and for all: No, John Deere is not shutting down its factories. Myth Busted. Shutdown the rumor mill.

Your Next Read - All The Details: Inside John Deere’s New F8 and F9 Forage Harvesters

From Guiding Hunters to Brewing Beer, These North Dakota Ranchers Run a Diversified Operation

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 20:05:16 GMT

After attending college, brothers Jeremy, Jayce and Jay Doan made their way back to the family ranch in central North Dakota. Black Leg Ranch is a big spread, nearly 20,000 acres, but supporting multiple families demanded additional revenue streams.

When Jeremy returned to work on the ranch, he started Rolling Plains Adventures, which offers hunting packages that have won the North Dakota Governor’s Travel and Tourism Award. Guests are picked up at the Bismarck airport, fed, lodged and guided throughout the ranch, where wildlife is plentiful.

“It was a struggle at first,” Jeremy says on the latest episode of Grow Getters , a podcast showcasing ag producers who have created side businesses. “People told me it was a dumb idea. But I’ve always loved hunting and the outdoors, and I felt like I was living a dream. I just had to make that dream a reality. It has had its hiccups, but it’s been a very worthwhile business.”

The outfitting operation has expanded to include guided ranch tours, collectively drawing visitors from all 50 states and 65 countries. The brothers have also created a direct-to-consumer business, selling cuts of their grass-fed and grass-finished beef and bison meat.

And then there’s the Copper Jewel Barn, a 13,000-square-foot event space where they regularly host weddings and corporate functions. Having transformed old buildings on the property into handsome lodges, they can host groups of up to 25 people for overnight stays on the ranch. “It’s a neat space with a lot of character,” Jay says. “We’re proud of it.”

To echo the classic infomercial mantra — but wait, there’s more. They’ve also opened Black Leg Brewery, which produces a variety of craft brews that are distributed throughout the state and in parts of Minnesota. The brewery has recently partnered with North Dakota State University to offer two additional brands, Bison Light and Bison Bock. “It fits really well into our operation,” Jays says, “and it tastes good.”

As far as advice to other ag producers considering a side business, Jay says, “Everybody has some competitive advantage. You just have to find it.” He adds that one of their ranch’s advantage is its location — a 20-minute drive to the airport. “That’s huge for tourism, and that has really helped us,” he says. The brothers agree that part of their success is due to “thinking outside the fence.”

“People think we’re nuts sometimes,” Jay says. “Who has a brewery on a ranch?”

Watch the full Grow Getters interview

Visit the Black Leg Ranch website: https://www.blacklegranch.com/

New Survey Shows Labor is Serious Challenge for Ag Industry

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 18:00:19 GMT

A new survey from the Minneapolis Fed found ag bankers rank labor availability as a top concern for their farm clients.

The survey, which was conducted with ag bankers from the ninth district (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin), found the issue is viewed as a “serious challenge” for 63% of respondents and a minor challenge for the majority of the remaining 37%.

“It’s becoming more and more difficult to obtain the labor needed to operate,” a Minnesota-based banker told the Minneapolis Fed.

The availability of livestock workers was seen as more limited than crop workers and those surveyed also shared that finding long-term help is more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.

As far as how this compares to past conditions, 39% of respondents said labor availability has gotten “much worse” over the past five years and 44% said it’s “a little worse”.

The Minneapolis Fed attributes this challenge to the region’s low influx of migrant workers and aging workforce.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 10% of animal production employees in the area are foreign born, compared to 18% nationally. The number is even lower for crop production with just 5% of workers being foreign born, compared to 32% nationally.

The region also has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.

(Farm Journal)

At the same time, the median age of workers in the region rose from 51 to 56 in 2021. The number of workers between 45 to 54 has declined over the past decade with a small increase of those between the ages of 25 to 44 and a large increase of those over 55.

(Farm Journal)

US Treasury Dept. Moves to Limit Foreign Land Purchases Near Military Bases

Mon, 08 May 2023 20:20:32 GMT

By now, you’ve likely heard of the Chinese balloons that made their way across the U.S. in late January and early February and were eventually shot down. The spy balloons, coupled with a Chinese-owned company purchasing land 12 miles from a U.S. Air Force base in North Dakota, have sounded alarms on both state and federal levels.

To limit further foreign activity on U.S. lands, particularly the sale of land, the Treasury Department’s Office of Investment Security proposed a rule on Friday that would require foreign entities to garner U.S. government approval before they are able to purchase land within 100 miles of eight military bases.

Related story: Out-of-Country Farmland Investors: Here’s What The Numbers Show

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) welcomed news of the proposed rule, which could have blocked the North Dakota land sale to the Fufeng Group.

“This is a good first step to bolster reviews and mitigate threats similar to what we saw with Fufeng,” Cramer said in a statement on Thursday.

The Office of Investment Security is responsible for screening foreign business dealings in the U.S. and has the authority to block or force term changes in sales in order to protect national security.

Backstory on Fufeng Group’s North Dakota Purchase

Fufeng Group says it plans to use the land to build a $700 million corn milling plant, which would create at least 200 jobs, as well as residual opportunities for logistics, trucking and other services.

Many North Dakotans made their sentiments on the sale known, which led to a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. However, the committee’s review found no issue with the sale.

Related story: China’s Latest Land Purchase Could Pose Major U.S. Security Risk

“More needs to be done to ensure the U.S. food supply chain is secure and independent,” says Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.). “If we do not prevent these land grabs, we are failing to protect our farmers, our families and our country.”

In September, Newhouse, along with 50 other members of Congress, asked USDA and other agencies to take effective action in addressing the potential national security risks that appear to arise from this transaction.

Instead of waiting on the government, some states are taking legislative action on their own.

Missouri Puts Up a Foreign Land Ownership Wall

The Missouri Senate made moves on the issue in April when it backed a plan to amend the state’s foreign land ownership threshold from 1% to 0.5%. The bill also includes a provision that would limit foreign countries — including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — from acquiring farmland in Missouri by Sept. 1.

“We’re not going to allow for foreign ownership in the state of Missouri,” said Sen. Rick Brattin (R-31). “We have to draw a line in the sand today. It protects our sovereignty as a nation.”

Related story: Missouri Moves to Tighten Reins On Foreign Land Ownership

According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, foreign land ownership in Missouri accounts for 0.36%, just shy of the 0.5% proposed limit. In total, the department says China owns roughly 42,596 acres in Missouri.

What’s Wrong with the Current Waters of the U.S. Rule?

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 18:26:01 GMT

The latest Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) definition—put into motion by the Biden administration on March 20—was met with a wave of backlash from the ag industry for its “overreaching” jurisdiction.

That opposition was validated on Wednesday when a U.S. District Court Judge, Daniel Hovland, granted an injunction that blocks enforcement of the WOTUS rule in 24 states.

“An injunction at this early stage can avoid the massive waste of resources and delayed projects in pursuit of permits that may soon be legally irrelevant,” Judge Daniel Hovland wrote in his ruling.

Related story: What Bodies of Water are Considered WOTUS?

Hovland’s decision follows a similar injunction that was filed in Texas on March 20, which effectively blocked WOTUS enforcement in Texas and Idaho. He says the EPA’s final WOTUS rule was premature, as the pending U.S. Supreme Court WOTUS case will settle the dispute in all affected states.

So, what makes EPA’s final WOTUS rule “unlawful” and worthy of an injunction? Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs at NCBA, says it comes down to bureaucracy.

What’s Wrong with WOTUS?

Under the current rule, the following bodies of water are considered WOTUS and therefore subject to federal regulation:

• Traditional navigable waters
• Tributaries that contribute perennial or intermittent flow to such waters
• Certain ditches that meet specific criteria related to flow and function
• Certain lakes and ponds
• Impoundments of otherwise jurisdictional waters
• Wetlands that are adjacent to jurisdictional waters

Lane says the EPA’s WOTUS “patchwork” in words like “certain lakes and ponds” has carved-out room for discretion. He says this discretion will rob policymakers and landowners of time and money.

“As I understand it, this rule says EPA is going to determine jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis—that just blows me away,” Lane says. “This is never the way you want a bureaucracy to interact with your private businesses.”

Richard Gupton, senior vice president of public policy and counsel at the Ag Retailers Association, echoed Lane.

“Rushing the new rule out only served to increase uncertainty for the ag retail industry while eroding [landowners] trust in the EPA’s deliberations and stakeholder consultations.”

The remedy, according to Lane, is for EPA to define exactly what the land and water “safe harbors” are and remove any room for opinion. And Lane isn’t alone in that thought.

“This isn’t just a philosophical dispute: farmers and ranchers in the remaining states are left with no clear way to determine where federal jurisdiction begins and ends on their own property,” said Zippy Duvall, Farm Bureau president, in a press release . “With the rule now on hold in more than half the country, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps should do the right thing by listening to our legitimate concerns and rewriting the rule to draw a bright line of jurisdiction.”

$9-Million Loss In 45 Packing Plant Thefts Uncovered, Three Suspects Arrested

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 14:46:15 GMT

Uncovering approximately 45 thefts totaling over $9 million in loss, three Florida men have been arrested for stealing semi-loads of frozen beef and pork from packing plants across the Midwest.

Starting June 27, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the events occurring in Nebrask a.

Soon realizing the case reached further than Nebraska, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, along with Homeland Security Investigation (HIS) Omaha identified approximately 45 thefts totaling $9 million in loss beginning in June 2021. Investigators described the theft ring as a “sophisticated and ‘highly organized criminal enterprise,’” reports a local news source .

Additionally, the investigators determined the criminal enterprise to be based in Miami and targets beef and pork packing plants specifically in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

While investigation began in June, thefts continued to occur across the region. In September, more than $100,000 in pork products were reported stolen from the JBS plant in Ottumwa, Iowa .

Utilizing cell phone records and GPS tracking devices, on Oct. 20, investigators identified and arrested three targets in the enterprise, recovering three semi-trailers with stolen merchandise valued at $550,000, says the news source. Yoslany Leyva Del Sol, Ledier Machin Andino and Delvis L. Fuentes were charged with the transportation of stolen goods and money laundering in Florida’s federal court.

A Minnesota news source reports each of the men possesses a valid Class A commercial driver’s license.

At this time, it is unknown what the men did with the stolen meat, however, the investigation remains ongoing.

Spring Valley Cattle Selected for North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

Spring Valley Cattle of Glen Ullin is the recipient of the 2022 North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award®.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes private landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife resources in their care.

In North Dakota, Sand County Foundation presents the award with national sponsor American Farmland Trust, and state partners: North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition, North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.

Lance Gartner, a cattle rancher from Morton County who owns Spring Valley Cattle, will be presented with $10,000 and a crystal award for being selected during the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention in November.

“The North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition is proud to join in congratulating the Gartner family of Spring Valley Cattle on being awarded the 2022 Leopold Conservation Award,” said Jerry Doan, NDGLC President. “The Gartner family truly exemplifies what it means to promote conservation and regenerative practices on the working lands of North Dakota.”

“On behalf of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, I want to extend congratulations to Spring Valley Cattle, this year’s Leopold Conservation Award winner,” said NDSA President Jeff Schafer, a New Rockford cattleman. “Ranchers and farmers take their jobs as stewards of the land and the livestock seriously. It is not only how we make our living, but how we can ensure a legacy for future generations. Spring Valley Cattle is a testament to that, and we congratulate them on this prestigious honor.”

“The North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts is honored to be a partner in the prestigious Leopold Conservation Award in North Dakota,” said Brian Johnston, NDASCD CEO. “We are proud to honor Spring Valley Cattle by recognizing its commitment to incorporating sound conservation practices to ensure the land will be productive for those who come after.”

“These award finalists are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today. Their dedication to conservation shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO.

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the North Dakota recipient,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

Earlier this year, North Dakota landowners were encouraged to apply (or be nominated) for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders.

The first North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award was presented to Black Leg Ranch from McKenzie in 2016. Last year’s recipient was Sand Ranch from Ellendale.

The Leopold Conservation Award Program in North Dakota is made possible thanks to the generous support of the American Farmland Trust, North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition, North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts, North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, Sand County Foundation, Starion Bank, North Dakota Game & Fish Department, APEX Clean Energy, Audubon Dakota, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Burleigh County Soil Conservation District, Cass County Soil Conservation District, ConocoPhillips, Cow Chip Ranch, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Emmons County Soil Conservation District, Grand Forks County Soil Conservation District, KEM Electric Cooperative, McDonald’s, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative, North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, Pheasants Forever, Roughrider Electric Cooperative, Slope Electric Cooperative, The Nature Conservancy, The Wildlife Society, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 24 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

About Spring Valley Cattle

Whether it’s land or livestock, Lance Gartner believes it’s best to look at nature and emulate it. As owner of Spring Valley Cattle, he extends his calving season late into May and grazes most of the winter. That’s working with nature, rather than against it.

Lance has created a low-input ranch that is economically and environmentally resilient with a diverse, no-till cropping system, and reduced labor, fuel and other input costs required to raise beef cattle.

Innovative grazing and cropping strategies have allowed Spring Valley Cattle to nearly double production from its 5,000 acres, reducing the need for more land and the costs associated with it.

Lance’s grazing strategies typically allow him to leave taller grass on the land, which makes the landscape more drought tolerant. Better managed grasslands are more ecologically productive. Cross fencing has been used to increase the number of grazing cells on the ranch from 14 to 88 since 2005. This was made possible by the installation of solar water developments across the ranch to provide reliable access to drinking water for livestock and wildlife.

Spring Valley Cattle has partnered with local, state and federal agencies and programs to install conservation practices such as reseeding more than 410 acres of crop fields with native grasses.

Spring Valley Cattle’s herd is grazed as long as winter weather cooperates, with hay typically fed for just five weeks when the snow is deepest. Lance distributes hay bales to parts of the ranch that will benefit most from the nutrients in cattle manure. The herd has adapted to these unique winter grazing techniques, and Lance reports better herd health, a healthier range, and a reduction in the concentration of manure on the landscape.

On his 400 acres of alfalfa, rye and oats, Lance uses no-till cropping methods and a diverse rotation of cover crops to promote water infiltration, reduce erosion and control weed species. Cover crops such as sorghum and sudan grass are grazed, which helps break up soil compaction and increase water and mineral cycling.

For more than a decade, Spring Valley Cattle has not used synthetic fertilizers on crops. Instead, rye and oat crops are paired with a companion legume such as peas or hairy vetch. The legumes naturally supply the rye and oats with the nitrogen they need to grow, which keeps input costs low. These are the types of innovative approaches Lance shares with others as a member of the Grazing Lands Coalition Mentor Network.

In its nomination of Spring Valley Cattle, the Morton County Soil Conservation District wrote that whether during a ranch tour, as a guest speaker, or a one-on-one monitoring session, Lance’s message is “honest, raw, and full of things that worked well and those that didn’t.”

Spring Valley Cattle provides a blueprint for how a family-run ranch can embrace a more sustainable model of land improvement. It shows that farms and ranches can retain their size yet produce more to meet the needs of feeding a growing population.

Major Flooding Possible After Exceptional Drought in North Dakota

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 15:34:53 GMT

If you are wondering how a location can move from an exceptional drought to a major flood in a short period of time, you might want to watch the Red River Valley between North Dakota and Minnesota.

North Dakota suffered from a major drought in 2021 with an exceptional drought or a category four drought (D4) based on a scale from D0 to D4 with D4 being the most intense drought. All the counties in eastern North Dakota along the Red River Valley were rated at least D3 (or extreme drought) based on the drought monitor map published on August 24, 2021.

“Cass, Traill and Grand Forks counties were even in worse conditions with D4 or exceptional drought,” says Adnan Akyuz, state climatologist and professor of climatological practices at North Dakota State University (NDSU).

The 2021 drought was a record-breaking drought in many aspects. For instance, none of the counties mentioned above were in D4 prior to 2021. In fact, more than 17% of the state was suffering from an exceptional drought in 2021. It was the most extensive drought coverage in such intensity on record, and it was also the most extensive drought coverage in D3, D2 and D1 intensities on record.

“100% of the state was in drought 11 weeks in a row from June 15 through August 24,” says Akyuz.

The economic impact of the drought to the state was estimated between $2 billion to $5 billion based on the National Centers for Environmental Information.

“The weather patterns changed in August along the southern Valley,” says Akyuz.

October was unusually wet, not only along the Red River, but all across the state, which was a welcome change. However, it was too late to reverse the severe agricultural impact. It was also too early to foresee what might be in for the Red River Valley.

“Fargo’s climate data in fall and winter are good analogs to judge the flood potential in the southern valley” says Akyuz.

“Fargo received 7.31 inches of rain in fall, the 22nd wettest fall on record. Fargo also received 46.2 inches of snow so far in winter, which is the 20th snowiest winter on record, and the winter is not over in ND yet,” says Akyuz.

Based on the National Weather Service North Central River Forecast Center’s latest forecast, there is a 90% chance that the Red River will exceed the major flood stage this spring. The probability for exceeding the major flood stage in Grand Forks is only 25%.

“North Dakota climate has consistently demonstrated that extremes can occur in a very short period,” says Akyuz.

NDSU Extension Provides 2022 Grazing Season Outlook

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:15:44 GMT

North Dakota experienced one of the worst droughts on record last year. This resulted in significant impacts to forage production on range, pastureland and hay land across the state.

As we look forward to 2022, the question is how the 2021 drought will impact the upcoming grazing season.

“Thanks to above average rainfall across much of the state last fall there is potential for producers to see average forage production in 2022 if we receive normal rainfall in April through June,” says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “Rains during this period are responsible for 80 to 90% of forage production in the state. The exception will be the western portion of the state where extreme (D3) and severe (D2) drought persists.”

The ability to achieve normal forage production in 2022 will depend on grazing management decisions made in 2021, specifically fall grazing and the level of grazing use going into the winter.

“Fall plant tiller development has a direct impact on plant growth during the subsequent year for all cool-season grasses, which are dominant in our grassland,” says Kevin Sedivec, NDSU Extension rangeland management specialist. “Cool-season grass tillers, such as western wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome grass, green needlegrass and crested wheatgrass, that developed from late August through early October are the first plants to green-up in the spring. If these tillers are eaten or die due to drought, then spring growth must occur from new tillers developed in April and May.”

Following the 2017 drought, tillers development in the spring occurs two to four weeks later than the previous year’s carry-over tillers. Tillers that develop in the spring come from buds that broke dormancy in the spring, usually when soil temperatures stay about 40 F for three or more days. However, the tillers established in the fall will grow as soon as temperatures are favorable, Sedivec notes. If livestock consumed these fall tillers below the growing point, in between the bottom two leaves, they usually will not survive the winter. Drought also will affect these fall tillers. Fall droughts either do not allow buds to come out of dormancy, thus no new tiller growth, or cause death to those tillers that did grow. If tillers did not establish or survive this fall, producers should expect to see a delay in grass development and growth this spring.

“Expect normal plant growth in the spring of 2022 if your pasture or hay land produced new tillers in late summer and early fall 2021,” says Sedivec. “This scenario assumes spring moisture in May and June 2022 is at or above normal for your area, and livestock did not graze below the growing point during the fall or winter months.”

Meehan and Sedivec advise delaying pasture turn-out on pastures or cells that experienced drought in the fall of 2021 and no green-up occurred or livestock overgrazed the pasture to the point of removal of the plant’s growing point.

“Delay turnout until the dominant forage species in a pasture reach grazing readiness,” says Meehan. “Grazing readiness for most domesticated pasture is at the three-leaf stage, whereas grazing readiness for most native range grasses is the 3.5-leaf stage. The delay in grazing readiness could be one to two weeks, or longer depending on spring temperatures and management in 2021.”

This delayed turnout is usually caused by delayed growth and development, which results in a lack of standing forage.

“When production is low due to delayed tiller development, it becomes easy to run out of forage more quickly if you go to full stock too early, leading to over-use,” says Sedivec. “This over-use during early green-up leads to reduced plant vigor and reduced leaf area, impacting photosynthesis and reducing food (carbohydrate) stored in roots. In the end, you may sacrifice 45 to 60% of forage production for the year by grazing too early.”

Although drought impacted much of the Northern Plains in 2020 and 2021, above normal fall moisture in many areas of North Dakota created the opportunity for new grass tillers to develop. These fall tillers will provide an opportunity for normal pasture turn out this coming spring and potential for a good hay producing year if rainfall is at or above normal in May and June 2022.

“If drought persisted in your area, thus no fall tillers survived or grew, or livestock over-used a pasture that contained fall tillers, expect a delay in pasture turnout in 2022,” says Meehan. “You may also experience a delay in hay harvest and even below normal hay production in 2022 if no fall tillers survived, even if spring moisture in 2022 is near normal.”

Suspicious Deaths of 58 Cows In North Dakota

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 16:50:44 GMT

Officials in North Dakota are investigating the deaths of 58 pregnant cows on July 29 in a pasture near Jamestown.

Rancher Brian Amundson described the de aths as “peculiar” to KFYR TV in Bismarck. Amundson found the dead cows where they were grazing on the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge approximately 100 miles northwest of Fargo. Eighty cows in the pasture survived. Arrowwood is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

An investigation was launched by the Stutsman County Sheriff’s department and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association. North Dakota State University veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist Gerald Stokka was called in to examine the cows.

“We knew it wasn’t lightning because we hadn’t had any thunderstorms in several months, so that was ruled out right away,” Stokka told KFYR. “We went through this list of things that could cause high-death loss in a very short period of time.”

Anthrax was also ruled out.

“The death loss was certainly way above almost any expectation of a natural cause, a natural infection, a natural disease, or a natural exposure to some toxins,” Stokka said.

Amundson, a fourth-generation rancher, said the cattle had a value of $100,000.

“It’s extremely saddening, frustrating, emotional that you would think that someone else would have such disregard for animal life. I don’t understand, just not designed that way as a rancher. Our job is to take care of animals,” said Amundson.

The surviving cows are due to calve within the next two to 10 weeks. Long-term effects from the incident are unknown.

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and the owner are offering up to $40,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

Call the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Department at 701-251-6232 or the NDSA at 701-290-3993 or 701-390-2975 with information.

ND Drought Creates Forage Shortage

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 14:19:11 GMT

The majority of livestock producers in North Dakota are faced with forage shortages due to drought.

Currently 99% of the state is experiencing some level of drought, with 18% and 49% categorized as being in exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought, respectively.

“Unfortunately, the window for forage production is closing,” says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “In North Dakota, our grasslands are dominated by cool-season grasses. As a result, about 80% of forage growth occurs due to precipitation occurring between April 1 and June 30.”

Ranchers who have tame grass pastures or hay land should expect at least a 50% reduction in forage production. In the D4 areas, tame grass production will be 25% at best.

However, some producers may not have adequate production to justify haying. Once these grasses produce a seed head, the plant has limited potential to produce additional biomass. If the plants were grazed in the vegetative stage, the potential exists for regrowth if moisture occurred.

“Recent rains will benefit native rangeland because these species are in the vegetative stage,” says Kevin Sedivec, Extension rangeland management specialist. “Producers in much of the state should expect 50% to 60% of normal production on native pastures. In the D4 areas of the state, forage production on pasture will be 25% to 30% of normal at best.”

This reduction in forage production will shorten the grazing season, bringing it to a close sometime this summer instead of in the fall unless destocking of livestock occurs. To account for the deficit in forage production, producers will need to adjust their management plan to provide supplemental forage and/or reduce the forage requirements of their herd.

Annual forages can be a source of additional livestock feed if adequate moisture is available to support growth.

“At this point in the growing season, the best options for hay are warm-season grasses,” Sedivec says. “We recommend Siberian foxtail millet if available. If Siberian it is not available, use German foxtail millet. The next best option is sudangrass; however, sudangrass has an increased potential for prussic acid toxicity when drought stressed.

“If the intent is to establish an annual forage for grazing, we recommend planting a diverse cover crop mix that includes both cool-season and warm-season species,” he adds. “This will increase the chance of establishment and reduce the overall risk of a total failed crop. A diverse cover crop also will have the potential to produce a higher-quality forage with less risk of toxicity.”

The drought also has been stressful on crops, resulting in thin stands with potentially low yields. If crops are unharvestable, producers may have the opportunity to use them as hay or for grazing. However, producers need to be careful because drought-stressed crops can be toxic.

The most common toxicity is nitrates, which are common in small grains and corn. Failed crops should be tested for nitrates before feeding to livestock. For more information on nitrate toxicity, refer to NDSU Extension publication “Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock” (https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/livestock/nitrate-poisoning-of-livestock).

“Given the severity of this drought, producers will likely need to combine these strategies while reducing stocking rates through culling and/or early weaning,” Meehan says. “Visit with your county Extension agent to develop strategies to reduce livestock forage demand.”

North Dakota To Consider Voluntary Checkoff

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 19:44:41 GMT

North Dakota cattlemen currently pay $2 per head in mandatory Beef Checkoffs, but state representative Sebastian Ertelt has introduced a bill that would make the state’s checkoff voluntary. If adopted, the legislation would have no impact on the national Beef Checkoff in the state.

As with all 50 states, the mandatory national Beef Checkoff is collected in North Dakota, and the state has an additional $1 per head checkoff adopted in 2015 that send the money to the North Dakota Beef Commission. Ertelt has introduced House Bill 1487 which would reword the state statute from “must” pay into the state checkoff to that they “may” pay into the checkoff.

Currently, North Dakota cattlemen may request a refund of their state checkoff contributions, although they must file paperwork with the state within a set timeframe to be eligible. The proposed change in the wording would shift the onus to the N.D. checkoff organization to convince cattlemen to pay, rather than allowing them to request a refund.

In fiscal 2020, the North Dakota Beef Industry council took in net revenues of about $1.5 million, most from the state checkoff. The bill has been referred to the Agriculture committee, where the measure is expected to face strong opposition.

ND Offers $14,000 Reward For Butchered Cattle

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:56:16 GMT

Cattlemen in western North Dakota are urged to watch for suspicious activity in the region after at least three cattle were shot and butchered in pastures. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association is offering a $14,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of culprits.

Blaine Northrop, chief brand inspector for the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, said ranchers in Dunn and McKenzie counties found evidence in their pastures of butchered animals earlier this month. Brand inspectors spent two days in mid-May in the area looking for information.

Northrup said two cases were in Dunn County, about 15 miles apart, and the “evidence was similar,” leading investigators to believe those cases may be connected. One case in northern McKenzie County had a “completely different scene” than the Dunn County cases. One animal in Dunn County was a bull; the other in Dunn County and the one in McKenzie County were cows.

“The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association works hard to protect the state’s livestock industry,” Northrup said. “We are committed to bringing to justice the person or persons who are responsible for these crimes.”

Northrop suggests producers keep an up-to-date head count, be on the watch for any unusual activity and/or strange vehicles in the area and notify the NDSA or their local law enforcement agency about anything out of the ordinary.

Anyone with information about these or other livestock crimes is asked to call the NDSA at (701) 223-2522. All information is kept confidential, and tips may be provided anonymously.

Northrop said if people see anyone suspicious, they should not approach possible suspects.

“If they’re going to kill cattle, they’re armed,” he said. “Sometimes, the bad guys do win.”

Instead, he asks that descriptions of vehicles and people be passed along to local law enforcement and the Stockmen’s Association as soon as possible.

What Makes A Bull Worth $ Millions?

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:50:34 GMT

On a cold February day in North Dakota this year, an Angus bull named SAV America 8018 sold for a world record price of $1.51 million. Sold at Schaff Angus Valley’s annual production sale at the ranch near Saint Anthony, N.D., the bull’s hefty price suggests his genetics are superior. But what could possibly make a bull worth that much money, you ask?

The answer may be in the life story of Hoover Dam, a recently departed bull raised by Iowa breeder Hoover Angus . Born in January 2008, Hoover Dam spent the final 10 years of his life at ORIgen , a breeder-to-breeder bull stud service where his semen was collected on 901 days. Those collections produced 238,813 units of semen approved for sale.

By the time the bull’s owners made the decision to bring his life to a dignified conclusion, 233,396 units of Hoover Dam semen had sold for a total of $4,514,565, with 15,406 A.I. certificates sold to register the progeny with the American Angus Association.

Sold at $40 each, those A.I. certificates generated another $616,450 in gross sales to push his total of semen and certificate sales to $5,131,015. Hoover Dam was the ORIgen semen sales leader in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.

As of his passing, Hoover Dam has 15,821 Angus progeny with AHIR weaning records. He has been used on four continents with semen exported to Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Russia.

Although there are no official public records with which to compare, Dick Beck, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at ORIgen, says “Hoover Dam is the only sire in history owned exclusively by Angus breeders to have ever reached or surpassed that sales total.”

Hoover Dam was so popular with breeders, Landi McFarland-Livingston with Hoover Angus said, because “he was a calving ease bull, so he was used on a lot of heifer herds. But both purbred and commercial breeders liked his calves so well that they used him again for the second, third and fourth calves. Hoover Dam had a lot of repeat customers.”

If SAV America 8018 matches the sales totals for Hoover Dam, his $1.51 million price tag will be a good investment.

However, it might be a stretch to think sales of SAV America 8018 semen can equal the ROI that Hoover Dam produced. That’s because two-thirds interest in Hoover Dam sold in 2009 for $47,500, according to McFarland-Livingston. That would put the value of Hoover Dam at $71,250.

Therefore, Hoover Dam’s total semen and certificate sales equaled about 72 times his purchase price. To match that, semen and certificate sales of SAV America 8018 would need to reach $108 million.

Yet, it is early in the life of SAV America 8018, so we won’t know how that investment develops for a while.

The details of Hoover Dam’s influence on the Angus breed, however, are much clearer with detailed records. For instance, Hoover Dam was among the top 10 bulls of the Angus breed for progeny registrations in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. He was one of only four bulls in the breed on the “Top 10” list of sires each of those four years, and the only bull of those four bred in a herd that registers less than 1000 head per year.

In the 2019 American Angus Association Pathfinder Report, there are 85 daughters of Hoover Dam that are active Pathfinder Dams, nearly five percent of the daughters that have enough age to be eligible. Hoover Dam himself earned Pathfinder honors his first year of eligibility.

Related stories:

Angus Bull Smashes World Record Price Selling for $1.51 Million

North Dakota Cattle Producers Heartened by Trade Deal

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:48:34 GMT

North Dakota cattle producers are cheering the latest industry development — the reopening of the Chinese market to U.S. beef.

China is one of the world’s largest importers of beef. The country has been closed to U.S. producers for 13 years after mad cow disease was found in some Washington cattle.

North Dakota State University livestock economist Tim Petry says the two countries still need to work out some details, including whether cattle who received genetically modified feed will be accepted. The trade agreement covers a number of long-standing barriers in areas ranging from agriculture to energy to the operation of American financial firms in China.

North Dakota Stockmen’s Association president Warren Zenker tells the Bismarck Tribune the agreement opens the door for the sale of some commonly recognized beef cuts, like chucks and rounds, as well as other specialty cuts, to nearly 1.4 billion new customers.

Meatpacking Plant Going on Auction Block in North Dakota

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:39:22 GMT

A North Dakota meatpacking plant that began as a facility to process beef according to Islamic law is going on the auction block.

Maas Companies of Rochester, Minnesota, is auctioning the 18,000-square-foot facility in Harvey on June 4.

The $2.7 million plant began operations in 2001 as Dakota Halal Processing but went bankrupt in part because of a drop in sales after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

A cooperative of ranchers and farmers took over operations in 2003 but also failed. Two Burleigh County ranchers later took over the plant to supply their Bismarck beef store, but that venture also didn’t work out.

Injured North Dakota Rancher Overwhelmed by Support

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:38:06 GMT

It’s a daily duty many ranchers take for granted — and sometimes even complain about.

Matt Fischer would gladly be out in the tractor, versus watching from the sidelines.

“November 10, I thought I would maintain the stack mover and oil the chains and get it ready for winter,” he told KX News .

“I was oiling the chains and one of the couplers caught my coat, pulled me in and flipped me over. Before I knew it I had no chance to get away. It had amputated my arm, and then I still had my leg, but it had chewed it up pretty bad. I was able to crawl out from underneath there are jump in the pickup and get back to mom’s and call for help.”

Now half of Matt’s cattle live here at his in-laws, while the other half are spending the winter at a neighbor’s house.

“Once it all happened, it was a lot of phone calls taking place and a lot of friends and neighbors helping out. Just wanting to help,” said Kim Saueressig, Fischer’s brother-in-law.

Fischer said the community support has been overwhelming.

“I don’t have any words. I know the cows are in good hands and I don’t have to worry about it. It helps me get better and helps me heal when I don’t have to worry about it,” he said.

People from Mercer, Turtle Lake and McClusky, N.D. have helped, Saueressig said.

“It’s not just one community, it’s three now. The outpouring of support is fantastic, it’s been the amount of thanks we can’t even say enough about — combining corn and taking care of the cattle and just the help that Matthew and Becky have been able to get has just been outstanding.”

With an upbeat attitude and plenty of determination, Fischer doesn’t plan on watching from the sidelines for long. He’s waiting for the day the doctor gives the OK to be back in the tractor and out with the cattle.

“With the help of neighbors and family, I think we will be able to do that. That’s our goal. To keep farming and to keep the cattle,” he said.

Source: Associated Press

North Dakota Stockmen's to Seek Increase in $1 Beef Checkoff

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:37:51 GMT

Source: Associated Press

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association plans to ask the 2015 Legislature to double the $1-per-head checkoff that ranchers pay when they sell cattle.

The national beef checkoff, which is used to fund beef research, education and promotion, hasn’t changed for nearly three decades, prompting seven states to increase it at the state level in recent years. Chairmen of the House and Senate agriculture committees say that for North Dakota to become the eighth, the Stockmen’s will need to show that an increase is necessary.

Lawmakers “have always been a little reluctant to increase fees unless justified,” said Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Devils Lake, a grain farmer and former rancher. “Whenever we talk about checkoff increases, there’s always going to be a good hearing as to why it’s needed. If they can justify it — if their members want it — they’ll probably get the support.”

Sen. Joe Miller, R-Park River, also a farmer, didn’t speculate about possible support among lawmakers but said Stockmen’s leaders will need to “properly lay out their reasoning,” and that the proposal will be “thoroughly examined and properly scrutinized.”

Congress authorized the national beef checkoff program at the dollar-per-head level in 1985. The North Dakota Beef Commission is required to forward half of the money collected from ranchers in the state to a national beef board. The other half can be used in-state or for national efforts. The amount spent in-state varies from year to year, according to Stockmen’s Executive Vice President Julie Ellingson.

“Because of lower cattle numbers in the country and the inflation factor, the estimate is that the $1 checkoff has only 47 cents of the buying power it had in 1985,” Ellingson said. “We have less dollars in the pool to make those investments” in bolstering beef production and consumption.

Under the Stockmen’s proposal, half of the $2 checkoff for every animal sold would go to the national board and the other half would stay with the state Beef Commission. Ranchers would have the option of asking for the second dollar to be refunded — effectively making participation in the checkoff increase voluntary.

Beef prices in the grocery store are at or near record highs, but Ellingson said that could make other meats more attractive.

“We want to remain competitive and promote our product,” she said. “It’s great to have high prices, but we also don’t want to turn consumers away to a different protein product.”

Towner rancher and Stockmen’s President Jason Zahn said the state group would prefer a national increase in the checkoff but that a national consensus needed to push a fee hike through Congress appears unlikely. In the absence of that, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington have increased checkoffs at the state level.

Stockmen’s leaders plan to visit with legislative leaders to gauge support for the proposed raise.

“Anytime you increase a fee you’re going to get some pushback,” Zahn said. But with recent good years for ranchers due to higher cattle prices and cheaper feed, “now is probably a good time to get ahead of the ballgame,” he said.

Stockmen’s members passed a resolution seeking a checkoff increase during their annual convention in late September.

“We’ve been talking about this for eight or nine years,” Zahn said. “We felt that now was the time.”

NDSU Receives Rangeland Management Study Grant

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:29:49 GMT

North Dakota State University has been awarded a $499,242 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study rangeland management strategies.

“Working rangelands are a pillar of American agriculture and a critical opportunity for long-term, sustainable conservation,” says Jason Harmon, the program lead in NDSU’s Entomology Department and the lead investigator for this project. “However, managing these agroecosystems is no trivial task, especially when trying to simultaneously maximize multiple services they can provide.

Therefore, there is a critical need to investigate, assess and demonstrate scientifically based management options that sustainably enhance livestock productivity while conserving regional biodiversity.”

This is a collaborate project that brings together faculty from range science, entomology and plant sciences at NDSU’s Main Station, Central Grasslands Research Extension Center (REC) and Hettinger REC.

The plan is to study four management regimes that differ in how they use fire and/or grazing as critical ecosystem processes.

“We will assess how a common management practice compares to treatments that use fire and/or grazing to promote more variable habitats,” Harmon says. “These treatments include patch-burn grazing and two novel regimes we designed to specifically benefit northern Great Plains rangelands.

“Our most important assessment is how each management influences livestock production and reproduction in the short term and over time, but we will also quantify the plant-pollinator community to help better understand pollinator services and biodiversity conservation more broadly,” he adds.

The researchers also will investigate how and why each management practice ultimately affects each ecosystem service.

“We expect this work will substantially improve our understanding of how fire and grazing disturbances in the northern Great Plains can maximize rangeland ecosystem services while using that information to evaluate, demonstrate and, ultimately, help improve rangeland management,” Harmon says.

The project is starting this year and will last through April 2024.

Livestock Producers In ND Should Prepare for Flooding

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:27:39 GMT

Livestock producers should make plans for moving feed and livestock to higher ground before flooding this spring, North Dakota State University Extension specialists say.

While the latest flood forecast showed some improvements, many areas of North Dakota are projected to experience moderate to major flooding this spring. The greatest flood impacts are expected to be on farms and ranches because of overland flooding. Due to the nature of overland flooding, many areas that typically do not flood may be flooded this year.

“Floodwaters can rise quickly, potentially cutting off access to feed and/or water for livestock,” warns Miranda Meehan, Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “Beef cattle out on pasture are especially susceptible to displacement by flooding.

“Although cattle will move to higher ground if possible, they may move to areas where rescue is not possible,” she adds. “Trying to rescue cattle and other large livestock in deep-water situations is dangerous, and it can be deadly both to animals and people. Plans should be made weeks ahead of a potential disaster, with consideration given to pens, loading facilities, transportation, evacuation routes and final destination of livestock.”

Floodwaters often prevent producers from reaching feed supplies either directly or through damage to roads.

“Having feed supplies on hand is important because feed assistance may not be available during a flood,” says Karl Hoppe, Extension livestock systems specialist based at NDSU’s Carrington Research Extension. “Producers should pre-select sites on high ground for hay, emergency water supplies and fencing supplies or panels.”

Producers also need to be aware that moving feed may cause problems, the specialists say. For example, moving big round hay bales to higher ground can result in hay loss because twine- or net-wrapped bales may be frozen to the ground. Also, road weight restrictions can limit producers’ ability to haul in new feed if they use coproducts such as beet pulp, beet tailings or distillers grains to feed their cattle.

“Producers need to ensure accessible storage facilities and an adequate supply of feedstuffs,” Hoppe says.

While not all areas will experience flooding, mud is likely to be an issue on many farms and ranches this spring.

“Mud can reduce the insulation value of hair coats, increase energy requirements, and increase the potential for footrot and other health issues,” cautions Travis Hoffman, Extension sheep specialist.

Mud also may chill or trap newborn calves and lambs, and can carry a variety of pathogens that can affect calves and lambs directly or through contact with dirty udders.

“There are few options once muddy conditions are in place; therefore, preventive practices are key,” says Janna Block, Extension livestock systems specialist based at NDSU’s Hettinger Research Extension Center.

Here is what the specialists recommend producers to do to lessen muddy conditions:

Scrape lots to maintain a 3% to 5% slope away from the feed bunk.
Reshape mounds to ensure quick drainage.
Move livestock to temporary feeding areas such as stockpiled pastures with adequate drainage or fields containing crop residue such as corn stalks.

“However, utilizing crop residue is not recommended due to the high risk for soil compaction, creating challenging planting conditions,” Meehan says.

“We recommend that producers evaluate their potential for flooding and plan accordingly,” Meehan says. “If you do not have access to higher ground, you may need to consider moving livestock off site until the risk of flooding subsides.

If you need help evaluating options, contact your NDSU Extension agent or emergency management office.”

Visit NDSU Extension’s flood website at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/flood for more information and resources.

Ranch Group Walks Back Opposition to Military Expansion Plan

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:23:16 GMT

North Dakota’s biggest rancher organization is walking back its opposition to a plan by Gov. Doug Burgum to expand a military training center.

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association says in a statement with the North Dakota National Guard that it does not oppose land transactions between “willing sellers and buyers.”

The group earlier passed a resolution stating that private agricultural land should not be taken out of production and sold to government.

The Guard says it will ensure that “any newly acquired land remains in agriculture production.”

Burgum’s budget plan calls for using $15 million from the state’s voter-approved oil tax savings account to fund the 6,000-acre expansion of Camp Grafton Training Center-South in Eddy County.

The military says it’s needed in part to handle longer-range and deadlier ammunition.

North Dakota Cattle, Corn Groups Launch Drought Aid Efforts

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:20:54 GMT

North Dakota’s largest livestock group and its biggest corn organizations have launched efforts to help ranchers devastated by a summer of drought.

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and its foundation have established the Hope for the Heartland Drought Relief Fund. Donations will be distributed early next year, with applications being accepted through the end of this year.

“Cattle-ranching families work for generations to build their herds, and we want to do all that we can to help them keep them together and work through a challenging time,” said Bowman-area rancher and Stockmen’s Foundation President Steve Brooks.

The North Dakota Corn Growers Association and Corn Utilization Council are urging farmers to provide free or low-cost corn grazing or corn stalk bales to ranchers. Association board members have already contributed hundreds of acres and tons of bales.

“When your crop fails as a corn farmer, you just have to move on and hope next year’s crop turns out better. For our fellow ranchers who have no feed and have to sell off their herds, this drought is a whole different situation,” said Oakes farmer Scott German, chairman of the Corn Utilization Council.

Many North Dakota ranchers are selling off cattle they can’t afford to feed, while others are searching for affordable hay, with demand pushing prices to as much as double the normal cost.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map shows 82 percent of North Dakota in some stage of drought. Much of the state’s prime ranching country is in extreme or exceptional drought, the two worst categories.

Nearly three-fourths of pastures in the state and nearly three-fourths of the alfalfa hay crop are rated in poor or very poor condition by the U.S. Agriculture Department. North Dakota’s Agriculture Department, North Dakota State University and the Michigan-based nonprofit Ag Community Relief this month announced a program to accept hay donations at a site near the Fargo campus and distribute it to needy producers through a lottery drawing next month.

The USDA this summer declared numerous North Dakota counties to be disaster areas, and Gov. Doug Burgum also has declared a drought disaster. Federal aid includes emergency loans, forage disaster payments and emergency haying and grazing of land enrolled in conservation and wetland programs. State efforts include adding more money to the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply cost-share program and relaxing commercial driving and weight limit restrictions to help with the transport of livestock, water and hay.

Parched Conditions Expand Across Dakotas

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:20:33 GMT

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that most of the Dakotas are experiencing drought conditions that experts say are harming farmers and cattle producers.

About 87 percent of North Dakota is in drought, while just more than half of South Dakota is experiencing drought conditions, according to updated monitoring information released Thursday. The parched conditions have expanded and deteriorated compared to last week, and roughly 700,000 people across both states are living in drought areas.

Feed shortages in the South Dakota caused by poor grass growth are prompting some livestock producers to sell their cattle, according to Laura Edwards, the state climatologist at the South Dakota State University Extension, which does outreach to farmers and ranchers.

There have also been significant winter wheat losses in central South Dakota, she said, adding that she doesn’t anticipate conditions will improve in the near term.

“The drought’s pretty bad, I’d say, especially in the agricultural sector, which is often where we see the first impacts,” Edwards said.

Selling calves now that would get a good price this fall means producers will likely take a hit on the animals’ value, said Silvia Christen, executive director of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association. She said selling cows now means they won’t be there to produce calves in the spring, affecting income for next year.

“Our producers, our families out there on these ranches are at the mercy of the weather,” Christen said. “We’ve seen that over the last few years. But I think we can’t discount the toll that this kind of a drought takes on our agriculture community and what it’s going to do to a lot of our neighbors and friends here across the state this year, if this drought doesn’t break.”

Terry Beastrom, who farms mostly in Stanley county in South Dakota, said he’s leaning toward destroying nearly all of his wheat and hopes to turn most of it into cattle feed. He said he’s just hoping to break even this year.

In North Dakota, drought conditions have the potential to cause future feed shortages, said Scott Ressler, environmental services director for the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, which represents the cattle industry.

Producers are selling older cattle because, without precipitation, some pastures aren’t going to be able to support as many animals as they normally do, he said.

“Pray for rain,” Ressler said.

More Livestock Killed in South Central North Dakota

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:18:58 GMT

More farm animals have been killed in south central North Dakota’s Morton and Sioux counties.

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association says four bison were butchered in a pasture, and two cows in another pasture were killed and burned.

Over the past five weeks, more than a dozen animals in the region have been killed or injured, and nearly three dozen others have been reported missing.

The incidents are near the site where people have gathered to protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline, but the Stockmen’s says there is no evidence that there is any connection.

The rancher group is offering a reward of up to $14,000 for information that helps crack the cases.

North Dakota Rancher Accused of Illegally Selling Cattle

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:17:25 GMT

A North Dakota rancher is accused of illegally selling cattle that were supposed to be collateral for a loan.

Brandon Leingang is charged with felony conversion of mortgaged or pledged property. He has pleaded not guilty.

Authorities say Leingang sold the cattle from his Sioux County ranch for more than $185,000. The cattle were pledged to the Farm Service Agency to secure a federal farm loan.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary DeLorme tells KFGO radio that Leingang faces up to five years in prison. A federal public defender could not be reached for comment.

Trial is scheduled for Aug. 1.