Sortin` Pen - Johnson & Associates, Inc.
The Only Weekly A Busy Rancher Needs To Read. Billings, Montana Thursday, April 9, 2015 by the publisher Pat Goggins As I See It Competition everywhere! With the airways being filled with basketball competitions across America, my gosh, you’d wonder if there was anything else on people’s mind, wouldn’t you? Competition is a big word for me. I like it. I’ve lived by it all my life, and I’ve seen businesses that don’t have much competition also don’t have much business or success either! I was watching in the big hall in Minneapolis the warm-up of those ball teams with men and women all milling around, and at one end of that great hall, there was a demonstration going on about Easter and morality and religion and how important those things were to the every day life of a family. At the same time, down at the far end of the hall, there was a demonstration going on by what looked like a group of terrorists. I don’t know what they were trying to prove, but it made me wonder how far are we going to go with these terrorists, giving them equal time, it appears, because they want it. As I listen to people here and other places and as I read all the publications, I feel a real need, an urgent need on the part of people in America, for more morality and more family. They aren’t as interested in the kind of entertainment and programming they are being offered. They want more morality, and they are demanding more common sense in the political movement. I think probably they are going to get it in 2016. I’ll bet you there’s going to be both people to vote for …Cont. on pg 4 Food for Thought: Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. Abe Lincoln Sortin’ Pen By Leesa Zalesky Elizabeth Warren to Wall Street: “Bring It On!” Reuters News reported last week that Goldman Sachs and Bank of America participated in a meeting that included discussion of the increasing “anti-bank rhetoric” and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren’s negative portrayal of Wall Street. According to Reuters, the banking industry may punish Warren’s fellow Senate Democrats by withholding political donations because of her very public advocacy for Wall Street accountability and greater oversight and regulation of financial services institutions. A few days after the news report appeared, Warren told a packed room at a Barnes & Noble store in New York City’s Union Square, just a few miles north of Wall Street, “You bet I believe it’s a serious threat. It is so brazen. If they think they can say in public, ‘I don’t like your tone; I don’t like the way you talk about financial regulation’... I got news for them: ‘Bring it on!’” the Democrat said. Warren says the financial market system is broken and stressed that she only wants two things from Wall Street: banks shouldn’t be able to cheat people, and no financial institution should be able to risk destroying the economy because it’s too big to fail. “If they want to fight on either one of those, I’m ready,” she said. Warren was elected to the U.S. Senate for the first time in November 2012 and is serving her first term. In a new afterword for the paperback version of her book “A Fighting Chance,” Warren recalls the tenor of a conversation Volume 7 No. 28 MT DOL Board publicly evaluates Mackay By Lisa Schmidt For the first time since at least 2007, the Montana Board of Livestock (BOL) followed state law and completed a performance review for their executive officer. Four of the board members consistently gave Department of Livestock (DOL) executive officer Christian Mackay poor marks while two generally offered higher scores within each evalua- tion category. The newest board member to be appointed, Nina Baucus, was excused from the evaluation process because this March meeting was her first as a board member. Jan French did not attend the meeting, but she asked board chair John Lehfeldt to read her scores and comments at the meeting. The terms of both Brett DeBruycker and Jan French ended on March 1, but Montana law allows them to comment on issues Free-trade lemmings are perilously close to the cliff By Roger Johnson Our elected officials in Washington D.C. - both Republicans and Democrats - are wandering the halls of Congress like lemmings in a sort of “free trade trance,” and if they don’t come to their senses soon, we’ll all pay the price. These free trade lemmings are convinced that their unbridled, free market view of trade - the notion that we should sign every agreement possible because more trade in and of itself is necessarily better - is good for the nation in the long term . To achieve this, they hand the President the authority to negotiate these deals in secret - widely known as Fast Track -- with our potential …Cont. on pg 9 and vote until Gov. Steve Bullock appoints replacements. Mackay’s original employment agreement declared that he is exempt from any grievance procedure because he is the head of a state agency. However, that portion of Mackay’s contract is voidable because it violates state law, according to Marjorie Thomas, a human resources attorney for the Department of Administration. Supervisors must show cause if they decide to terminate an employee, who has the right to challenge that termination. Board members had been wary of that exemption from grievance procedures in Mackay’s contract so they have been working under the assumption that Mackay could challenge a termination if the board ever decided to take that action. By the end of Mackay’s evaluation, several of the board members …Cont. on pg 10 California imposes first mandatory water restrictions to deal with drought California Gov. Jerry Brown on April 1 ordered mandatory water use reductions for the first time in California’s history, saying the state’s four-year drought had reached near-crisis proportions after a winter of record-low snowfalls. Brown, in an executive order, directed the State Water Resources Control Board to impose a 25% reduction on the state’s 400 local water supply agencies, which serve 90% of California residents, over the coming year. The agencies will be responsible for coming up with restrictions to cut back on water use and for monitoring compliance. State …Cont. on pg 6 Heads up! Glanders found in Texas... By Leesa Zalesky The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has confirmed that a stray Mexican donkey rounded up near Presidio, Texas, has tested positive for glanders, a highly infectious and deadly disease that largely affects equines, but humans and other animals are also susceptible. Due to the disease’s high mortality rate in infected humans and the small number of organisms required to establish infection, glanders is classified as a CDC Category B bioterrorism agent. Glanders is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei and manifests itself by the development of ulcerating growths most commonly found in the upper respiratory tract, lungs, and skin. Infections are typically fatal. The organism can survive in a contaminated area for more than one year, particularly under humid, wet conditions. There is no vaccine for glanders. Prevention and control depend on early detection, complete …Cont. on pg 10 INDEX quarantine, and the elimination of infected animals. TAHC officials say that a group of five Mexican donkeys were rounded up on the U.S. side of the Mexican-American border near Presidio by a mounted Department of Agriculture quarantine enforcement in…Cont. on pg 5 Ah, how cute is this! Here are Grady (2) & Maycee (4) Moser at the Ralph Miller Ranch at White Sulphur Springs, Montana. Thanks to Dennis Ginkens for sharing the photo. Agri-kids............................. 8 Comments.......................... 9 Letters............................. 2-5 Ramblings........................ 11 Bill’s Warbag.................... 13 Cooking in the West........ 17 Markets............................. 15 Sale Reports............... 17-28 Classified......................... 26 Farm & Food.................... 12 2 Thursday, April 9, 2015 Letters We are delighted to print letters from our readers on ag and livestock issues. However, the letters are subject to editing for length, grammar, libel, and pertinence to the industry and/or subject at hand. Editor to the Moline kids update... Linda, it’s been a while! I’ve been meaning to get hold of you and catch up! Life is extremely busy for me (as a student at MSU-Northern in Havre, Montana), but I’m happy to say that I’m enjoying it! I am doing great in my classes... taking 17 credits: Soils, Feeds & Nutrition, Farm Management, etc., and learning lots! The kids are all doing well and growing like weeds. Jake is great. He’s working lots at the dairy and getting certified to AI. He is really enjoying it and is highly valued at work. Victoria is on her way to graduating valedictorian. She recently got back from D.C. for a school trip and won Prom Queen! Josie has been doing great, as well, and has been getting really involved with the horses. She’s working with two of our yearlings this spring. She shows a lot of talent! Ian and Colter are wild as always and are doing great with school and sports but can’t wait for summer. I signed up for fall classes today and am excited to be here at Northern. I’m very happy. I want to thank you for everything you do with the trust fund. I can’t tell you how much it has helped me out! I recently received a $1,000 scholarship from the school, and I am just tickled pink and humbled. I also applied and interviewed for a Student Ambassador position here at Northern, and I got it! It also provides a scholarship of $1,500, I believe! Life is good! I have been working almost full-time at the MSU Research Center. I’m working in the lab and night calving during the weekends and when they need me to fill in. So I’M very busy there, too. Over spring break, I got to go to Boise, Idaho, for PAS Club (Post-Secondary Ag Students), which is like FFA. It was a national competition, and we all did very good there representing the Great State of Montana! Everyone loves Montana! I’m currently thinking about summer and looking for a job that would relate to agriculture. The AOT degree I’m enrolled in requires co-op credits, and I was hoping to get a start on some of them this summer. I was wondering if you had any advice or leads on any opportunities for a young and eager gal like myself! Something that came to my mind that I am interested in is a possible job with Northern Livestock Auction. I know Ryann and Lynn Perry from Great Falls with Western Livestock, and I am planning to contact them as well. I am hoping to find an opportunity here in Havre since I have made some amazing contacts, friends, and sense of community. I also have my own place, and it is close to home... which is not to say I wouldn’t be interested in an opportunity somewhere else, but it’s just preferable to be close to home. But i would gladly welcome any opportunity that would pertain to production agriculture in any way! Another subject I’d like to mention is a club that I have high hopes for and that I see a lot of potential in. It’s the Collegiate Stockgrowers at MSU-Northern in Havre. I was elected its President and am so honored. I’m doing my best to establish it. It opens up a lot of opportunity for not only myself but also kids here at Northern for years to come! We are putting on a Meet & Greet on April 17 at 6 p.m. here at the college. The idea came from the fact that we are a new club and the community does not know about us and we would like to become more involved as well as create opportunities for ourselves. It has stemmed from a CLIP AND MAIL Name___________________________________ Address ________________________________ City ____________________________________ State ______________Zip __________________ Phone __________________________________ South Dakota residents must ad 4% sales tax to the cost (SD state law) o 1 Year $55 (SD $57.20) o 2 Years $75 (SD $78) o Senior Rate 1 Year Only $35 (80 & over) (SD$36.40) International - Call For Rates (Please include check, money order or Credit Card Information) (Non-Refundable) (CHECK ONE BOX) o Visa o Mastercard o Discover o Am. Express Credit Card Number:_________________________________ Security Code: ________ Expiration Date: ______/ ________ Month Year (Billing Address) City: ________________________________ State: ______________________ Zip: __________________ Signature: _________________________________________ Western Ag Reporter Circulation Department P.O. Box 30758 • Billings, Montana 59107 WESTERN AG REPORTER I’ve always felt the writer’s great weapon is the truth and integrity of his voice. And as long as what you’re saying is what you truly, honestly believe to be the case, then, whatever the consequences, that’s fine. That’s an honorable position. Salman Rushdie small idea and has grown into something bigger than what I anticipated... in a good way! I know it is coming up soon, and I apologize for the short notice, but I would like to extend my welcome and an open invitation to you! It is open and free to everyone. We are providing dinner, music, and speakers, who will discuss interesting topics concerned with the ag community, the Montana Stockgrowers, Collegiate Stockgrowers etc. If folks are interested in attending this date or helping to sponsor it, they can contact me (Nicole Moline) at 406-399-4106 or Wyatt Ullery at 406-850-1512. Linda, if you have any advice, suggestions, or tips, please let me know! I’m new at this and am open to any advice. I hope that you are doing well, and like i said before: Thank You so much for everything that you do for me and my family! I hope to see you in the near future! Colie Moline Havre, MT Editor’s note to Colie: I am THRILLED with your letter and your progress! Thanks so much for the report on your five siblings... it sounds like they are doing great, as well! Your college experience is doing for you EXACTLY what all of us hoped it would when we organized the Ranch Kids Cookbook project to raise college funds for you and your siblings! Hurray! And I am confident that an appropriate job opportunity will present itself for the summer. Keep me in the loop! A recent photo of you six Moline kids would be great, although I appreciate that you are seldom all together these days, now that you are in Havre and Jake is in Powell, Wyoming. I’m just tickled silly about your letter. LG Editor’s note to WAR readers: Colie is the oldest of the six Moline siblings that we all pitched in together to help a number of years ago. We put together and sold the Ranch Kids Cookbook and raised $10,000 each for college tuition for Colie and her five younger brothers and sisters. This letter is all the thanks we need! LG Just who is driving this bus? Linda, I just wanted to let you know that there are a whole lot of us “newcomers” to this state that have been around anywhere from 80 to 150-plus years and that have been not just in the livestock or farm business but business in general and that oppose this current CSKT compact! Based on the facts, there are NO off-reservation water claims, according to the Treaty of Hell Gate (1855); if granted this off-reservation water claim, it will transfer a state-based water right, which is meant for the use of the citizens by the citizens of the state of Montana, to the federal government, and this water right will then become controlled by Washington D.C. bureaucrats and special interest groups. Another fact is that we are going to pay a federally-governed group (sovereign nation, aka the CSKT Indian tribe ) 55 million dollars of the state of Montana’s tax-based mon- Sales Calendar 2015 APRIL 9 10 10 10 11 11 11 13 13 13 14 14 14 15 16 17 17 18 18 18 19 20 22 22 25 27 29 Northern Premier Angus Sale, Chinook, MT Brevig Charolais Production Sale, Lewistown, MT Regency Acres Angus Production Sale, Sidney, MT 5L Red Angus Production Sale, Sheridan, MT Rambur Charolais Bull Sale, Sidney, MT Ludvigson Stock Farms Red Angus Sale, Shepherd, MT Jocko Valley Angus Production Sale, Missoula, MT Bullis Creek Ranch Annual Bull Sale, Wood Lake, NE Baker’s LeMar Angus Production Sale, St. Onge, SD Treasure Bull Test Sale, Great Falls,MT Beckton Red Angus Production Sale, Sheridan, WY Diamond J Angus Production Sale, Mandan, ND Hilltop Angus Production Sale, Lewistown, MT Milk River Angus Sale, Chinook, MT Big Dry Angus Ranch Production Sale, Glasgow, MT Pine Creek Angus Production Sale, Faith, SD DeGrand Angus Sale, Baker, MT Lindskov-Thiel Charolais & Angus Bull Sale, Isabel, SD Stuber Ranch Hereford Production Sale, Bowman, ND Cobb Charolais Production Sale, Great Falls, MT Justin Holt “Hybrids for Profit” Bull Sale, Aberdeen, SD Medicine Rocks Ranch Angus Sale, Bowman, ND Opp Angus Production Sale, Dickinson, ND North Country Angus Sale, Glasgow, MT Herring Cattle Co. ‘High Country’ Bull Sale, Encampment, WY ND Angus Assn. Bull Test Sale, Dickinson, ND McDonnell Angus Beef Country Genetics Sale, Bowman, ND MAY 4 6 23 29 Spickler Ranch Angus Production Sale, Glenfield, ND Hoyt Angus Ranch Annual Production Sale, McHenry, ND Shaw Cattle Co. Female Sale, Caldwell, ID Duppong’s Willow Creek Farm Production Sale, Glen Ullin, ND JUNE 6 13 Diamond McNabb Horse Sale, Douglas, WY Full House Elite Horse Sale, Newcastle, WY AUGUST 8 22 Spruce Mountain Ranch Angus Female Sale, Larkspur, CO Lazy U Quarter Horse Sale, Hershey, NE ies... shouldn’t this money be spent on the infrastructure of Montana, like on our school systems, which seem to be struggling; or how about on our healthcare system, which also seem to be struggling; or maybe we can use some of this money to defend state-based water rights and the users of those from, if it happens, the 10,000 claims that the tribe ceded when they signed the treaty in 1855! Another fact is that even a good number of tribal members are not in favor of this current compact, so I think that we need to stop and ask ourselves, “Just who is driving this bus?” Both of my grandfathers are listed in the Progressive Men of Montana. Paternal grandfather John R. Quigley came to Montana in 1864, and maternal grandfather Soren R. Beck came to Montana in 1884. Both families still live and ranch on the same land in the Clark Fork Basin of western Montana... Boy, just like Hertha (Lund) states, it seems just like yesterday when we got here! You’ve got to ask yourself, “Just what is it that my family and many other families have done to improve the great state of Montana that we would want to give up our water rights to federal government control?” Once again, ask yourself, “Just who is driving this bus?” Brian Quigley email Beyond the pale... Many Montanans are familiar with the Milk River, the existence of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and the early settlers forging homes, farms, ranches, and businesses in and around that reservation. This is the location and birth of a profoundly heralded and continuously implemented U.S. Supreme Court water ruling: Winters. V. United States, (207 U.S. 564), 1908. The Winters’ Doctrine clearly and rightfully established federal reserve water rights for Indian reservations with a time appropriation related to the date of the Treaty, Congressional Act, or Executive Order that created the reservation. Beginning with the Milk River and thereafter across the country, this famous and very fair water ruling has been the balancing principle between water needs of Indian tribal lands and non-tribal lands within a state. At the front end of the proposed CSKT Compact, implementation of the Winters’ Doctrine was all that was needed. The CSKT would have assessed, evaluated, and identified its federal reserve water rights - quantifiable water needs for CSKT tribal lands and members. This same process followed by hundreds of tribes in numerous states has forged a fair and equitable distribution of water in Montana and many other states for all citizens, tribal and non tribal. But the CSKT process got flipped... seriously and dangerously “flipped.” Why would the State of Montana, birthplace of the Winters’ Doctrine in 1908, completely up-end, ignore, and reverse the balancing principles of the Winters’ Doctrine? Why would the state allow a small tribal government to: 1) quantify everyone else’s water needs but their own; 2) make bogus aboriginal and time immemorial claims on off-reservation streams throughout 11 counties; and 3) turn over water management and delivery determinations to a tribal government? No one in 1908, beginning with the Supreme Court, would have ever contemplated such complete abdication of WESTERN LIVESTOCK REPORTER INC. D.B.A. WESTERN AG REPORTER USPS 678-680 MAILING ADDRESS P.O.Box 30758 - Billings, Montana 59107 OFFICE LOCATION PAYS Exchange Bldg. - 18th & Minnesota Ave. Phone (406) 259-4589 - FAX (406) 259-6888 Website: www.westernagreporter.com PATRICK K. GOGGINS Publisher WLR PUBLICATIONS General Manager E-mail:[email protected] JOHN P. GOGGINS Editor E-mail: [email protected] LINDA GROSSKOPF Advertising Manager E-mail:[email protected] BONNIE ZIESKE Accounting E-mail:[email protected] DOROTHY KETCHEM Classified Manager E-mail:warclass@ westernagreporter.com JENI NOWAK LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES JOHN GOGGINS, Field Editor Montana, Northern Wyoming and Alberta, Canada Cell Phone (406) 698-4159 Office Phone (406) 259-4589 E-mail: [email protected] JASON FREY, Field Editor North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota Cell Phone (701) 300-0845 E-Mail: [email protected] PO Box 155 - Ipswich, SD 57451 MARK FRISBIE, Field Editor Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, California Phone (208) 890-4517 Cell Phone (208) 495-2601 E-Mail: [email protected] 11851 Fantastic Drive - Melba, ID 83641 Monday - Thursday 8 am - 12 pm ALAN SEARS, Field Editor Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming (970) 454-3986 Home/Office (970) 396-7521 CO Cell (308) 660-3866 NE Cell E-mail: [email protected] 61 Westward Way - Eaton, CO 80615 Production Manager E-mail: [email protected] KARA FAIRBANK COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Circulation Manager E-mail: [email protected] PEGGY POLLARI Production E-mail: [email protected] ANN HINDLEY MIKE GOGGINS Pagination KARA FAIRBANK DWAYNE DIETZ (406) 259-4589 - Cell: (406) 672-8500 E-mail: [email protected] DENNIS GINKENS (406) 259-4589 - Cell: (406) 670-9839 E-mail: [email protected] Western Ag Reporter was born on October 1, 2008 by combining Western Livestock Reporter (established in 1940) and Agri-News (established in 1968). Western Ag Reporter (USPS 678-680) is published weekly by Western Livestock Reporter, Inc., Publications, 18th & Minnesota, Billings, MT 59101; P.O. Box 30758, Billings, MT 59107. Periodicals postage paid at Billings, Montana. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Western Ag Reporter, P.O. Box 30758, Billings, MT 59107 Subscription Rates, non-refundable, US funds: one year $55 • two years $75. MEMBER NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION Founded 1885 3 Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER state authority surrendered to one small tribal government. It is beyond the pale. No one in 2015 should be tolerating such circumvention of the law either. Secondly, Montana is home to yet another landmark Indian law Supreme Court case, one that protects non-tribal citizens from being governed by a tribal government without that individual’s consent. The case is Montana v. U.S. 450 U.S. 544 (1981). This case was long and hard fought by Montana legislators, officials, and legal counsel to ensure that the rights of Montana residents were not intruded upon by tribal governments. But wait! The State Legislature would remove individual consent and provide state consent to a tribe to govern non-Indians. That battle won for the whole country will now be lost to 350,000 Montanans. These two Montana Supreme Court cases have figured prominently across the country for decades and should be on the lips of every Montana legal counsel who has contributed to the 1,400-page reversal of the Rule of Law, memorialized in the proposed CSKT Compact. Along with excessive Constitutional and Environmental Policy Act violations, it would surely appear that dozens of long and well-paid state attorneys have become skilled in circumventing the law, rather than adhering to the Rule of Law. That state and citizens are vulnerable to politicized legal counsels. If the proposed CSKT Compact is passed, there are two tragic and permanent outcomes for Montanans: 1) A state that once protected its citizens and natural resources finds it no longer necessary to do so; and 2) All of the water in one fifth of the land and one third of the people of Montana are being removed from the protections of the state. That is a dark life- and economy-threatening “Winters’ Doctrine” no one should have to endure. Elaine Willman Hobart, WI And not a drop to drink! São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city of 11 million, is running out of water, and a secret recording of a top water official says people may be forced to flee. Here in the U.S., the Ogallala Aquifer, stretching 800 miles from South Dakota to Texas, is under threat. Terex Energy Corporation wants to use a 30-year-old dry oil well to dispose of 15,000 barrels per day of fracking waste water in Sioux County, NE. The extreme salinity -- plus benzene, toluene, surfactants, and naturally high radiation levels -- could prove disastrous at 1,200 pounds pressure per square inch if contamination occurred. The Ogallala provides pure water to nearly two million people, farms, and ranches in eight states. Note: the “Halliburton Loophole” exempts the fracking industry from the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. The silence from those organizations claiming to represent agriculture is deafening! Stephen Anderson Alma, KS Standing up for what is right... Corvallis, MT Montana at the Crossroads... Linda, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and the Western Ag Reporter for the balanced coverage you have provided regarding the proposed CSKT Compact. I hope that your readers have taken the opportunity to study each of the articles you have published and have used the information to make up their own minds. Even with all the articles that have been provided, however, some very important questions remain: - Why was the threat of filing 10,000 claims - which turns out to be non-existent - so effective? There don’t seem to be any decisions historically that Montanans have made, as a state or individually, that are based on fear. - Another question is why didn’t the Compact Commission, and the Water Policy Interim Committee, really respond to the public and legislator concerns with meaningful, substantive changes to the compact that would have made it acceptable to the public, instead of “tinkering around the edges”? - Why did the Tribes pursue a policy of “scorched earth” in terms of claiming ownership of all the water on and off the reservation and insist upon taking jurisdiction over that resource from the state of Montana for its own citizens, “or else”? - Why did the Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks division agree to share ownership of state water with the federal government? - Why weren’t any economic studies undertaken to verify the “promises” that the CSKT Compact would be good for the residents of western Montana or even for Tribal members? - Why would the Governor of Montana and his Attorney General continue to say that a compact that takes water from thousands of irrigators and gives up state sovereignty for its citizens is “a fair deal”? It is truly a shame that Montana is now faced with a “take it or leave it” proposition. The Tribes refused to compromise, the compact commission took the side of the Tribes against all state citizens, and the federal government sat back enjoying the fight among Montanans. I am inclined to “leave it” and have the United States on behalf of the Tribes prove in court that it is entitled to all the water in western Montana and jurisdiction over it too. Maybe after a few years of litigation, they will come back to the table as more reasonable negotiators. Thank you again for your coverage of the CSKT Compact. Catherine Vandemoer, Ph.D. Water Rights and Management Specialist Chair, Montana Land & Water Alliance Wake up to some facts, people of Montana... Do we want parks, recreation, or revenue business in Montana? What is public scoping? No public vote is required? These are nice words to lull you to sleep, but while you are asleep, something big is going by you. The National Park Service and the State of Montana are making plans to manage the Yellowstone bison herd. “Managing” means letting the herd increase to 2,300 to Standing up for what is right isn’t always easy, and with an issue as contentious and important as water use, there is bound to be conflict and disagreement, which is why I think Senator Fred Thomas deserves to be thanked for his service to Montana and for his vote in support of the CSKT Water Compact. By voting for the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes cont. on pg. 4 (CSKT) Water Compact, Senator Thomas did what it is critical for our elected officials to do - evaluate the proposal on its merits and how it will impact the people ✤ Spring Wheat ✤ of Montana. He didn’t buy Certified Bullseye into the fact-less arguments WB-Rockland • WB-9879CLP of the opponents; he stood up Certified Duclair for Montana’s hard-working ✤ Barley ✤ farmers, ranchers, irrigators, CertifiedTrophy and water users across the Champion state to ensure that our water ✤ Hay Barley ✤ resources are available now Hays • Stockford and for future generations. ✤ Oats ✤ If the Compact fails, the Certified Otana CSKT are required by Mon✤ Peas ✤ tana law to file legal claims Austrian Winter Forage • Aragorn Green • 4152 Yellow • 4010 to define their federally✤ Triticale ✤ reserved water rights by Tyndal Semi-beardless June 30 of this year. If the ✤ Forage Mixes ✤ Compact is allowed to fail, ✤ Pioneer Alfalfa & Corn Seed ✤ thousands of Montana water ✤ Custom Pasture & Hay Mixes ✤ users would be subject to ✤ 1st Select Alfalfa ✤ litigation. ✤ Matrix Creeping Alfalfa ✤ Senator Thomas did his ✤ CRP Mixes ✤ part in protecting Montanans ✤ Other Items Available Upon Request ✤ from the wave of costly litigation that will follow if the Compact is not passed. Now that the Compact has been passed out of the Senate and into the House, my only hope is that his counterparts in the House give this proposal the Three Forks, MT same time and consideration that Senator Thomas did. John Crowley Manager, Bitter Root WestBred®, Improving Nature’s Grains and the Wheat Design are trademarks of Monsanto Technology, LLC Irrigation District Sale Report Index A&B Cattle Co. Angus...........................................................27 Arntzen Angus.......................................................................17 Black Ranches’ Nine Irons...................................................20 BLS Horses............................................................................28 Bowles J5 Reds.....................................................................27 Coleman Limousin................................................................25 DeBruycker Charolais...........................................................25 Idaho Salers Assoc...............................................................19 Iron Mountain Cattle Co........................................................19 Kukuchka’s Bar 69 Angus....................................................21 LaGrand Angus......................................................................18 Littau Angus...........................................................................24 Midland Bull Test............................................................. 21-23 Montana Ranch Brand..........................................................18 Musgrave Angus....................................................................19 Pederson Broken Heart Ranch............................................20 Pieper Red Angus..................................................................20 R Math Farms.........................................................................18 Silver Bit Angus.....................................................................19 Spear J Red Angus................................................................19 Vertical Edge Genetics..........................................................25 WCA Bull Test........................................................................24 Wood V Bar X Ranch.............................................................25 BEEF Born & Raised in the USA TM Call Now And Book Your Seed Today!! www.circlesseeds.com WRS 406-285-3269 WESTERN RANCH SUPPLY CO. “Serving The Big Country” - Presents - “Earl” Gr ea vings SADDLE & TACK SALE! Grea eatt Sa Savings vings...SADDLE BILLINGS 20% OFF Tac k ack excludes ropes & saddles 7305 Entryway Drive Fri. April 17th & Sat. April 18th Top Quality Saddles ON SALE: -Professional Fittings-Ranch-BarrelTrail-Show-Roping-Reining-Kids-Used $1.00 OFF Horse Wor mer s& ormer mers Vaccines PBR BULL RIDERS will be on hand Friday & Saturday Call store for details New Location! 7305 Entryway Drive • Billings, MT 59101 303 North 13th Street • Billings, MT 59101 • 1-800-548-7270 4000 River Drive North • Great Falls, MT 59401 • 1-800-548-5855 E-mail: [email protected] • ON LINE CATALOG: http://www.westernranchsupply.com 4 Thursday, April 9, 2015 Letters to the Editor cont. from pg. 3 5,000. Since there isn’t enough feed for the migratory bison in Yellowstone Park, the animals will have to be placed on implemented facilities in other regions of Montana. This looks like raising bison is turning into a business. When an individual operates a livestock (wildlife) business, they are required to fence their livestock in a pasture. The owner of the livestock is responsible for the conservation of the pasture and needs of their livestock. In the bison livestock business, if they migrate out of their pasture and graze on the neighbor’s, it is to be tolerated. The bison are wandering out of unfenced pastures because they are hungry and have run out of food where they are presently located. This is poor management and poor conservation practices. It looks like the State of Montana is going into the bisonraising business. They are buying private property and stocking it with bison. They call it “wildlife management”; there are more and more bison herds appearing in Montana. If the State of Montana wants to go into business, it should be required to follow the same rules as an individual livestock owner and not try to run its business under federal government, national parks, or any other name. Is this bison management going to be like the deer, antelope, elk, and other wildlife management programs, where the landowner feeds the wildlife and the State sells tags and collects the revenue? The public receives a ‘thanks a lot’ for free grazing. All this and the public only gets to comment. The public doesn’t get to vote on this proposal. The Environmental Impact Statement is moving forward for public review, no matter what your comment (scoping) is; it then moves on to final release and then on to their decision by the fall of 2017. They call this scoping. This does not seem democratic to me. The time to make a difference is now, before June 15, 2017. The question is how many herds of bison do you want in Montana? Karen L. Knorr Browning , MT Yes, two great columns! Linda, we enjoy your paper. We especially liked the column “Cooking” by Susan Metcalf and “It’s the Pitts” by Lee Pitts in the March 26 issue. Ralph and Lois Lewis Birchdale, MN Heaven help you if you buy that deal! Linda, like most subscribers to WAR, I have followed the ongoing sales pitch for the CSKT compact while farmers and ranchers have fought to protect their water rights and, in turn, their survival. In the ‘70s, my family and I chose to move our cattle operation, Powerline Angus Farms, to Montana where we had a stronger market than in Oregon and Washington. We located an excellent outfit on the southern end of the Flathead and were preparing to complete a purchase. Then we spent an evening with a longtime friend, born on the reservation, a retired educator and then rancher. His advice was to locate off the reservation. It was his observation that we would be wholly dependent on tribal personnel and tribal courts for our water and that, if they 27th Annual Bull Sale chose to freeze us out, there would be no other recourse 1 P.M. Glasgow Stockyards, Glasgow, MT for us. When last I heard the res80 Range-Ready Yearling Angus Bulls ervation described, it was All Bulls Genomically Tested and is a “NATION” separate Our bulls are developed in a 300-acre pasture where traveling ability is a necessity. These bulls are raised to from country, state, and work and excel in a real world environment. The sires represented in this year’s offering have a balance of in most respects, even the calving-ease, performance and maternal ability coupled with carcass traits. federal government. Tell me Sires Include: now who in their right mind Connealy Capitalist 028 ★ Plattemere Weight Up K360 ★ BDAR FAt CAt Z077 would sign over their water rights to another “NATION” 32 McRae Lane, Jordan, MT 59337 Brent & Hillari McRae Jack & Kathy McRae Big Dry without right to review, 406-557-2777 Home 406-557-6266 Home adjust, or re-negotiate at a Angus Seedstock Quality 406-977-2778 Cell 406-977-6121 Cell later date? Commercial Common Sense [email protected] [email protected] Ranch Heaven help you if you Free Delivery in Montana Thursday, April 16, 2015 “Performance Angus in Rugged Eastern Montana” DeGrand Angus S A V Final Answer 0035 Raising Registered Angus Since 1974 Selling 110 Yearling Registered Black Angus Bulls able 75% Suit rs if e for H e Four Year Guarantee • No Creep Not Overfed • Good Disposition! — Annual Bull Sale — Final Answer is a proven and reliable calving ease sire. His progeny are unique, arriving with consistently modest birth weights and performing with the best at weaning and yearling time, while maintaining moderate frame. TC Total 8107 Friday • April 17, 2015 Sale Time 1 p.m. lunch served at noon Fallon County Fairgrounds Indoor Arena South of town on Highway 7 Baker, Montana DeGrand Angus Art DeGrand Baker, MT 59313 Toll Free 1-877-775-8861 406/ 775-8861 • 406/ 351-9423 cell 406/ 978-3550 www.degrandangus.com TC Total is moderate framed with a lot of meat and performance. He’s never taken a lame step and excels in both the PAP Test and Feed Efficiency. Daughters have picture udders. Mytty In Focus A A R Ten X 7008 S A WESTERN AG REPORTER buy that deal! Floyd Lewis Milton-Freewater, OR P.S. We settled on Whitehall, Montana, and loved it, though we moved back to Oregon when we retired. The values of Western cow country... Linda, Susan, and everybody at WAR, thanks for using my recipe and story in your great magazine sometime ago. On my many trips to Montana, I’ve noticed you folks in the Western cow country states still hold onto the values so many in other places have lost. May God continue to bless the best people I’ve ever met. Tom Ogle Paris, IL PS: Linda, feel free to use my version of “The Pet Squirrel Syndrome” that my dad told people at his blacksmith shop. Edit as you see fit. Editor’s note: Thanks for the kind words, and watch for the Pet Squirrel Syndrome piece to appear! LG Vote YES for the CSKT Water Compact... Montana’s Bitterroot Valley includes a diverse community of businesses and a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds. A fundamental requirement to business success and property values alike is an assurance that core assets are viable and reasonably reliable year after year. For those of us involved in Bitterroot agriculture, arguably the valley’s largest industry, we have the most to lose of anyone in this valley if the CSKT Water Compact doesn’t pass. It is our water rights, and thus the property values associated with those water rights, that are at the core of our operations. That is why we strongly support the passage of SB 262, the CSKT Water Compact, and the greater security and predictability it brings to our water rights and property values. We want to take this opportunity to thank Senators Fred Thomas and Pat Connell for standing up for Bitterroot agriculture when they voted to pass SB 262. We strongly urge Representatives Ron Ehli, Theresa Manzella, Nancy Ballance, and Ed Greef to also listen to their local ag constituency and vote YES on SB 262, the CSKT Water Compact. Painted Rocks Water Users Assoc. Woodside Irrigation District Popham Ranch Jack Pfau Trexler Angus Ranch Etna Ditch Tiedt-Nicholsen Ditch Kootenai Creek Ranch Tucker Crossing Ranch Double Fork Ranch Bitterroot Irrigation District Hawkinson Ranch Valley Irrigation Huls Dairy McPherson Farms Al Pernichele Teller Refuge Trexler Ranch Supply Ditch Woods-Parkhurst Ditch It takes courage... It takes courage to stand up and speak the TRUTH. Have you heard the onslaught of media propaganda selling the merits of the proposed Confederated Kootenai and Salish Tribes, aka CSKT, Compact? Maybe you heard that it failed in the Montana Legislature in 2013? And here it is again. And if it fails again, there is legislative action to extend negotiations for another two years. The truth is this: there is no negotiating! There is only spin, trickery, threats of litigation, and promises of certainty. Have you heard of the Golden Rule? The Golden Rule is that he who has the gold makes the rules! So, who is it that has all the gold? Could it be the federal government run amok? I mean, isn’t Bonneville Power a federal agency? Isn’t the Environmental Protection Agency a federal agency? Isn’t the Bureau of Indian Affairs a federal agency? Who benefits if this compact passes? Of course, the federal government, aka United States (corporation). The U.S. is named as the owner of ALL the water defined in the Compact. Future uses: none. Forever contract: oh what a dream. The federal encroachment and overreach across America are evident to most citizens. Please support the individual native Americans who oppose the Compact. Please support Montana’s sovereignty and the brave Legislators that speak the TRUTH. Please support the Montana Land and Water Alliance. Support sovereignty under God. Do you remember the Golden Rule? All lies are the result of ignorance or money. Montanans... ignorant? I don’t think so! David Passieri St, Ignatius, MT Count on WAR! Mytty In Focus is the nation’s leading calving ease to growth sire. His females are easy fleshing and make great mother cows. Ten X offers calving ease, performance, carcass merit, $Values and an outcross pedigree. He is the highest ranking $Beef sire in the breed. He is in the top 1% for YW, Milk, CW, Marb, $F and $B. Linda, I wanted to thank you again for your help and the support of Western Ag Reporter. Because of your support, Team Beef and the Montana Running Ranchers have been able to continue the tradition of running 200-mile relay races across the country while promoting beef as a powerful protein. Please consider renewing your support of the Montana Running Ranchers and Team Beef by supporting us in 2015. We are headed to Washington for the Northwest Passage Ragnar on July 17-18. Thanks again. Aeric Reilly Email Editor’s note: You bet! Count WAR in! And me personally! And, you readers, I highly recommend you put your support behind these hard-running athletic ranchers because it’s OUR cause they are promoting! LG A “must have” and a better place! Linda, I’m retired from ranching now, but your paper is still a “must have” in my house. Then I pass it on to friends to spread the word. I wish there were more people with Pat’s intelligence, your and Krayton’s courage to speak up for what’s right, and Susan’s sense of humor. Wouldn’t this world be a better place? My teenage grandson is the fifth generation on the ranch where my kids grew up. He likes ranching, but I worry about his future. I’m a former landowner on the Flathead reservation. My grandparents settled there before I was born. A major canal crossed our property. I watched my little piece of paradise fade when the tribe took over the irrigation. I do not want them in control of our water. We are bombarded with ads for the compact on TV and the radio and in full-page newspaper ads and even flyers in the mail. Who’s paying for this? They’ll need something in return. I don’t understand legal talk, and I haven’t read the CSKT Compact. But I just get a panicky feeling when I read about it. I picture a flock of sheep being led by a bell wether. He’s bleating out, “We must go here to find water.” Meanwhile, at the end of the trail, I see a pack of coyotes. What I translate from their howls is, “Trust us, we’re from the government, and we’re here to help.” Darlene Rich Winifred, MT It’s worth it! My husband and I own and operate an equine surgical and medical facility in northeast Maryland. We also raise Polled Herefords, and my husband is an accomplished “cutting” competitor (even though he didn’t start cutting ‘til he was 65... he’s 72 now). I have been a fox hunter since childhood. We both really enjoy your paper, especially “Bill’s Warbag.” It takes a long time for your paper to make it all the way here, but everyone reads from cover to cover - unlike the piles of Wall Street Journals that we use to start fires in our fireplace! Thanks for a great job!! LuAnne Riddle Port Deposit, MD Preach it, brother! I love the paper! There are so many good articles! One time a “Yellow Dog Democrat” commented that he thought Western Ag Reporter was slanted. ... There is no reasoning with the progressive bunch; they refuse to listen to an opposing view; an opposing view means “it is slanted.” That brings me to the Cow Doctor (Krayton Kerns) and his insight. All of his articles Tuesday, april 14, 2015 regular CaTTle sale Tuesday, april 21, 2015 regular CaTTle sale Tuesday, april 28, 2015 “BaCk To grass”, replaCemenT Heifers & feeder speCial CurranT Creek angus Bull sale Tuesday, may 5, 2015 regular CaTTle sale & Cow/Calf pairs 5 Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER are exceptional, but the best one was on March 12, when he said, “In 1965 the illegitimacy rate in the inner city was 7%, but it skyrocketed to 73% after 50 years of President Johnson’s Great Society programs.” Amen! This is exactly what I have thought for years while I was teaching high school and watching this happen as the years went on. Three or four weeks ago, I logged into the DNC newsletter just to spy. They had an article about Dr. Ben Carson blaming the breakdown of the family on women’s lib. The readers’ comments were vitriolic. I so wanted to chime in and tell them I too disagreed with Dr. Carson’s analysis and tell them the root cause of the family breakdown is the federal government and the programs that started with the Great Society, but after reading the comments, I could see it would be a waste of time. Their brains are sealed. The only thoughts they had were hateful and seasoned with four letter words, and they gave no evidence to back up their remarks. They had no theories or reasons for this frightening trend; the family breakdown did not enter their conversation, only derogatory remarks about Dr. Carson. So, I didn’t subject myself to the unnecessary abuse that would surely follow if I posted my thoughts. I do have words for the Cow Doctor, though, and they are, “Preach it, brother!” We need the facts, and we need voices like his to counter all the lies, and misinformation that are constantly ground into society by the “slanted” news media. And thank you, Western Ag Reporter, for printing these great articles. Roberta Stanaland Jayton, Texas P.S. If people didn’t read “America’s Suicide” in the February 12 issue, they need to be finding a copy and reading it. Glanders cont. from pg. 1 spector. Presidio is located southeast of El Paso on the Rio Grande River. According to protocol, the animals were quarantined and tested for diseases foreign to the U.S., and one of the five tested positive for glanders. Authorities say the early detection and immediate quarantine of the donkeys will be key in protecting against the spread of the disease. Glanders primarily affects horses, donkeys, and mules, but can be naturally contracted by other mammals including dogs and cats. Glanders has not been reported in the U.S. since 1945. Glanders is transmitted through aerosol, direct contact, fomite (tack, grooming tools, feed pans, etc.), and oral routes. Animals are typically infected by consuming food or water contaminated by the nasal discharge of carrier animals. Carnivores may become infected by ingesting contaminated meat. The incubation period in animals varies from a few days to many weeks, but two to six weeks is typical. In humans, the incubation period varies usually from a few days to several weeks. Symptoms in equines include loss of appetite, high fever, labored breathing, coughing, thick nasal discharge, and nodules of the nasal mucosa and lungs that become ulcers. Submaxillary lymph nodes are usually swollen and may perforate. Other signs include induration of lymphatics and lymph nodes of the legs and ventral abdomen, which can rupture and form ulcers. All horses from glandersaffected countries imported into the U.S. are tested for the disease. Anyone suspecting an animal of showing signs of the illness should contact their veterinarian immediately. Hey, kids, like to draw? WIFE calendar art contest... In recognition of National Ag Day, March 18, and National Ag Week, MT WIFE (Montana Women Involved in Farm Economics) invites Montana’s school children to express their ideas on farm life by participating in WIFE’s 29th statewide calendar art contest. Winning entries grades K through 8 will be awarded a cash prize at the 1st place ($30), 2nd place ($20), and 3rd place ($10) levels in each grade’s division. Two Honorable Mention places in each grade will be awarded certificates. Only 25 pictures can be used on the calendar. Those winners whose pictures are used will also receive a calendar. All entries are to be done horizontally on 8.5 by 11inch white paper with dark black lead pencil or black pen (no markers). Any aspect of agriculture that is of interest to the students may be drawn. Any depiction of alcohol or tobacco will not be accepted. Student’s name, grade, school, address, town, and zip code should be clearly printed in a corner on the back of their picture. No entries can be returned, but WIFE may display or use student’s artwork for various WIFE projects throughout the state. Entries must be postmarked on or before April 15. Artwork will be judged on the basis of originality. Send all art entries to Gladys Walling, PO Box 55, Winifred, MT 59489. Questions? Call 406-462-5330. DWAYNE DIETZ Commercial Advertising Representative P.O. Box 30758 Billings, MT 59107 Cell: 406-672-8500 Office: 406-259-4589 E-mail: [email protected] If you're wanting to advertise your commercial business. I'd like to help. Tuesday, may 12, 2015 regular CaTTle sale THursday, may 14, 2015 “World Famous Bucking Horse sale” Tuesday, may 19, 2015 regular CaTTle sale Tuesday, may 26, 2015 regular CaTTle sale & Cow/Calf pairs For complete details on the market, check out our market report and USDA report at www.milescitylivestock.com. Field Representatives Bart Meged Collin Gibbs Andy Wemmer Charles Hellickson 406-421-5377 406-939-0645 406-853-0539 406-853-6037 406- 951-3005 Mark Zehms, Yard Foreman • 406-853-1945 ~ Amanda Kincheloe, Office Manager • 406-234-1790 Visit our website at www.milescitylivestock.com 1-800-755-5177 1-406-234-1790 SEE YOUR PIONEER REPRESENTATIVE: Laurel, MT. . . . . . . . . Tom Robertus . . . . 406-855-8673 Three Forks, MT . . . . Circle S Seeds. . . . . 406-285-3269 Miles City, MT. . . . . . Dave Gillette . . . . . 406-853-6060 Savage, MT. . . . . . Harlan Conradsen. . . 406-776-2400 Hysham, MT. . . . . . . . Dale Icopini . . . . . 406-749-0575 Glasgow, MT. . . . . . . Glenn Rohde. . . . . 406-263-5075 Plentywood, MT Sheridan Agronomy. . 406-895-2518 Scobey, MT. . . . . . . . . Cahill Seed. . . . . . 406-783-5510 Baker, MT . . . . . . . . . Derrick Enos . . . . . 406-975-6100 Circle, MT . . . . . . . . Brett Schillinger . . . 406-974-1432 Chinook, MT. . . . . . . Randy Reed . . . . . 406-357-3468 Choteau, MT. . . . . . Hodgskiss Seed. . . . 406-466-5553 Ft. Benton, MT. . . . Taylor Aviation . . . . 406-662-5682 Stanford, MT . . . . . . . Basin Seed. . . . . . 406-566-2282 Ronan, MT . . . . . . . . . Lake Seed . . . . . . 406-676-2174 Greybull, WY . . . . . . Ken Weekes . . . . . 307-272-1098 Worland, WY . . . . . . . . Bill Haun . . . . . . 307-388-8743 Riverton, WY . . . . . . Alan Lebsack. . . . . 307-850-8544 Beach, ND. . . . . . . . . . Steve Zook. . . . . . 701-872-6265 Cartwright, ND . . . Carroll Paulson . . . . 701-744-5137 Vale, SD. . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Hansen . . . . . 605-456-2689 The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. PIONEER® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. ®, TM, SM Trademarks and service marks of Pioneer. © 2014 PHII. 14-2925 6 Thursday, April 9, 2015 CA Drought cont. from pg. 1 officials said the order would impose varying degrees of cutbacks on water use across the board - affecting homeowners, farms, and other businesses, as well as the maintenance of cemeteries and golf courses. While the specifics of how this will be accomplished are being left to the water agencies, it is certain that Californians across the state will have to cut back on watering gardens and lawns - which soak up a vast amount of the water this state uses every day - as well as washing cars and even taking showers. “People should realize we are in a new era,” Brown said at a news conference, standing on a patch of brown and green grass that would normally be thick with snow at this time of year. “The idea of your nice little green lawn getting watered every day... those days are past.” Owners of large farms, who obtain their water from sources outside the local water agencies, will not fall under the 25% guideline. State officials noted that many farms had already seen a cutback in their water allocations because of the drought. In addition, the owners of large farms will be required, under the governor’s executive order, to offer detailed reports to state regulators about water use, ideally as a way to highlight incidents of water diversion or waste. Because of this system, state officials said, they did not expect the executive order to result - at least in the immediate future - in an increase in farm or food prices. State officials said that they were prepared to enforce punitive measures, including fines, to ensure compliance, but that they were hopeful it would not be necessary to do so. That said, the state had trouble reaching the 20% reduction target that Brown set in January 2014 when he issued a voluntary reduction order as part of declaring a drought emergency. The state water board has the power to impose fines on local water suppliers that fail to meet the reduction targets set by the board over the coming weeks. The governor announced what amounts to a dramatic new chapter in the state’s response to the drought while attending the annual April 1 measuring of the snow pack in the Sierra Nevada. Snow packs are critical to the state’s water system: They store water that falls during the wet season and release it through the summer. In a typical year, the measure in Phillips is around five or six feet, as Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Survey Program, indicated by displaying the measuring stick brought out annually. But on April, Brown was standing on an utterly dry field after he and Gehrke went through the motions of measuring a snow pack. State officials said they now expected the statewide snow pack measure to be about 6% of normal. “We are standing on dry grass, and we should be standing on five feet of snow,” Brown said. “We are in an historic drought.” Water has long been a precious resource in California, the subject of battles pitting WESTERN AG REPORTER farmer against city-dweller and northern communities against southern ones; books and movies have been made about its scarcity and plunder. Water is central to the state’s identity and economy and a symbol of how wealth and ingenuity have tamed nature: There are golf courses in the deserts of Palm Springs, lush gardens and lawns in Los Angeles, and vast expanses of irrigated fields of farmland throughout the Central Valley. Given that backdrop, any effort to force reductions in water use could be politically contentious, as Brown himself acknowledged. “This will be somewhat of a burden - it’s going to be very difficult,” he said. “People will say, ‘What about the farmers?’ Farmers will say, ‘What about the people who water their lawns?’ “ Within hours of Brown’s announcement, Representative Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican who is the House majority leader, announced plans to renew efforts in Congress to cont. on pg. 7 EDWARDS LAW FIRM 1648 Poly Dr., Suite 206 Billings, MT 59102 http://www.edwardslawfirm.org Phone: 406-545-5895 Toll Free: 888-706-7461 Fax: 406-256-8159 IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL CORN PRODUCERS EDWARDS LAW FIRM of Billings has joined with other major U.S. litigators to advance a nationwide money damage case against SYNGENTA companies. Damages exceed $1 billion. And, the case is open to each and every corn producer, large or small, in any state, who produced corn during 2013-2014. Edwards is pleased and proud to announce we represent the VERMILION and the DIAMOND RING ranches in this lawsuit for money damages. Giant global agriculture corporations have already joined the combined Federal Court cases. We find it significant CARGILL and ARCHERDAINELSMIDLAND both seek damages from SYNGENTA, just like the rest of our individual and family farm clients do. Just what is this lawsuit all about? It is simple. SYNGENTA had a patent on a strain of GMO corn. But they refused to follow regulatory rules, for approval, of that corn in the U.S., and importantly, CHINA. In 2013 and 14 CHINA discovered, at their ports, GMO contamination in U.S. shipments. CHINA bans that. So, our largest export market, CHINA shut off all U.S. corn, GMO or not. The Chinese ban on our corn severely impacted, negatively, the U.S. corn market. This case against SYNGENTA is because they misled and failed to comply with rules, and badly damaged the market for us, U.S. producers, while they profited from seed sales. Note that any corn producer, no matter how big or small, who planted, harvested, fed, sold, or was otherwise involved in the U.S. corn market ’13-14 has a claim. It matters not what kind of corn was planted. It matters not whether the corn was GMO or otherwise. All that matters is that crop was corn; any type corn. All inquiries about this lawsuit will be promptly discussed and answered by the EDWARDS LAW FIRM—free of charge. If a producer joins the case and hires the Edwards Law Firm, there is no fee if there is no recovery. If there is recovery, the fee is 30% of the gross award, plus the recovery of the cost to pursue the claim. We would like to help you seek damages in this important lawsuit for Corporate Responsibility. Please feel free to give us a call to answer any of your questions. Toll Free: 888-706-7461 As I See It cont. from pg. 1 and people to do the voting who are online and more on track. That needs to happen. We need more morality, and we certainly need more common sense, If we get it, we will see meaningful leadership. Across the country, the prayers and the cries and the hope are out: “Please, Lord, let it rain!” We need moisture in a substantial way in most all of western America. I hope that many of these prayers will be answered and many of these hopes and urges will come about because, as you get into areas of north Montana where the winter wheat has been seeded for quite a while, it is six to eight inches tall, waving in the wind. It’s a fantastic start because they had moisture, they had warm weather; now of course with the big wind some areas have experienced, it did some damage. There is quite a lot of new reseeding that has to come about because the wind blew the plants right out of the ground. At any rate, if you’ve been around long enough with a little gray over your ears, you’ve seen dust fields in the spring time as it has to do with storms, wind, the lack of rain, or too much in the way of a blizzard. As we look forward into 2015, there certainly is a lot of optimism being shown in the livestock business. These feeder calves going to grass, steers and heifers, and these killer cows and bulls... my gosh, never in my lifetime have I seen those big useful utility bulls and cows bringing the prices they’re bringing. Many of those bulls are in the $2,500 to $3,000 range when you figure them out by the pound, and many cows in the $2,000 to $2,500 range. It’s unreal what these salvage cattle are bringing. I appreciate that the breeding bulls and females have been bringing record prices all across the country, and they need a good salvage figure to offset some of that. They’re getting it. Whether it’s going to continue down the road in the grinding market for hamburger, I don’t know, but I think so. There is a worldwide demand for animal protein. They like the taste of beef, and they like the nutrition that is documented by the scientists. It looks as though we’re going to continue to have an excellent demand for our product. We have a lot of folks, of course, that seem to think that fish is better for you, or that vegetables are the only way to go, or that fruits are the ticket to good health. Well, common sense will prevail. I think that most people like a little combination of all of the above. They like a little change of palate now and again - that’s the way it’s been forever, but to say that any one food, including beef, is the only way to go is a little bit off, I think. You’ve got to have a variety in your diet to hold the stability for demand. The biggest problem we continue to have here in America is Washington DC and so many of those in Congress who don’t really have their feet on the ground and their head turned on right. Common sense does not prevail there, and spending is prevalent, it appears, at most all levels. You must remember we have an administration and a president who very much believe in subsidizing products of all industries that are experiencing a little trouble. It’s been shown over and over again that, if you subsidize a problem, I’ll guarantee you, you will have more of that problem. I don’t care if you’re subsidizing property, if you’re subsidizing wheat, if you’re subsidizing any other product where people can go to the trough and get involved there, thinking they can help themselves, getting more of that product or at least getting more money for that product, and on and on it goes. It’s been shown worldwide that the socialistic way of running a business or a country is not through subsidies; it’s through productivity and opportunity. That’s where you will straighten a business out. And the United States of America is the largest business I know of in the world. If we continue to follow the activities of our president, he’ll have us subsidizing situations that will do nothing but get us in more trouble. We must attempt to get more families, including our own, involved with morality and the improvement of morality in everyday life. It isn’t any big secret that there is the need for morality at the family level. Now it’s up to us to make it happen. You know what you’ve got to do: you put your shoulder to the wheel and do what’s right and demand it, and lo and behold, you’ll get it done, and it will get done quicker than you ever thought could happen. As you’re listening to the politicians the next few months, see how they act, see how they react, see if you can read common sense into what they’re saying. See if you can tell whether they know the difference between running a country or ruining a country. It all has to do with how they go about it. Decisions. I’m one who’s going to count on you people for common sense in our local, state, and national voting habits. That’s all you’ve got to remember. The buck starts with you, and the change starts with you, and the salvation of the country could start with you as well. I’m counting on you. You Will Classifieds Be Amazed… 406-259-4589 Sortin Pen CA Drought between herself and the JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon in her Capitol Hill office in 2013. Dimon, she says, complained about all the burdensome rules his bank had to follow, to which Warren replied that she didn’t believe the biggest banks were over-regulated and couldn’t believe he was complaining about regulatory constraints less than a year after his bank had lost billions in the infamous London Whale high-risk trading episode. Warren said the banks are still taking on too much risk and seem confident that taxpayers will bail them out - again - if something goes wrong. When challenged by Warren over the possibility that the bank might not be in compliance with default provisions of the Dodd-Frank law that will go into effect if a director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is not confirmed, Dimon, she recalled, leaned back, slowly smiled, and said, “So hit me with a fine. We can afford it.” Dimon was correct. Though his bank was forced to pay $20 billion in fines, he received a significant pay raise in 2014. pass legislation requiring the building of two huge water facilities in the state. The efforts had been blocked by Democrats concerned that the water projects would harm the environment and damage endangered species of fish. “The current drought in California is devastating,” McCarthy said. “Today’s order from the governor should not only alarm Californians, but also the entire nation should take notice that the most productive ag state in the country has entered uncharted territory. I’m from the Central Valley, and we know that we cannot conserve or ration our way out of this drought.” The newly mandated 25% New study says drug-resistant bacteria are airborne in TX feedlots... A new study by Texas Tech University researchers says antibiotic-resistant bacteria from cattle yards are airborne and can be spread to humans on dust particles. “We don’t know where it is blowing,” said co-author Phil Smith, a professor of environmental toxicology at Texas Tech. “We can’t control the wind.” The research team collected dust downwind from 10 commercial cattle feeding operations in Texas and found that the samples were loaded with antibiotic-resistant DNA sequences. This means, says Smith, that dust is now a “viable mechanism of transport.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- S Y A P tion, at least 23,000 Americans die every year from these superbugs, trigging the White House to recently announce a sweeping plan to fight the increasing number of infections. The administration’s initiative calls on cattle producers to limit antibiotic use on animals being raised for food. Simmental & Simm/Angus Bull Sale April 30, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. • Glasgow Livestock 40 SOLID BLACKS 40 SOLID REDS “Breeding Simmentals Since 1969” NELSON RANCH Floyd Nelson, Jr. (406)-228-2024 Cell: (406) 263-5251 PO Box 254, Glasgow, MT 59230 Don Nelson (406) 367-5261 Cell: (406) 263-5261 Tampico Route, Glasgow, MT 59230 ALL BREED Bull Sale 250 RANGE BULLS TUESDAY • April 28, 2015 California Governor warns agriculture about water... Public Auction Yards • Billings, Montana We’ll have bulls consigned from top breeders. Some of our top purebred livestock growers hold their top bulls for this sale and have for many years. s B d A ngus in ai c k A ngu Re la C h a rol us 1-800-821-6447 d oll e d H ere H or ned H Sa M ntal e A njou ler s Catalog Deadline: Monday, April 13, 2015 G e l b vie h in a Si m me If you are looking to buy bulls with quality in depth, you’ll want to be at this sale. ALL 2-year-old bulls, MUST be Trich tested. Consign Today Limo P During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” on April 5, California Governor Jerry Brown said California’s farmers are “providing most of the fruits and vegetables of America,” as well as jobs for the state’s most vulnerable residents, but he warned many California farms that hold “senior water rights” -- those that received their permits before the current water regulatory system came into place -- that the old system is “archaic” and may be examined if the historic drought continues in the state. “Some people have a right to more water than others,” said Brown. “That’s historic. That’s built into the legal framework of California. If things continue at this level, that’s probably going to be examined, but as it is, we do live with a somewhat archaic water law situation.” According to the Public Policy Institute of California, agriculture accounts for 2% of California’s economy, yet consumes 80% of the state’s water. Governor Brown said the severity of his already-initiated water conservation measures will test the state’s ability to work together and added that his executive order should serve as a wake-up call for Californians, especially since voluntary water conservation measures failed last year. had not gone far enough. “We are in a drought unlike one we’ve seen before, and we have to take actions that we haven’t taken before,” she said. “We are not getting the level of effort that the situation clearly warrants.” Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said the state would tightly monitor compliance, in the hope that would be enough to accomplish the 25 reduction. If it is not, the order authorizes water suppliers to penalize offenders. “We are looking for success, not to be punitive,” Cowin said. “In the end, if people and communities don’t comply, there will be repercussions, including fines.” By Adam Nagourney, NY Times, 4/1 Grasstime s The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it will allow usage of a herbicide that contains glyphosate in nine more states, despite the fact that the United Nations World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer elevated its risk assessment of glyphosate to “probably carcinogenic in humans.” The EPA approved the glyphosate-containing herbicide Enlist Duo for ag use in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and North Dakota in addition to the six states in which it was previously approved for use on genetically-engineered crops. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) blasted the agency for what it called a “poor decision” that will “likely put farmers, farm workers, and rural residents at risk.” “The agency simply ignored a game-changing new finding from the world-leading cancer experts and has, instead, decided the interests of biotech giants like Dow and Monsanto come first,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. Glyphosate is in more than 750 different products, including Monsanto’s weed killer Roundup. “This executive order is done under emergency power, and it has the force of law. It’s very unusual, and it’s requiring action and changes in behavior from the Oregon border all the way to the Mexican border,” he said. for EPA approves “Probably Carcinogenic” pesticide in 9 more states... ornamental turf with planting that consumes less water. The order also instructs water authorities to raise rates on heavy water users. Those pricing systems, intended to reward conservers and punish wasters, are used in some parts of this state and have proved effective, state officials said. Felicia Marcus, chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board, said that California would leave it to local water providers to decide how to enforce the reductions on homeowners and businesses. She said she anticipated that most of the restrictions would be aimed at the outdoor use of water; many communities have already imposed water restrictions on lawns and gardens, but Marcus suggested they BornandRaisedintheUSA ere Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in Montana, both in a domestic chicken flock in Judith Basin County and in a captive gyrfalcon in Flathead County. The poultry flock was confirmed to have HPAI strain H5N2, and the flock has been quarantined until it can be depopulated. The H5N2 strain has recently been confirmed in South Dakota and Minnesota, among other states previously reported here. Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease of birds, and countries or regions where an outbreak occurs can see significant impacts on the trade of poultry products. The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) is conducting an epidemiological investigation of the cases and will be, according to officials, identifying other poultry producers in the area to conduct disease surveillance. MDOL says all poultry producers should immediately report any sudden onset of illness or high death losses in domestic poultry. rd Bird Flu in Montana... cut is in relation to total water use in the state in 2013. Cuts will vary from community to community, reflecting that per capita water use reduction has been better in some areas than others. In addition, the state and local governments will offer temporary rebate programs for homeowners who replace dishwashers and washing machines with water-efficient models. Brown said the state would impose water-use restrictions on golf courses and cemeteries and require that nonpotable water be used on median dividers. Lawns consume much of the water used every year in California, and the executive order calls for the state, working with local governments, to replace 50 million acres of cont. from pg. 6 fo cont. from pg. 1 7 Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER Every seat’s a good one! This is a rapid fire range bull sale with quality kind in all breeds. All bulls are guaranteed breeders by the consignor. 406.259.4589 (407) 245-6447 • P.O. Box 1781 • Billings, MT 59103 • www.publicauctionyards.com 8 Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER Agri-News 4 Kids Hey, kids, Banjo is a three-legged ranch dog. He lives on a big ranch in Montana with his two-legged family (Hannah & Tate) and his four-legged friends (Rascal, the pesky raccoon; Mrs. McBauck, queen of the hen house; Cowsuela, head mother cow; & Horse Chief Ben, boss of the cavvy). This page is for you kids out there in the rural countryside. Why not send us a picture of yourself doing something fun? Write to Agri-News 4 Kids, PO Box 30755, Billings MT 59107. Easter by-products... “You did what?” asked Banjo. He had a roller brush attached to his tail. “I just gave him a little Easter candy,” said Pudge. She also had a mini-brush attached to her tail. “Why would you do that?” scolded Tuff. He was the third in line with a paint brush also attached to him. “We’re out here trying to paint over his Easter decorating on the barn wall, and you gave Rascal... of all varmints... some Easter candy?” Pudge nodded. “Yes, I did,” she said. “I was reminded it is a time to forgive, so I thought I’d share a little gift with him as a symbol of what Easter’s really all about.” Tuff shook his head back and forth in disgust. “I could use a little extra sugar right now to keep me going, but no... I’m going to be stuck all day trying to undo the giant globs of paint polkadotted on here while the painter gets to eat candy!” “Move on,” said Pudge. “It’s clear you don’t understand.” “It was a nice gesture,” said Banjo to Pudge. “Just wish you could’ve shook paws or something instead of giving him candy. Remember the last time he had all that candy? He got a little wound up.” “A little?” said Tuff sarcastically. “I thought we were going to have to use a tranquilizer gun on him.” “Yeah, you make a valid point. It was quite a problem with the copula and the zip line he made.” Pudge laughed. “What was he? ‘Ninja Rascal’?” she said. Banjo and Tuff looked at each other. “Something like that,” said Banjo and smiled. It was a cool spring afternoon, so standing in the yard wasn’t too bad. “Crash! Thud! Bang! Ting!” went the sound. “What was that?” asked Pudge, twitching her ears up and towards the noise. “Sounds like someone or something is playing pin- ball with the trash cans,” said Banjo. “Let’s go.” The ranch patrol members dropped their paint brushes in the trays and cautiously walked, listened, and smelled the air to try and get a sense of who it could be. “Ting! Tang! Thud! Bam!” it sounded again. “Sounds smaller than Rascal. He couldn’t bounce around or off anything that fast,” said Tuff. Banjo tilted his head and listened. “Ting! Bang!” it went. “I think you may be right,” said Banjo. “Go slowly.” They crept to the corner. The trash cans were on the back side of the shed, only a couple feet from them. “Ting!” went the sound. “Bing” it echoed. “There are two somethings,” whispered Banjo. “Go around to the other side.” Tuff nodded and backed away to sneak to the other side of the shed. “Ting! Clang! Bang!” Banjo squared the corner and looked the noisy culprits right in the eyes. His shoulders and chest were puffed up in a defensive stance, but instantly deflated once he saw them. “Really?!” he said. Tuff came around the opposite corner and saw them as well and kept walking. “Bounce, bounce,” they went. “Hi, Hi,” they said in unison. “What are you two little ones doing?” asked Banjo. The two identical twin bunnies bounced from one trash can lid to the other. “We are hopping,” said one very matter of factly. “We need practice,” said the other. “We have to learn to jump higher and higher.” “Ever think of a trampoline?” asked Tuff. “Nope. What’s a trampoline?” said the bunnies as they continued bouncing. Banjo’s head followed their up and down jumps until he had to shake it and free himself from his momentary trance. Pudge joined them. “Aren’t you two a little late for Easter?” she said. “We’re from Easter,” said one of the bunnies. They April 28, 2015 kept bouncing. “STOP!” said Tuff. “I can’t handle listening to the lids’ ‘Ting, Tang, and Clang’ any more or watching you hopping. Just please hop, hop, hop yourselves down here to the lower ground so we can figure you out.” The bunnies leapt to the dusty ground. “Okay,” they said. “Good call,” said Banjo as he looked at Tuff. “Way to make an executive decision there.” He looked at them. “You’re very young little bunnies, aren’t you?” he said. “And you look like Lop Ears.” “That’s because we are,” said one of the bunnies. “Where did you come from?” asked Pudge. “An Easter basket,” said the other bunny. They all looked at each other and knew what had happened. “We may be little but we’re fast,” said the other bunny. “The little boy who had us in his basket was really friendly. He held us all the time, and we had a nice hut, but he left the door open.” “And we hopped really fast that night,” said the other bunny. “There are lots of scary sounds in the dark. That’s why we have to learn to hop-hop higher and higher so we can see over all the bushes and grasses.” “Well, there are lots of scary things around here some times too... like Rascal,” said Pudge. “That’s why Banjo and Tuff are our head ranch wranglers and secure the premises.” “Oh,” said the bunnies. “Let’s get you two into the barn, and we’ll teach you how to hop under the cover of a roof, and you won’t have to worry about varmints like Rascal or owls,” said Banjo. “What’s a Rascal?” asked one of the bunnies. “O-h-h, let me just tell you what indeed is a Rascal!” said Tuff. The animals laughed and scooted the bunnies in the direction of the barn to be introduced to the rest of the ranch crew and to learn how to hop, among ‘other need to knows’ around the ranch. AGRI-KID of the Week 1:00 p.m. Miles City Livestock Commission Selling: 45 Fall Yearling Bulls • 55 Spring Yearling Bulls Free Delivery– All bulls semen tested and ready to go to work for you. The sale worth waiting for..... CCAR 0192 Rito 3219 CCAR 1430 Common Sense 3243 CCAR 7275 Ideal 3223 “Come on now, Pocahontas, drink your milk!” seems to be what Kinley Liles is tell her bottle calf as she learns all about Work Ethic 101! Thanks to Tonya Liles for sharing this great photo. CCAR 1416 Iron Mountain 3352 CCAR Final Statement B037 CCAR 1416 Iron Mountain 3361 CCAR Sirloin B058 CCAR John Wayne 3379 CCAR Blackjack B079 CCAR 1416 Iron Mountain B203 www.westernagreporter.com OILFIELD PIPE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! BEST QUALITY CCAR 1472 Destination B295 CCAR 9202 Roundup B363 CCAR B511 CCAR 9180 Roundup B602 View catalog and videos of cattle online at www.frontierstockyards.com. Catalog also online at www.billpeltonlivestock.com Gary & Phyllis Eliasson and family Box 389 Roundup, MT 59072 Email: [email protected] Office: 406-323-2227 Home: 406-323-1024 Gary: 406-320-1142 Phyllis: 406-320-0097 CLEANEST Located Across From Public Auction Yards, Billings, MT TUBING • DRILL STEM • CASING SUCKER ROD • FENCE CABLE • GUARD RAIL (406) 245-5760 Agricultural Family Owned Business Free-Trade cont. from pg. 1 Just about the time I talk about the weather... it changes! Winter kind of returned to some areas of my traveling area over the Easter weekend. But, with that said, I have not heard a single complaint about the moisture. I was able to visit with people from all over the United States and Canada during the three days last week that I worked the Midland Bull Test sales. Some guys I talked to from the Midwest told me that they had already seen quite a number of folks planting corn in Illinois and Iowa! A handful of folks from Nebraska and surrounding states mentioned to me that they sure were drying up fast and were in definite need of moisture. It also sounds like Nevada and some of that country are in the same boat. Moisture is always a topic of conversation for those of us involved in agriculture. It seems like it is talked about the most when there’s either too much moisture or not enough moisture! None of us can control Mother Nature, and all we can do is deal with the situations that we are given. sometimes it just takes time. My point is that it is only the first part of April, and we all know that moisture situations can change in a big hurry. I was watching the news over the weekend and saw where there is a chance for some pretty good moisture in several of the dry areas that I was talking about a moment ago here in the next week or so. I have had a number of people come up to me at sales recently and want to talk about the grass situation. I’ve mentioned before that I receive several calls per week with questions about if I know of any grass that is for lease. When I mention that it is extremely hard to come by, most folks ask me why pasture is so hard to find when we are at record low cow numbers? I really don’t know how to answer this... but it has definitely been the situation around Reporter Country for the past several years! I have also heard the comment many times that, if they did happen to find some pasture for lease, the price was so high that they couldn’t make things work. I guess it all comes down to what they taught all of us in Econ 101 in college... it all comes down to supply and demand! Again, when we are talking about demand for pasture, if moisture turns loose in quite a number of areas, there would be a chance for some additional pasture to come available. Some folks that may have quite a lot of pasture are hesitant to lease any of it out yet until the moisture situation plays out here for awhile yet. Another scenario around some areas may be that guys that normally run quite a number of yearlings in the summer leased some pasture before they even purchased cattle to run on the grass. We all know how the market kept moving higher and higher at the end of last year. If some of these people were not able to purchase their grass cattle because the market just got too high for them, they might just decide to not purchase cattle at these prices and just lease the pasture to someone else. Again, we will have to wait a little while yet to see if this happens. Bull sales continue to hold strong around Reporter Country. Now that we are in April, I have been getting a lot of comments from folks at sales that I must be about done with sales. I continue to tell everyone that I go really steady through the 28th day of April, meaning I pretty much have a full month of sales left! It has been a fantastic spring, and we will continue to try to keep things going here in the final stretch! Don’t miss this! Get your boots on for Montana agriculture! Save the date of May 19! It’s the Montana Agri-Women’s second annual fundraiser - with an emphasis on FUN! Mark your calendars for May 19 at the Billings Depot, Billings, MT, for a great night of fun and entertainment. Questions? Call 406-281-0594 or check out the website www.mtagriwomen.net 9 Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER trade partners and then, at the ninth hour, are pressured to either sign on the dotted line or not, foregoing any chance of amendments that might protect American jobs, American workers, or the environment. Congress has signed plenty of these agreements in the past; let’s see how the track record looks to date. After signing massive trade agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement, the prosperity and jobs that were promised to flood our nation and lift our middle class like the rising tide have failed to appear. In 2014, the trade deficit increased to $505 billion, representing nearly 3% of the nation’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and acting as a drag on the overall economy. The U.S. has carried the weight of a trade deficit every year for the past 41 years. There are a number of reasons why these agreements are not working for us, and one of the largest is currency manipulation, which allows governments to keep their currencies undervalued and boost exports, limit imports, and create large current-account surpluses. Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan, three known currency manipulators, are involved in the current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, one of the massive deals currently being considered by Congress. For example, the U.S. deficit with Japan reached nearly $80 billion in 2013, and currency manipulation was the most significant cause of the deficit. It is estimated that the trade deficit with Japan alone resulted in 896,600 jobs eliminated in the nation across nearly all congressional districts. And then there’s the trade deal with South Korea, which is celebrating its three-year anniversary. When we signed this deal, the American public was promised an increase in exports and at least 70,000 new jobs. Instead, our exports to South Korea are down, and we’ve lost 84,000 jobs. For every new U.S. car sold to Korea since we signed the deal, they sell us 14 new cars, all made with jobs that could and should be here. Even agriculture, which has fared fairly well in these trade deals, lost big on this one. U.S. exports to Korea have taken major hits as beef exports are down 5%, pork is down 4%, poultry is down 41%, and grains are down 21%. At the same time, Korean exports to the U.S. increased by 28%. Question and answers... Many might wonder why one of the nation’s largest organizations representing family farmers and ranchers is coming out against massive trade agreements. Trade can and has benefited U.S. agriculture, which represents about 10% of net exports from the U.S. Ag exports have been greater than U.S. ag imports for more than 50 years and have been one of the only clear winners in these deals. The $39 billion surplus generated by farm exports helps counter the enormous U.S. non-ag trade deficit. There are two answers to that. First, we’re not only farmers and ranchers; we’re also Americans, and we’re tired of seeing our great nation drawing the short straw in every trade deal we sign. Fairness is ingrained in the American psyche and culcont. on pg. 10 41st Annual Performance Angus Sale Wednesday, April 22, 2015 1 pm MT • Stockmen’s West • Dickinson, ND Selling: 95 Yearling Bulls 40 Yearling Replacement Heifers • Volume Discounts • • Fertility Tested • • 400 Miles Free Delivery • • Many Bulls Suitable For Heifers • • No Creep Feed • • First Breeding Season Guarantee • Selling Sons of: Connealy In Focus 4925, S Summit 956, Sitz Upward 307R, PA Power Tool 9108, Connealy Confidence 0100, Vin-Mar O’Reilly Factor, Connealy Consensus 7229, Sitz RLS Rainmaker 11731, Connealy Mentor 7374, Rito 6EM3 of 4L1 Emblazon, WMR Timeless 458, CAR Efficient 534, and more! Stop by anytime to see the cattle! David Opp 701-878-4222 (home) • 701-471-2862 (cell) Joel Opp 701-878-4804 (home) • 701-260-3279 (cell) 7650 43rd St. • Hebron, ND 58638 [email protected] “Registered Angus Cattle since 1951” Vollmer Angus Ranch 38th Annual Production Sale New Sale Date April 28th, 2015 - 4 pm at the ranch north of Wing, ND Selling 150 Yearling and Late Yearling Bulls Including over 90 Three Star Calving Ease Bulls and featuring 50 Open Purebred Heifers all born and raised at VAR Bull Data now available on the website or call and have a copy sent to you. Bulls fully guaranteed with free delivery Vollmer Angus Ranch 40103 353 ST NE Wing, ND 58494 [email protected] Featuring Large Sire Groups By These Industry Leaders: Barstow Cash SAV Hesston SAV Field Ready Mogck Bullseye Coleman Regis VAR Rocky VAR Rockytop VAR Equator 2151 VAR Motivation VAR Dakota Boy VAR Arctic 01 WK CC & 7 1247 Troy & Sara: 701.943.2431 Allen & Bev: 701.943.2691 Troy cell: 701.214.0311 [email protected] Check us out on the web - Vollmer Angus.com 10 Thursday, April 9, 2015 Free-Trade cont. from pg. 9 ture, so looking at the real economics of these deals just rubs folks the wrong way. The second reason is more practical. As farmers and ranchers, we understand that the vast majority of the products we grow - whether tomatoes or cattle - are sold domestically. And if we continue to lose good jobs and dig ourselves into a deeper debt hole as a nation, our major market - our fellow Americans - won’t have the means to purchase the food, fiber, and fuel we grow. So family farmers and ranchers lose too, big time, in the long run. New approach needed... We need to take a new approach to trade that focuses on reducing the U.S. trade deficit as its primary goal. We must also refuse to enter agreements that will subvert the jurisdiction of our important domestic laws protecting workers, our children, and the environment. Finally, trade is a concept whereby the assumption is that both parties can benefit by swapping goods, which is why we need to stop thinking of trade as a baseball bat to single-handedly bludgeon other nations into changing their behavior. Just look how well that mindset worked with Cuba. The easiest way to keep the lemmings from charging over the cliff is to deny this president, and every president of any party that follows, fast track authority. - thehill.com, 4/1 Note: Roger Johnson is president of the National Farmers Union. Mackay cont. from pg. 1 commented that they think Mackay has the knowledge and skills to perform well and offered their assistance if needed. Mackay allowed the board to discuss their comments regarding his performance during the public BOL meeting on March 24. The eleven evaluation categories include the following: 1) administers department policy, goals, and objectives; 2) directs legislative relations; 3) represents the BOL and DOL; 4) ensures DOL statutes, rules, and policies are enforced; 5) manages department personnel, programs, and budgets; 6) manages employee performance; 7) knowledge of livestock industry issues; Missed applying all the nutrients my crops at planting time, can I apply it later? WESTERN AG REPORTER 8) skills to manage a large organization; 9) vision and leadership; 10) interpersonal skills; and 11) impact and influence. Each board member scored each category on a scale of 1 to 5. On that scale, 1 is the worst, and 5 is the best score. The best possible score would have been a 55; the worst possible score, an 11. 1) Mackay’s score for the first category -- administers department policy, goals, and objectives -- averaged 2.5. 2) Within the second category -- directs legislative relations -- board members expressed their frustration at the lack of accurate budget details and a recent inaccurate presentation to legislators. “I’m disappointed that, after two legislative sessions and a legislative audit, the department budget is still ‘out of whack,’” said Brett DeBruycker, BOL member from Dutton. 3) Mackay received an average score of 2.6 in the third category -- represents the DOL and BOL. Jeff Lewis commented on a lack of industry support, but John Scully noted the Mackay has reached out to industry leaders much more during the last two or three weeks. 4) Category four -- ensures DOL statutes, rules, and policies are enforced -- elicited higher scores from board members. Although Scully chastised Mackay for a failure to advise the BOL budget subcommittee that changes were necessary -- a 2005 legislative audit illustrated the department faced the same budget issues then and predicted problems in 2009, 2010, and 2011 - Scully admitted that Mackay was not executive director in 2005. “This is the second time, at least, with the same problems. You weren’t here then, but George (Harris, administrator of DOL centralized services) was present then. You should have known,” Scully said. In her written comments, Jan French highlighted Mackay’s work with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service; and other agencies. Mackay coordinates with other state and federal agencies to manage potential and actual disease outbreaks, among other issues. 5) Board members dropped their scores for category five -- manages department personnel, programs, and budgets. Mackay’s average score was 2.17. BOL member Ed Waldner of Chester summed up the issues that other board members brought up when he said, “You need to control the ship.” 6) Category six - manages employee performance -garnered scores of mostly ones and twos for Mackay. No DOL official employee performance evaluations have been completed since Mackay was hired by the BOL eight years ago. French noted that Mackay often offers informal evaluations to employees. “The board shares responsibility for this because we don’t always follow through. We have not supervised Christian appropriately,” Scully said. 7) Board members recognized Mackay’s knowledge of livestock industry issues with an average score of 3.25 in the seventh category. 8) In the eighth category -- skills to manage a large organization -- the average score was 2.58. French complimented Mackay on his skill within the Designated Surveillance Area for brucellosis and his implementation of hand-held inspection records at livestock auction markets, but hoped he would take a class on personnel responsibilities. 9) During discussion of the ninth category -- vision and leadership -- several board members noted the high number of disgruntled employees who work for the department. “There’s no clear vision or strategic plan for the department. A lot of employees feel threatened. You don’t have good interaction with them,” Scully said to Mackay. “Christian needs more employee support,” Lewis agreed. 10) The interpersonal skills category (#10) earned Mackay an average score of 2.47, including French’s score of 3.8. DeBruycker said he thinks Mackay communicates well with the Helena staff, but not with staff in the field. Scully said the former public relations employee was not managed in a way that created a positive public image for the department. “There have been few proactive media relations and, in fact, a few negative (instances),” Scully said. 11) When it came to cat- egory number eleven -- impact and influence -- the BOL scored Mackay at 2.67. “(The relationship with) the legislature is a serious problem for us,” said DeBruycker. “Employee communication should improve. The employee letter that you sent was good; now you need to follow up,” Scully said. “We’ve lost the confidence of the employees. That is not all your fault, but we need to get squared away.” French offered a different perspective on Mackay’s impact and influence. “The board has been sending mixed signals lately. (Mackay has) handled embezzlement, trich (trichomoniasis), brucellosis and BVD, bison lawsuits, and lab accreditation well,” she said. After board members finished their comments, Mackay asked for time to develop a response and plan. Baucus asked for a timeline to receive Mackay’s response and plan, but none was established. “I have one final comment. Christian has every tool needed to do this job. The areas I question come with personal interaction - that is the biggest area to improve,” DeBruycker summarized. Even though Baucus did not offer a performance evaluation for Mackay, she took the opportunity to offer a vision for the DOL. “This department was created BY the livestock industry FOR the livestock industry. We answer to the industry. The industry is very upset. It is paramount that we take a serious look at ourselves and get turned around instead of being arrogant and trying to control the industry,” said Baucus. This meeting, as well as all DOL meetings, are recorded and the audio is posted on http://liv.mt.gov/public/ board.mcpx Editor’s Note: What I want to know is the total number of points awarded to Christian Mackay out of the possible total he could have received. Lisa got her information for this article from a recording of the meeting. Some of the scores were not audible. Christian Mackay has offered to make copies of the board members’ score sheets available to me. I will sum that interesting information up and provide it to you next week. Stay tuned! LG REMOTE WELL SITE GENERATORS agroliquid.com/yes-you-can TWEGEN® by TWENTERPRISES, INC. Industrial Power Systems REMOTE REMOTE WELL WELL SITE? SITE? NO POWER? NO POWER? THIRSTY CATTLE? THIRSTY CATTLE? Your side-dress nitrogen application is the perfect opportunity to feed your crop the additional Potassium, Sulfur, and Micronutrients needed to drive top production. Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers provide better solutions to the challenges you face. Learn more at agroliquid.com/yes-you-can Contact AgroLiquid for more information (406) 223-3451 May.indd 1 3/20/15 4:07 PM OUR LP VAPOR AUTOMATIC TWEGEN® IS THE SOLUTION! The TWEGEN® comes in three 240v single phase models: TWE50GAK—5000 watt model that will start up to a 2 HP well pump motor. TWE80GAK—8000 watt model that will start up to a 4 HP well pump motor. TWE80GAK ES—8000 watt ES model that will start up to a 5 HP 240 volt single phase well pump motor. 800-955-3795 OR 406-245-4600 Ramblings of a Conservative Cow Doctor by Rep. Krayton Kerns, DVM www.kraytonkerns.org The Blind Eye Don’t miss this! You are cordially invited to attend the Eighth Annual Stetsons & Stilettos Ball hosted by the NILE Foundation on Friday, May 29 at the Northern Hotel in Billings, Montana. This function is a benefit for NILE youth programs and scholarships; there will be an outstanding selection of live and silent auction items. A four-course steak dinner will be followed by dancing to the Copper Mountain Band. Limited seating. Price increase after May 11. Questions? Call 0406-56-2495. CATTLE SALES EVERY THURSDAY AT BLS SINCE 1934 Live Stock Commission CATTLE SALES EVERY THURSDAY AT BLS REPRESENTATIVE SALES FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015 • 3200 Head Sold Excellent turnout of high quality cattle with a large crowd of buyers on hand for our annual Spring NILE cattle special.Thanks for your continued business! BRED COWS Reedpoint 2 Bk 3&4 Cody 65 Bk St BRED HEIFERS Charles Jennaway Melstone 13 Bk Schwenke Rnch Trust Zortman 7 Bk BULLS Raymond Snell Lovell 1 Bk Jody Wacker Melstone 1 Bk Keith Rohrer Fort Shaw 1 Bk Wasson Ranch Inc Whitewater 1 Bk Thurmond Coulee Cattle Co Custer 1 Bk Herzog Farms Inc Rapelje 1 Charx COWS Jay Erfle Rapelje 1 Bk Terry Frost Roundup 1 Bk Raymond Hale Winnett 1 Bk Jerry Cossitt Shepherd 1 Bk JC Heiken Broadview 2 Bk Terry Frost Roundup 1 Bk Robert Kappel Park City 1 Bk Wasson Ranch Inc Whitewater 4 Bk McCarty Ranch LLC Cody 7 Bk Felton Angus Ranch Inc Springdale 2 Bk McCarty Ranch LLC Cody 5 Bk Wesley Stahl Roundup 2 Bk Tee Bar Ranch Co Augusta 1 Red Mccarty Ranch LLC Cody 31 Bk Bradley Hodgskiss Choteau 5 Rd/Bk HEIFERS Mark Fox Worden 5 Bk Calvin Lane Molt 2 4 Bk Stieber Cattle Co Hardin 8 Bkbwf Quentin Todd Whiteman Crow Agency 2 Bk Calvin Lane Molt 65 Bk Jeffrey L. Diercks Park City 9 Bkbwf Clinton L Mcfarland Molt 6 Bk Myron Leo Lind Hardin 3 Red Donohoe Ranch Ltd Partner Nye 12 Bk Eckert Ranch Co. Red Lodge 2 4 Bkbwf James Ballard Lavina 20 Bk Rodney Jabs Hardin 10 Bkbwf Stovall Ranches LLC Billings 5 5 Bk Jay Meyer Musselshell 20 Bk Jeffrey Diercks Park City 18 Bkbwf Jeff Bassett Lovell 58 Bk Stovall Ranches LLC Billings 190 Bk Cade Bare McCarty Ranch LLC 1,416 1,409 2,600.00 2,035.00 1,058 1,157 2,525.00 2,400.00 1,901 1,646 1,931 2,416 2,161 2,011 149.00 148.00 146.50 146.00 146.00 140.50 1,186 1,456 1,171 1,386 1,281 1,291 1,241 1,221 1,287 1,408 1,382 1,276 1,276 1,452 1,242 141.00 138.00 135.00 132.00 131.00 129.50 129.00 127.50 122.50 119.50 117.00 117.00 116.00 113.75 112.00 569 520 494 561 590 503 619 591 619 640 664 653 637 653 635 668 719 276.00 275.00 270.00 269.00 266.00 263.00 248.00 248.00 245.25 243.50 239.50 239.00 238.25 237.00 235.50 232.00 223.75 J D W Farms Thompson Cattle Co Jay Meyer Rodney Jabs Fords Creek Colony Horpestad Ranch Inc Horpestad Ranch Inc John Robbins Wasson Ranch Inc J Triangle Ranch Inc Siewert Ranch Craig Finley Tee Bar Ranch Co Nathan Reiter Terry Frost Thompson Cattle Co Wesley Stahl Reuben Busenitz Bradley Hodgskiss Tee Bar Ranch Co James Johnke Keith Rohrer Schwenke Ranch Trust Toby Stahl Carl Kimmel Higgins Brothers Inc Higgins Brothers Inc Robert Torczon Fred Hopkin Higgins Brothers Inc S & G Livestock Inc Jim Grewell Fred Hopkin Troy Pimentel Higgins Brothers Inc John Michael III Fred Hopkin John Heidema John Michael III Schroder Ranch Stieber Cattle Co Wasson Ranch Inc John Heidema Schroder Ranch Billings 18 Bk Billings 63 Bk Musselshell 75 Bk Hardin 61 Bkbwf Grass Range 1 5 Bk Lavina 12 Bk Lavina 12 Bk Custer 8 Red Whitewater 38 Bk Winnett 61 Bk Huntley 59 Bk Bridger 31 Bk HEIFERETTES Augusta 3 Red Laurel 1 Red Roundup 1 Bk Billings 2 Bk Roundup 1 Bk Busby 3 Bk Choteau 2 Bk Augusta 10 Rd/Bk Winnett 1 Bk Fort Shaw 3 Bk Zortman 8 Bk Roundup 2 Bk Roundup 1 Bk STEERS Ringling 1 Rd/Bk Ringling 6 Rd/Bk Powell 3 Bk Powell 4 Bk Ringling 17 Rd/Bk Billings 4 Bkbwf Joliet 3 Rd/Bk Powell 20 Rd/Bk Powell 11 Bk Ringling 96 Bkbwf Livingston 7 Bk Powell 28 Blk/Char Pryor 30 Bkbwf Livingston 16 Bk Harlem 1 4 Blk/Char Hardin 7 Bk Whitewater 3 Bk Pryor 93 Bkbwf Harlem 38 Bkbwf 933 747 716 778 770 774 774 661 705 704 659 752 182.00 1,785.00 1,775.00 1,760.00 1,760.00 1,750.00 1,750.00 1,710.00 1,675.00 1,675.00 1,675.00 1,675.00 876 841 936 963 961 907 971 954 1,011 1,032 1,008 1,036 1,001 205.00 205.00 205.00 203.00 197.00 196.00 195.00 192.50 191.50 190.00 190.00 190.00 189.00 331 413 467 439 513 506 534 522 568 599 635 622 668 682 645 672 709 760 755 344.00 328.00 321.00 315.00 309.00 308.50 304.00 303.00 288.00 281.50 264.00 262.00 246.00 245.00 242.50 241.50 233.00 228.50 220.00 LET ’EM ALL BID — BRING ’EM TO BLS! Th e LIV THURSDAY, APRIL 16 f Northern Ca Best o ttle! EST O TIO CK VIDEO AUC N FEEDER SPECIAL with All Class Cattle Sale and Northern Internet Auction Expecting 2000 Head Call for information or to consign, or consign online 24 hours a day: Bill (406) 670-0689 Ty (406) 698-4783 Dan (406) 671-7715 UPCOMING SALE SCHEDULE Thurs, Apr. 16 Feeder Special w/All Class Cattle Sale & Northen Livestock Internet Auction Thurs, Apr. 23 All Class Cattle Sale Sat., & Sun, Apr. 25, 26 … April Horse Sale Thurs, Apr. 30 Annual Grass time Cattle Special w/All Class Cattle Sale Thurs, May 7 �Pair & Feeder Special w/All Class Cattle Sale Thurs, May 14 All Class Cattle Sale Thurs, May 21 All Class Cattle Sale Sat, May 23� �May Horse Sale – Loose Horses 8:00am Thurs, May 28 Annual Turn-Out Cattle Special w/All Class Cattle Sale & Northern Livestock Internet Auction ✃ clip & save While usually a Christmas tradition, on Easter Sunday I hitched and drove my mule team. After a couple months layoff, I expected a few shenanigans, but they actually worked quite well. Once I unbridled the team, both mules snorted and spooked at the wagon they had been dragging for the previous hour, thus proving the effectiveness of the blinders limiting their rear vision. Unable to see clearly, my mules had dutifully strained into their collars... the exact deception progressives perpetuate on a similarly blind populace. The recent events at Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana, are a perfect example of the force the ruling class will resort to when blinders alone are insufficient to advance their agenda. In case you missed the story, a progressive news team specializing in gotcha-journalism discovered and invaded a little known pizzeria whose walls were adorned with crucifixes and Bible verses. Cornering Crystal, the young daughter of the owner, the news anchor created a fictitious question of a gay couple seeking the catering services of Memories Pizza for their wedding reception. Being a devout Christian, Crystal honestly speculated that such a celebration violates her religious beliefs, so she would most likely decline the business. Reserving the right to refuse service is commonplace in the free-market, but this question was a tripwire, and the trap snapped tight around Crystal’s neck. She should have quietly walked away. A couple months ago, I too rejected a business transaction after a new client verbally thrashed my receptionist, me, and my practice all before filling out the client information sheet. Apparently accustomed to receiving the princess treatment after abusing others, her mouth fell open when I put her cat back in its carrier, pointed to the door, and said we would not work for her. The staff cheered after she left. Life is short - way too short -- to work for jerks. To this day, I have no idea as to the sexual orientation of the nasty lady, which could have been the pivotal question had this incident happened in Indiana. The veterinarian /client /patient relationship is not a covenantal one described in the Holy Scriptures, so there was no hysterical media in my reception room, and I quietly returned to my morning duties. Crystal was not so lucky. The state-run media was looking to crucify a Christian in response to Indiana’s new Religious Freedom Act, and young Crystal was an easy sacrifice to nail to the cross. Using a technique taught by Pontus Pilate, ruling class activists reflexively launched into a full-bore flogging of Crystal. Jess Dooley, the head coach of the golf team at nearby Concord High School, tweeted, “Who’s going to Walkerton, IN, to burn down #memoriespizza with me?” There was a time when such threats would not be tolerated, but today, violence and intimidation are commonly used to remove Christianity from the American culture. A massive, all-knowing, -controlling, and -providing central government is the idolatrous god of the ruling class. Christians such as Crystal and her father Kevin are merely collateral damage in the bigger war to advance collectivism. America’s leftists hate Christians with an intensity rational people will never understand. Operating on the principle that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” the ruling class ignores the Islamic abuse of women, homosexuals, and Jews because the terrorists also hate Christians. Just last week, 147 college students in Kenya were executed simply for being Christians. Across the Middle East, ISIS terrorists are destroying century-old artifacts associated with the early years of Christianity and Judaism. So what does President Obama and his statist minions do? They provide Iran with a path to a nuclear weapon, turning a blind eye to true evil. Had enough yet? Or will you wait until it is you the progressives nail to the cross? 11 Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER ✁ View, Bid and Buy At All Of Our Cattle Sales LIVE ✱ At www.billingslivestock.com Compare Our Market & Give Us A Call. We Would Be Glad To Help! (888) 919-4738 Check Out What’s Happening at BLS & See Market Reports At www.billingslivestock.com 2443 North Frontage Rd. • Billings, MT 59101 • Ph: 406-245-4151 • Fax: 406-245-0391 Ty Thompson: Cattle Sale Manager & Auctioneer • 406-698-4783 Dan Catlin: Yard Foreman & Field Rep. • 406-671-7715 Bill Cook: Auctioneer & Field Rep. & Promotions • 406-670-0689 Bill & Jann Parker: Horse Sale Managers • 406-670-0773 Montana’s Pioneer Market - Call To Consign 1-800-635-7364 12 & Farm Food by Alan Guebert Where’s the love? While kids always choose Christmas as the best holiday of the year, Christians everywhere celebrate Easter as the most important because, they teach, the anniversary of Christ’s “victory over death” on the hilltop called Calvary proves both His divinity and the promise of salvation. Indeed, if you are Christian, Easter is where the ultimate sacrifice brings the ultimate gift, where death brings life, and where earthly charity brings heavenly hope. Come to think of it, maybe that’s why Congress leaves Washington D.C. for two weeks each Easter: its members are in search of charity and hope because, Lord knows, there’s little of Thursday, April 9, 2015 either on their hilltop. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack discovered that again March 27, the day before Palm Sunday, in an op/ed penned for the Wall Street Journal. In it Vilsack labeled the plan by Congressional Republicans to “block grant” - spin off to the states - the nation’s principle hunger-fighting program, the Supplemental Food Assistance Program, or SNAP, “ill-timed and ill-advised.” When posted online at wsj.com, Vilsack’s defense of SNAP was met with screaming derision and biting sarcasm. Of the 106 reader “replies” it generated, only one - and a lukewarm one at that - backed the Secretary; it called SNAP “needed.” The other 105 pummeled him for even putting fingers to keyboard. “Mr. Vilsack, your claim of a low incidence of (SNAP) fraud & error is equine manure,” wrote someone name Gene Hutchins. [The Journal requires online commenters to sign their names.] “This entire treatise is riddle(d) with total falsehoods. The Food Stamp programs are growing not shrinking... The program is waist deep in fraud... Food stamps are openly traded for drugs and booze... Total baloney!” wrote “gardener morris.” And Raymond Klett added, “Another Obama shill supporting big and dysfunctional government. Comrade Vilsack, WESTERN AG REPORTER lots of useless words to promote a political agenda.” Not one writer, however, offered one fact to support their views, and only a handful suggested any idea on how they’d fix what they described as a “wasteful” “lib” program filled with “fraud”’ run by “union pukes” and “the feckless amateurs in this lawless administration.” So, since it’s Easter, maybe we can - charitably and with love, of course - offer a few facts to calm our angry brothers and sisters. For example: - The average per person monthly SNAP benefit is $125, about $4.15 per day or $1.39 per meal. - In 2014, 92% of the $76 billion spent on SNAP was spent on food, 5% (or $3.8 billion) went to the states to administer the program, and 3% was spent on block grants to fund local programs like food banks. - Historically, SNAP benefits have equaled about 0.3% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. During the 20082011 economic crisis, however, that figure rose to 0.5%. In 2014, it fell to 0.45%, and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office sees it returning to its historic 0.3% by 2020. None of these figures, mind you, dispute SNAP’s size or inherent problems... $70 billion-plus per year, falling though it is, remains an enormous amount of money, and documented fraud - now pegged at a historical low of less than 1% of the total costs - still tops $500 million per year. Even at that, however, SNAP will add little to the federal budget deficit because projected costs continue to fall as GDP continues to rise. Very few federal programs - including the 2014 Farm Bill’s expanded crop insurance program - can make the claim. But it’s Easter, a time of sacrifice, charity, and love. As such, perhaps we can agree that spending just $3, and may even $4, out of every $1,000 of GDP isn’t too much for the richest country in the history of the world to feed its hungry. After all, as my church-going farm friends often ask, WWJD? (c) 2015 ag comm NRCS to provide $332 million to protect and restore... The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making available $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP applications may be submitted at any time to NRCS; however, applications for the current funding cycle must be submitted on or before May 15. ACEP easements help ensure productive farm and ranch lands remain in agriculture and protect the critical wetlands and grasslands, home to diverse wildlife and plant species. The 2014 Farm Bill consolidated three previous conservation easement programs into ACEP to make it easier for diverse ag landowners to fully benefit from conservation initiatives. In FY 2014, NRCS used $328 million in ACEP funding to enroll an estimated 145,000 acres of farmland, grassland, and wetlands through 485 new easements. ACEP’s ag land easements not only protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses, but they also support environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat, and protection of open space. American Indian tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with NRCS to purchase conservation easements. A key change under the new ag land easement component is the new “grasslands of special environmental significance” that will protect high-quality grasslands that are under threat of conversion to cropping, urban development, and other non-grazing uses. Wetland reserve easements allow landowners to successfully enhance and protect habitat for wildlife on their lands, reduce impacts from flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private and tribal landowners to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of these easements. Eligible landowners can choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement; tribal landowners also have the option of enrolling in 30-year contracts. To learn about ACEP and other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted Jason Frey, Field Editor North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota PO Box 155 Ipswich, SD 57451 Cell (701) 300-0845 E-mail: [email protected] If you're looking for herd bulls, replacements, registered or commercial females, I've been making the rounds in my territory. I'd like to help. Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER visited. He told me of the fight at Conway’s and said he hated to go back to Dry Head with the mean son of a gun as he was getting drunk. I told him not to go back but to winter with me. He said he might come back and do that, but he felt responsible for the St. John kid and the load as Meddles was apt to do anything. He was going to wait at my place until they came along, which he did. They camped that night at Pryor Creek near the old shearing pen. This is the way I heard the story of the killing as it came out in court. Meddles was taking care of the horses, and Roy was cooking supper on a campfire. Meddles had a six shooter laying in the front of the wagon. When he took the nosebags off the horses, he put the nosebags in the front of the wagon. Roy was taking the coffee pot off the fire with his back to him. Meddles picked up his gun, and shot Roy in the back; he fell into the fire. Meddles told the St. John boy he’d sure kill him if he ever told anybody. Meddles drug Roy over to the old shearing pen and covered his body with some brush and trash that was there. Then he went on to Dry Head. He told them he’d left Roy in town and he thought he could come when he wanted to as he had his horse. Someone riding by the shearing pens saw a bunch or magpies around it and went over to see what was there. He found Roy’s body. He reported it to the authorities. They traced Roy’s movements and found out about his trip with Meddles. When they arrested Meddles, the St. John boy told the details of the killing. Justice slipped up somewhere for Meddles only got a long prison term. I know he didn’t even serve all his term. They should have hung the cold-blooded son of a gun. Bill in his prime, about 1915. Diggin' in… by Bill Huntington One Cold-blooded Killer There has been a lot of gun play and killing around Billings, Montana, in the last 50 years. (Editor’s note: Gramps wrote this column in June 1952 for the Western Livestock Reporter.) One of the most cold-blooded murders was the uncalled-for killing of Roy McClaren, a cowboy that was shot in the back by Jim Meddles. I knowed them both. Roy McClaren was a very nice man. He worked for Nate Cooper that used to run a spread on Blue Creek, south of Billings. Roy used to break horses to ride; he was a very good hand and never abused a horse. Roy had the reputation of getting along with horses and handling them in a way that they hardly ever bucked when he rode them. I rode with him for several years on the horse roundups. I never saw him ill tempered or hard to get along with. All the boys liked Roy, and I never heard of him having a quarrel or argument with anyone. Jim Meddles worked over on the Dryhead (on the Crow Reservation) for a horseman by the name of Barry. I didn’t know Meddles too well, but he was altogether a different kind of a man than Roy. He always carried a gun and used to drink lots of hard liquor. When he got plastered, he was quarrelsome and mean. The main road to the Dry- head went right by my ranch, and often Barry or his men stopped overnight with me. One time Meddles come by on horseback on his way to the Dryhead carrying a considerable jag. There was a coal oil can full of coal oil by the back door. He shot it full of holes and then wanted to stay all night as it was evening. I was riding and hadn’t got in yet so my wife sent him to the bunk house. Next morning I told him that I didn’t like any shooting around my house and that from then on I wanted him to pass up my place. He said he just done the shooting because he was full of liquor. At the time of the killing, both Roy and Jim Meddles was working for Barry. He had sent Meddles, Roy, and a stepson in for supplies, a distance of about 60 miles. They had a camp outfit. Roy had a saddle horse with the outfit. If I remember right, Roy came with them as he wanted to get some new clothes. They stopped at Conway’s on the way to Billings. An argument started. I heard two or three of the cowboys say it started over Meddles beating a horse over the head. They had a fight, and Roy licked the hell of Meddles. They went on into town the next morning. I was going into town when I met Roy horseback on his way out. We stopped and ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS, FARMERS & RANCHERS!! • DUAL 2 SPEEK JACKS • 5' COMBO DOVETAIL • CHAIN BOX • ROUGH NECK 8 1/2 x 25' DUALLY 20,000# GVW FLATBED 8,750 $ SALE 6,200 SALE $ 8 1/2 x 25' 14000# GVW FLATBED STOCK TRAILERS 6'8x20' EXISS STOCK Reg. $19,515 • ALL ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION • 10 YEAR WARRANTY 14,500 $ SALE 17,900 SALE $ 7'x24' EXISS STOCK Reg. $23,728 ALL ALUMINUM TRAILER • SLIDING GATES • SLAM LATCHES • 8 YR. WARRANTY 7'x6.24' ALL ALUMINUM TITAN GN STOCK Reg. $22,361 SALE $ 19,500 20' STOCK TRAILER • 5 YEAR WARRANTY • SPARE STARTING • RAISED STEM AT 10,500 $ TO Greg “Montana Red” Haux (406) 628-2536 NEXUTREL LA RD Cell: 800-2555 FO www.laureltradingpost.com 620 SE 4th St. • Laurel, MT 59044 • 406-628-2536 • 1-877-428-4826 WE FINANCE MONTHLY OR ANNUAL PAYMENTS UT Governor says Utah committed to protecting public lands Utah Governor Gary Herbert said March 3 that the state is committed to protecting Utah’s pristine public lands, while also allowing access to ranchers and farmers and for energy development. During the opening of the state’s second annual Outdoor Recreation Summit in Salt Lake City, the Republican governor told more than 500 attendees that embracing the burgeoning outdoor industry is a key part of his plan to grow the state’s economy. The event is part of an ongoing effort by Herbert and state officials to show the lucrative industry that Utah is an ally that shares many of the same visions. “Our goal is to make sure we have that appropriate balance that allows us to protect those iconic vistas and venues that we have in the state (and) let our ranchers and farmers have access,” Herbert said. His comments came a day after several hundred people rallied at the state Capitol against Utah’s push to take control of 31 million acres of federally-owned land in the state. Holding signs that read, “Protect Wild Utah” and “No Utah Land Grab,” the people called on Herbert to retreat from the effort, saying transferring nearly 31 million acres of public land in Utah would limit access for hunters and outdoorrecreation enthusiasts and harm wildlife by splintering habitat. Herbert told the Associated Press after his speech that there are misunderstandings about the state’s push to take control of federal lands. He said the 2012 law he signed that demands that the federal government hand over the lands was fueled by the belief that locals know how to run the lands better than federal officials thousands of miles away. “We hear the argument that they are going to try and grab the lands and sell them off. That couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Herbert said. “We think we should have more to say about what’s taking place... It’s not just for outdoor recreation only. There is also industry and natural resource development and energy. All those things need to meet together in responsible ways.” REI president Jerry Stritzke, who also spoke at the summit, said he understands the tension and arguments on both sides of the debate, including the state’s desire to consider other uses of the land to drive the economy. Stritzke said he’s seen enough from Utah officials to believe officials intend to be good stewards of the land. Stritzke told summit attendees that Utah should be commended for creating an office of outdoor recreation, holding the summit, and recognizing the immense potential of the outdoor industry. Stritzke said Utah is becoming a model for how other states should work with the outdoor industry, estimated to bring in an annual economic benefit of $40 million to Utah. That’s one reason many companies are moving their operations to Utah, he said. “We see Utah really understanding the power of the outdoor industry and playing a leadership role in how it addresses that,” Stritzke said. Stritzke, who took over Seattle-based REI in 2013 after Sally Jewell left to become secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, told summit attendees that the industry has the potential to be a powerful force in political debates but needs to modify the narrative about outdoor recreation companies. They should be known not only for the economic impact, but also for how the industry promotes “life-changing, inspiring experiences that connect people to the outside,” he said. - By Brady McCombs, Associated Press, 3/3 A Cowman’s Best Friend at Calving Time! - Enables quick and safe calf catching! - Convenient, step in access of producer! - Reduces danger while working new calves! - Cuts labor, one person does the work! - Quick mount and dismount on both ATV and UTV (Side x Side) units! View Action Video at www.SafetyZoneCalfCatchers.com To Order, call 877-505-0914 TODAY! User-Friendly and Durable, Designed to Ensure Safe & Easy Calf Processing “A Ranch Horse Weekend” April 17-18, 2015 “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale & Open Ranch Horse Competition ~ ~ Ranch Horse Sale April 18, 2015 • “Made in the hills.” 60 head straight from the ranch. • Saddled and previewed FRESH, just like at home. • Vet screened, coggins tested. Ready to travel. Preview 9 A.M. Sale 1:30 P.M. Held at: Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch Indoor Arena Located at: Hesper Road & 72nd Street West Billings, MT Open Ranch Horse Competition April 17, 2015 • Begins at 9 A.M. Team Roping Preview • 2:00 P.M. Following Ranch Horse Competition Six head of unstarted 2-year olds sell! For Catalog and Info, please write or call: Montana Ranch Horse Association LLC P.O. Box 40 • Bridger, MT 59014 (406) 446-2203 [email protected] Catalog & Video Available Online www.realranchhorses.com 13 14 Thursday, April 9, 2015 AFBF selects new PAL class Jennifer Bergin, a rancher from Melstone, Montana, is one of 10 outstanding young farm and ranch leaders selected by the American Farm Bureau Federation as the organization’s eighth Partners in Agricultural leadership class. PAL is designed to help ag leaders accelerate their leadership abilities and solidify their roles as ag advocates. “The new PAL class represents the very ‘best of the best’ among today’s farmers, ranchers, and agri-business professionals,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “We look forward to working with them as they embark on an exciting journey that will equip them as vital contributors to our ag outreach efforts.” Bergin, who serves as Montana Farm Bureau’s District 3 Director, applied for the program because she wanted to become a better ag advocate. “There are too many places where spokespeople for agriculture are needed, and there aren’t enough advocates to go around. This training will help fill some of those areas where having more ag advocacy leaders is critical.” She noted it was a tough decision due to the extensive time commitment to the two-year program, which includes plenty of time spent with social media tweeting, Facebook, and blogging. That doesn’t include the training and travel. “I talked with my husband and sons, and we decided a time commitment now is worth the benefits it will bring in the future to having more people understand agriculture.” To be eligible for the PAL program, applicants must have previously developed leadership skills built through participating and excelling in at least one Young Farmers & Ranchers program. Bergin had been a Top 10 Finalist in 2014 for the AFBF Achievement Award. PAL training involves four learning modules designed to develop specific leadership skills while exploring components of leadership and its theories and philosophies. The modules build on one another over the two years of the program and include intense, in-person, hands-on training. AFBF created the PAL curriculum as a high-level, executive training program that prepares participants to represent agriculture in the media, public speaking, congressional testimony, and other advocacy arenas. Program graduates are given opportunities to step forward and promote awareness about issues important to farmers and consumers. The PAL program is sponsored by AFBF, the Farm Credit System, and Monsanto Co. - AFBF, 3/31 Alan Sears, Field Editor Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming 61 Westward Way Eaton, CO 80615 (970) 454-3986 Home/Office (970) 396-7521 CO Cell (308) 660-3866 NE Cell E-mail: [email protected] If you're looking for herd bulls, replacements, registered or commercial females, I've been making the rounds in my territory. I'd like to help. WESTERN AG REPORTER The Pet Squirrel Syndrome Here in east-central Illinois, we have lots of red fox squirrels. God gave squirrels and people the natural instinct to hunt and gather to survive. Illinois is one of the “Garden Spots of the World.” Thanks to God, we have fertile soil and usually plenty of rain and warm sunny days to grow what we need to feed ourselves and much of the world. We also have abundant walnut, hickory, and other nut trees and berries to sustain our thriving squirrel population. So why do more and more people continue to give squirrels a handout? Some time ago, goodhearted people started feeling sorry for them and assumed feeding ear corn would help the poor squirrels. Plus it makes people feel “all warm and fuzzy” (no pun intended) thinking they are helping the squirrels. However, I firmly believe subsidizing poor squirrels only creates more poor squirrels. In 1950, it was estimated that less than 2% of all documented Illinois squirrels received a handout. As I work my delivery route through my hometown, I see several generations of squirrels who have lost the will to work for a meal or to even store away walnuts or hickory nuts for a cold winter. Now in the January issue of The Compassionate Food Bank for Squirrels Newsletter, I read that over 47.2 % of our state’s nonworking squirrels received a free handout in 2014. As I walked through my local farm supply store last week, I saw a sealed, clear plastic bag of ear corn. It read “EAR CORN FOR SQUIRRELS” on the bag. What’s next? The truth is that our lawmakers are treating more and more people like squirrels. Neither is going to turn away from an easy handout. Our government seems to believe that they can fix poverty by throwing money at it. Our forefathers created a great model for the rest of the world to follow: a free country where God, family, goals, dreams, hard work, and pride will create the next generation of God, family, goals, dreams, pride, and more hard work 99% of the time. I grew up one of ten kids. I assure you we were very poor. Our father and mother told us that we could have anything we wanted and that all we had to do was work for it. Pride is a great motivator. It worked out fine. We all got jobs. Mr. Jones, our history teacher, once said, “Communism by definition is a system of social organization in which goods are held in common. It’s a great theory. It just has never ever worked anywhere.” I admit that I don’t have all the answers. I do believe that the Obama Theory of take from the rich and give to the poor is not fixing poverty; it seems to be getting worse. The number of American citizens on welfare has increased by 20 million since Obama became our president. In closing, I don’t know where my dad came up with one of his favorite quotes, but it sure rings true today. “Slums don’t make people; people make slums .” - Tom Ogle, Paris, IL WESTERNAGREPORTER.COM No surprise: Feds are LOSING money managing public lands The federal government loses 27 cents on average for every taxpayer dollar spent managing hundreds of millions of acres of public lands, according to a new study. State land trusts, on the other hand, actually earn a huge return managing public lands: about $14.51 on average for every dollar spent, according to a study by the free-market Property& Environment Research Center. In contrast, PERC found that federal lands only get a return of 73 cents on average for every dollar spent. The study concludes that transferring federal lands to the states would be a win for taxpayers. “By nearly all accounts, our federal lands are in trouble, both in terms of fiscal performance and environmental stewardship,” write PERC public lands experts Holly Fretwell and Shawn Regan. “On average, states generate more revenue per dollar spent than the federal government on a variety of land management activities, including timber, grazing, minerals, and recreation.” PERC’s study compared U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management stewardship to state land trusts in Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, and Arizona. What they found is that restrictive federal laws and poor incentives for bureaucrats cost taxpayers $2 billion from 2009 to 2013. In that time, BLM and the Forest Service spent $7.2 billion managing lands, but only earned about $5.3 billion in revenues - a net loss of nearly $2 billion. All the while, four western states spent just $16.5 million on management and earned $240 million in revenues. “The Forest Service generated just 10 cents in revenue for every dollar it spent from 2009 to 2013,” according to PERC’s study. “The Bureau of Land Management, however, earned a financial return of $3.11 for every dollar spent, primarily from mineral leases.” But even though the BLM is earning a return on every dollar spent due to mineral leases, it still pales in comparison to state land trusts. New Mexico generated $41 for every dollar spent on management, mainly due to mineral leases. - dailycaller.com, 4/1 Flexible Chain Harrow MODEL AW-CH07-3 AW-CH09-3 AW-CH11-3 AW-CH13-3 AW-CH15-3 AW-CH17-3 AW-CH19-3 AW-CH22-3 AW-CH24-3 AW-CH26-3 WIDTH 7' chain harrow 9' chain harrow 11' chain harrow 13' chain harrow 15' chain harrow 17' chain harrow 19' chain harrow 22' chain harrow 24' chain harrow 26' chain harrow Made from 5/8" diameter high carbon steel • Teeth both sides • 3" teeth angled at 45 degrees one side • 3" teeth angled at 15 degrees opposite side • Pasture Renovation • Intensive Grazing Maintenance • Seed Bed Preparation HEAVIEST IN THE INDUSTRY OURS 5/8" DIA. THEIRS 7/16" AerWay® Carrier Units are designed to be practical, durable and easy to use. The unit base is 2” heavy square tubing mounted to the frame. The 6 foot carriers are easily removed by a single pin. When the AerWay® is down, simply raise the rear of the harrow, secureon the rear hook. Then, lift the front bar of the harrow and secure with the chain. A three point hitch lift frame is also available. BILLINGS KUBOTA 5548 Holiday Ave. • Billings, MT • 800-775-3266 • 406/245-6702 Stockmen’s Livestock Exchange For instant Market News 24 hrs/day 7 days/wk from Billings, call 406-657-6400 24 hour price information: 406-657-6400 Source for Billings Markets: USDA Market News 406-657-6285 For Up-To-Date Market Reports visit our website www.cattleplus.com Public Auction Yards Billings, MT Feeder Cattle Weighted Average Report for 04/01/2015 Receipts: 740 Last Week: 636 Last Year: NA Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last week for any market comparison. Quality was average on most all feeders offered today. Many offerings were plain made and some were carrying more fill than buyers have been used to seeing. Flesh conditions were mostly light, with only a few offerings pushing moderate flesh scores. CME Feeder cattle future contracts finished mixed today with April contracts up 0.50 and May through September down 0.10-0.35. While buyers showed willingness to pay up money for some offerings, they were very selective in picking cattle that were of the caliber that they wanted to feed. Weigh-up cows offered average to below average weighup conditions today. Slaughter cows sold with moderate to good demand on mostly light offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on most all offerings. Feeding cows sold with mostly moderate demand today. Prices for feeding cows were generally steady with a few higher quality older offerings selling firm. Slaughter bulls sold 1.00-2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young 2-3 year old heifers, heiferettes and cows sold with moderate to good demand. Most prices this week were steady with last week’s prices. Feeder cattle receipts were 72 percent steers, 29 percent heifers; 66 percent weighing over 600 lbs. Offerings were 47 percent feeder cattle, 12 percent slaughter cows, 3 percent slaughter bulls, 30 percent feeding cows and cows returning to the country, balance bred cows and heifers. Next sale will be Wednesday April 8th, 2015. Billings Livestock Commission Billings, MT Feeder Cattle Weighted Average Report for 04/02/2015 Receipts: 3216 Last Week: 822 Last Year: NA Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week for an accurate market comparison, however most sales sold with higher undertones on a very high quality offering. Feeder cattle quality was outstanding today. Most offerings were attractive to very attractive. Flesh conditions were mostly light to moderate, with a few offerings in very thin flesh. The best demand today was seen for feeding steers and heifers to develop on grass. Many buyers were purchasing heavier grass cattle offerings as flesh scores were very light on offerings under 650 lbs. Additionally, many offerings of replacement type heifers sold with very good demand. The stands were packed throughout the day and many buyers were forced to bid very aggressively on replacement offerings. CME Feeder cattle contracts edged higher today giving even more support for buyers. Weigh-up cows sold with moderate to good demand today on mostly moderate offerings. Weigh-up conditions were mostly average today, with a few offerings pushing excess fill. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.003.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00 higher on very good packer demand. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to firm on a higher quality offering this week. Younger 2 year olds purchased to enter a breeding program sold firm today. Most offerings of 2-3 year olds were of better quality this week. Feeder cattle receipts were 32 15 Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER percent steers, 68 percent heifers; 81 percent weighing over 600 lbs. Offerings were 69 percent feeder cattle, 5 percent slaughter cows, near 1 percent bulls, 12 percent feeding cows and cows returning to the country balance bred cows and heifers. Next sale will be Thursday, April 9, 2015. Miles City Livestock Commission Feeder Cattle Weighted Average Report for 03/31/2015 Receipts: 1167 Last Week: 951 Last Year: NA Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were all too lightly tested last week for an accurate market comparison, however steady to higher undertones were noticed throughout the sell on all weight classes. Feeder cattle quality today ranged from average to attractive with a couple of long strings of very attractive offerings. Feeders were clean and in mostly green condition. Flesh scores were mostly light with only a few small groups pushing moderate flesh scores. Weighing conditions were mostly average with a few offerings pushing excess fill. CME feeder cattle contracts were lower today, however this didn’t put a damper on bidding as many buyers still have orders to fill and many are searching hard for heavier weight cattle to finish off the August contract. Buyer demand was moderate to good on mostly light offerings. Weigh up cows sold with moderate demand today on mostly light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to weak on a light test. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher this week. Feeding cows sold steady to firm on very light offerings. Young cows and heiferettes sold higher on very good demand. Buyers continue to buy these young offerings to ship to the southern plains, where herd rebuilding is in full swing. Offerings were 79 percent feeder cattle, 4 percent slaughter cows, 2 percent bulls, 10 percent feeding cows and cows returning to the country, balance bred cows and heifers. Next sale will be Tuesday April 7th, 2015. Northern Livestock Video Auction Feeder Cattle Weighted Average Report for 03/19/2015 Receipts: 1216 Last week: N/A Year Ago: 190 Trading was active and demand was good for all classes offered today. Value Added lots are those cattle that are All Natural or Non Hormone treated cattle (NHTC). Prices are fob with a 6-10 cent slide on most calves, few offerings sold with a 10-15 cent slide. Weight conditions include a 2-3 percent pencil shrink or equivalent. Heifer pairs were guaranteed that all calves would be at least one month old at time of delivery. Supply included 69 percent steers and 31 percent heifers. 100 percent of the offering was from the Northcentral Region. 100 percent of the sales over 600 lbs. Torrington Livestock Commission Co. Feeder Cattle Weighted Average Report for 04/03/15 Receipts: 1480 Week Ago: 550 Year Ago: 470 Compared to last Friday: Slaughter & Feeder Cows 1.00-2.00 lower. Slaughter Bulls 1.00-2.00 lower. Demand moderate. Supply included 10 percent slaughter cows and bulls; 25 percent feeder cows; 60 percent bred cows & pairs and 5 percent feeder cattle. Dickinson, ND Feeder Cattle Weighted Average Report for 03/26/2015 Receipts: 2499 Last Week: 3772 Year Ago: 1814 78 percent over 600 lbs. Next sale is April 9, 2015. 130.00 - 8.00 Total – 131,229.76 Gordon Livestock Auction CATTLE, HFR – 1 Price per CWT 500 – 599, 165.00 - 165.00 Total – 899.25 Gordon, NE 3-31-2015 Compared to last week: Feeder steers 500 & under lightly tested; 500-550 6.00 higher 550-600 10.00 higher; 600-650 16.00 higher; 650-700 28.00 higher; 700-750 11.00 higher; 750-800 4.00 higher; 800-850 8.00 higher; 850-900 6.00 lower. Feeder heifers 500550 18.00 higher, 550-600 7.00 lower, 650-700 7.00 higher. Good demand today, with many load lots of feeding type steers and heifers. Feeder steers made up 66 percent. Feeder heifers made up 34 percent. CATTLE, BULL – 9 Price per CWT 500 – 599, 205.00 - 205.00; 800 – 899, 170.00 - 170.00; 1000 – 1099, 117.50 - 117.50; 1100 – 1199, 119.00 - 119.00; 1200 – 10000, 149.50 - 136.00 Total – 18,869.55 CATTLE, COW – 90 head Price per CWT 900 – 999, 106.50 - 102.00; 1000 – 1099, 115.50 - 83.00; 1100 – 1199, 115.50 - 102.50; 1200 – 10000, Advertising, Subscriptions, Other Rates On Line: CATTLE, HFRETT – 43 head Price per CWT 600 – 699, 167.50 - 167.50; 700 – 799, 182.50 - 147.00; 800 – 899, 167.50 - 106.00; 900 – 999, 158.00 - 101.00; 1000 – 1099, 137.00 - 129.00; 1100 – 1199, 153.00 - 153.00 Total – 61,831.88 43 1)Gotoourwebsiteat www.westernagreporter.com 2)Clickon“OurRates”button 3)Thenclickononeofthefollowinglinks(bluetype): Subscriptions Commercial Display Livestock Display Classified Advertising CATTLE, BCALF – 4 Price per HEAD 0 – 99, 400.00 - 400.00 Total – 1,600.00 see us online at www.westernagreporter.com Spring Production Sale held at the ranch Monday, May 4, 2015 1 p.m. s S Axiom 4525 150 Angus Bulls S Anchor 4544 BW -1.6 WW +59 YW +102 M +31 Marb +.38 REA +.81 BW +.9 WW +63 YW +108 M +27 Marb +.42 REA +.65 Lot 1 - BD: 3/4/14 Reg. No. 17843452 BW: 72 205 Wt: 780/115 365 Wt: 1327/113 IMF: 3.30/123 REA: 13.8/107 S Open Country 420 Lot 6 - BD: 3/7/14 Reg. No. 17843088 S Anchor 2155 x S Elevate 9165 x Mohnen Pioneer 1945 BW: 77 205 Wt: 811/120 365 Wt: 1350/115 IMF: 3.10/116 REA: 14.8/115 S Whitlock 419 BW +2.6 WW +69 YW +120 M +26 Marb +.33 REA +.61 Lot 2 - BD: 3/5/14 Reg. No. 17887826 Open Country x Summit x Chisum BW: 88 205 Wt: 733/112 365 Wt: 1355/117 IMF: 3.69/133 REA: 14.0/108 BW +0.1 WW +58 YW +103 M +28 Marb +.52 REA +.61 SCourage Courage498 498 S Lot 10 - BD: 3/4/14 Reg. No. 17889906 S Whitlock 179 x Game Day x Basin Ambush BW: 68 205 Wt: 687/105 365 Wt: 1253/108 IMF: 2.63/95 REA: 13.1/101 BW +2.2 WW +62 YW +110 M +31 Marb +.38 REA +.66 S Summit 4535 Lot 4 - BD: 3/22/14 Reg. No. 17981886 Courage x Expedition x Grid Maker BW: 88 205 Wt: 706/ET 365 Wt: 1306/ET IMF: 3.52/115 REA: 14.2/105 Sons selling May 4th by: s S Summit 956 - 16 sons sell s S Anchor 2155 - 14 sons sell s S Chisum 255 - 14 sons sell s S Whitlock 179 - 5 sons sell s S McCoy 124 - 5 sons sell s S Chinook 9445 - 5 sons sell s S Chisum 2139 - 7 sons sell BW -1.1 WW +63 YW +104 M +36 Marb +.31 REA +.48 s S Chisum 6175 - 8 sons sell s s Connealy Courage - 11 sons sell s H A Open Country 2047 - 20 sons sell s Sitz Performer 9029 - 7 sons sell s Sitz RLS Rainmaker 6070 - 11 sons sell s A A R Ten X 7008 SA - 5 sons sell Lot 22 - BD: 3/6/14 Reg No. 17849694 Summit x S Rainmaker 9216 x Game Day BW: 66 205 Wt: 747/111 365 Wt: 1246/107 IMF: 3.02/113 REA: 12.8/99 1000 mile free deliverys Bulls are semen tested and fully guaranteed Large sire groups of ½, ¾, and ET full brothers Sale book and videos online at www.northernlivestockvideo.com 8377 7th Pkwy NE s s www.SpicklerRanch.com s [email protected] Justin (701) 674-3170 s Nathan (701) 674-3169 www.SpicklerRanch.com 16 Thursday, April 9, 2015 WESTERN AG REPORTER The case for free-range parenting... Editor’s note: This really rang true for me. I don’t think our ag-raised kids suffer from this over-the-top protection to the extent that their in-town counterparts do, but certainly the children in my family as well as their peers aren’t given the level of unrestricted freedom that my siblings and I were ... or even my daughter and her country cousins. We can’t lock up chickens... why children? LG On her first morning in America last summer, my daughter went out to explore her new neighborhood - alone, without even telling my wife or me. Of course we were worried; we had just moved from Berlin, and she was just 8. But when she came home, we realized we had no reason to panic. Beaming with pride, she told us and her older sister how she had discovered the little park around the corner and had made friends with a few local dog owners. She had taken possession of her new environment and was keen to teach us things we didn’t know. When this story comes up in conversations with American friends, we are usually met with polite disbelief. Most are horrified by the idea that their children might roam around without adult supervision. In Berlin, where we lived in the center of town, our girls would ride the Metro on their own - a no-no in Washington DC. Or they’d go alone to the playground, or walk a mile to a piano lesson. Here in quiet and traffic-safe suburban Washington, they don’t even find other kids on the street to play with. On Halloween, when everybody was out to trick or treat, we were surprised by how many children actually lived here whom we had never seen. A study by the University of California-Los Angeles has found that American kids spend 90% of their leisure time at home, often in front of the TV or playing video games. Even when kids are physically active, they are watched closely by adults, either in school, at home, at afternoon activities, or in the car, shuttling them from place to place. Such narrowing of the child’s world has hap- Lot 1 CED +11 BW +0.2 WW +56 YW +100 MLK +38 Sire: PA Powertool 9108 Lot 24 CED +2 BW +1.9 WW +53 YW +94 MLK +24 Sire: Bovagene Sprint of Lcr pened across the developed world. But Germany is generally much more accepting of letting children take some risks. To this German parent, it seems that America’s middle class has taken overprotective parenting to a new level, with the government acting as a super nanny. Just take the case of 10-yearold Rafi and 6-year-old Dvora Meitiv, siblings in Silver Spring, Maryland, who were picked up in December by the police because their parents had dared to allow them to walk home from the park alone. For trying to make them more independent, their parents were found guilty by the state’s Child Protective Services of “unsubstantiated child neglect.” What had been the norm a generation ago, that kids would enjoy a measure of autonomy after school, is now seen as almost a crime. Today’s parents enjoyed a completely different American childhood. Recently, researchers at the University of Virginia conducted interviews with 100 parents. “Nearly all respondents remember childhoods of nearly unlimited freedom, when they could ride bicycles and wander through woods, streets, parks, unmonitored by their parents,” writes Jeffrey Dill, one of the researchers. But when it comes to their own children, the same respondents were terrified by the idea of giving them only a fraction of the freedom they once enjoyed. Many cited fear of abduction, even though crime rates have declined significantly. The most recent in-depth study found that, in 1999, only 115 children nationwide were victims of a “stereotypical kidnapping” by a stranger; the overwhelming majority were abducted by a family member. That same year, 2,931 children under 15 died as passengers in car accidents. Driving children around is statistically more dangerous than letting them roam freely. Motor development suffers when most of a child’s leisure time is spent sitting at home instead of running outside. Emotional development suf- Lot 2 CED +8 BW +1.1 WW +52 YW +93 MLK +38 Sire: PA Powertool 9108 Lot 34 CED -2 BW +3.6 WW +60 YW +100 MLK +28 Sire: Med Rock Black Sprint 278 fers, too. “We are depriving them of opportunities to learn how to take control of their own lives,” writes Peter Gray, a research professor at Boston College. He argues that this increases “the chance that they will suffer from anxiety, depression, and various other mental disorders,” which have gone up dramatically in recent decades. He sees risky, outside play of children among themselves without adult supervision as a way of learning to control strong emotions like anger and fear. I am no psychologist like Professor Gray, but I know I won’t be around forever to protect my girls from the challenges life holds in store for them, so the earlier they develop the intellectual maturity to navigate the world, the better. And by giving kids more control over their lives, they learn to have more confidence in their own capabilities. It is hard for parents to balance the desire to protect their children against the desire to make them more self-reliant. And every one of us has to decide for himself what level of risk he is ready to accept. But parents who prefer to keep their children always in sight and under their thumbs should consider what sort of trade-offs are involved in that choice. At a minimum, parents who want to give their children more room to roam shouldn’t be penalized by an overprotective state. Cases like the Meitivs’ reinforce the idea that children are fragile objects to be protected at all times and that parents who believe otherwise are irresponsible, if not criminally negligent. Besides overriding our natural protective impulses in order to loosen the reins of our kids, my wife and I now also have to ponder the possibility of running afoul of the authorities. And we thought we had come to the land of the free. - By Clemens Wergin, New York Times, 3/20 Note: Clemens Wergin is the Washington DC bureau chief for the newspaper Die Welt. Lot 21 CED +5 BW +1.2 WW +52 YW +96 MLK +25 Sire: Bovagene Sprint of Lcr Lot 69 CED +6 BW +1.9 WW +57 YW +95 MLK +24 Sire: WK Bobcat
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