- [VOICEOVER] MONTANA AG
LIVE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE,
THE MSU EXTENSION SERVICE,
THE MSU AG EXPERIMENT STATION,
THE MONTANA WHEAT
& BARLEY COMMITTEE,
THE MONTANA BANKERS ASSOCIATION,
THE MSU COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURE AND,
THE GALLATIN GARDENERS CLUB.
♪ IF YOUR HERBICIDES
OR FUNGICIDES OR
♪ THE VEGGIES YOU ARE GROWING
IN YOUR GARDEN START TO MOLD.
♪ IF THE ANTS ARE ATTACKING
AND YOU£RE HAVING A HARD TIME.
♪ CALL MONTANA AG LIVE.
♪ KNAPWEED IN THE DITCH AND
THE OLD BULL'S GOT AN ITCH
♪ TICKS UPON THE SHEEP AND
THE WOOL IS REALLY CHEAP
♪ THE GOPHERS IN THE PASTURE
ARE EVEN WORSE THAN LAST YEAR
♪ MONTANA AG LIVE
WHERE ARE YOU? ♪
- [JACK] GOOD EVENING,
WELCOME TO MONTANA AG LIVE
ORIGINATING TONIGHT
FROM THE STUDIOS OF KUSM
ON THE BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS OF
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
HERE IN BOZEMAN, I'M JACK
RISSELMAN, I'LL BE YOUR
MODERATOR AND HOST THIS EVENING.
TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE
KIND OF A DIFFERENT TYPE
OF PROGRAM WHICH SHOULD
BE REAL INTERESTING AND
WE'RE GONNA WELCOME ALL
THE PHONE CALLS YOU CAN
POSSIBLY GIVE US TONIGHT
AND WE'LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM
TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA HAVE
KIND OF TWO SPECIAL GUESTS
AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S A LOT
OF PEOPLE PERCEIVE AS
CONFLICT AND THAT IS THE ROLE
OF PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE
AND CONSERVATION
AND HOW THEY SEEM AT
ODDS WHERE IN REALITY
IN MOST INSTANCES THEY WORK
VERY NICELY AND WE'RE GONNA TRY
TO VISIT THAT THIS
EVENING AND TALK ABOUT IT.
SO LET ME INTRODUCE
THE PANEL THIS EVENING,
Y'ALL RECOGNIZE TOBY
HE'S HAD A LITTLE ISSUE
AROUND HERE AND I THINK
HE'S GONNA HAVE TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
NEXT TO TOBY IS BOB SANDERS,
BOB SANDERS IS DIRECTOR
OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
FOR MONTANA FOR DUCKS UNLIMITED.
I'VE KNOWN BOB
FOR SEVERAL YEARS,
VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE
IN THAT AREA AND
HE WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS
TONIGHT ABOUT CONSERVATION
PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY
SOME OF THOSE
THAT DU IS INVOLVED WITH.
NEXT TO HIM IS KENT WASSON,
I'VE KNOWN KENT FOR I
HATE TO SAY HOW MANY YEARS
BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME,
KENT IS A FARMER AND RANCHER
A COMBINATION OF BOTH UP IN
PHILLIPS COUNTY NEAR WHITE
- [KENT] WHITEWATER
- [JACK] WHITEWATER AND LORING.
- [KENT] YEP.
- [JACK] AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW
WHERE LORING IS LOOK NORTH
IT'S ABOUT AS FAR NORTH
ON THE MONTANA MAP NORTH
OF MALTA THAT YOU CAN SEE
AND HE'S ALSO INVOLVED
WITH SARE SUSTAINABLE AG
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM
SO WE'LL GET INTO THAT AS TO
HOW IT EFFECTS CONSERVATION
AND AGRICULTURE, NEXT TO
THAT IS BARRY JACBOSEN,
BARRY IS AN ADMINISTRATOR
BUT I'M GONNA REFER TO HIM
TONIGHT AS A PLANT PATHOLOGIST
'CAUSE I THINK HE WOULD
MUCH PREFER TO BE KNOWN
AS A PLANT PATHOLOGIST.
ANSWERING THE PHONES THIS
EVENING IS BARB SCHOFF,
DON MATHRE, AND CHERYL
MOORE-GOUGH AND WE THANK 'EM
FOR BEING HERE AND ANY
TIME YOU WANT YOU CAN START
PHONING IN THE QUESTIONS AND
WE'LL GET TO 'EM BUT WE'RE
GONNA START OFF BY ASKIN' BOB
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO
FOR DU AND HOW IT IMPACTS
AGRICULTURE HERE IN MONTANA.
- [BOB] SURE, YEAH,
DUCKS UNLIMITED'S
SINCE 1984, WE'VE DONE OVER
80,000 ACRES OF PROJECTS AND
A LOT OF THOSE ARE
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PARTICULARLY RANCHERS WHERE
WE GET OUT ON THE GROUND,
WE RESTORE WETLANDS, WE ALSO
DO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
AND OTHER FORMS OF WHAT WE
REFER TO AS LAND PROTECTION
AND THEN DO A LITTLE BIT ON
THE PUBLIC POLICY FRONT, TOO.
LOBBY FOR GOOD BILLS THAT HAVE
A POSITIVE IMPACT NOT ONLY
ON THE WILDLIFE RESOURCE
BUT ALSO RANCHING.
- WE'LL GET INTO THAT, KENT
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING
ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND YOUR
PREVIOUS INVOLVEMENT WITH
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY?
- [KENT] UH, YES, I'VE BEEN
FARMING AND RANCHING SINCE I WAS
THIS BIG IN NORTH PHILLIPS
COUNTY, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH
MONTANA STATE EVER SINCE I
WAS A STUDENT AND, AND THEN
I GOT ON THE MONTANA AG
EXPERIMENT STATION BOARD FOR
NORTHERN, CENTER AND THEN
WAS ELECTED TO COME ON THE
STATE BOARD AND ENDED UP
TO BE ON I THINK THAT BOARD
FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS SO,
AND SINCE I'VE RETIRED AND
WENT BACK ON AND THEN I WAS
APPOINTED TO WESTERN SARE
WHICH IS SUSTAINABLE AG
RESEARCH WHICH WE GO OVER ALL
WESTERN UNITED STATES
AND ALL THROUGH
THE ISLANDS AND ALASKA.
- [JACK] RIGHT.
OKAY, SOMEBODY NEW
HERE ON THIS PROGRAM
BECAUSE ONE OF THE FIRST
QUESTIONS WE HAD THIS
EVENING CAME FROM MALTA
AND IT'S ACTUALLY FOR BOB
AND THIS PERSON FROM MALTA
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT
IF HE IS A RANCHER IN
PHILLIPS COUNTY, WHAT BENEFITS
WOULD A CONSERVATION
EASEMENT PROVIDE FOR HIM?
- [BOB] CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
I GUESS THE FIRST WORD IS
THERE'S, THERE'S NO ONE SIZE
FITS ALL, BUT THE BENEFITS CAN
INCLUDE OBVIOUSLY SOME PRETTY
GOOD INCOME FROM THE SALE
OF THE EASEMENT BUT ALSO
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I VIEW
AS RANCHERS CAN PARTNER WITH
AN AGENCY, AN ORGANIZATION,
LIKE DUCKS UNLIMITED TO FULFILL
THAT FUTURE VISION OF THEIR
LAND, WHAT THEY WANT THAT
LAND TO BE NOT ONLY FOR THE
NEXT 10 OR 20 YEARS BUT FOR
GENERATIONS DOWN THE LINE
SO FOR RANCHERS IT'S A
POWERFUL TOOL TO KEEP THAT LAND
IN RANCHING.
- [JACK] AND IT'S WORKING
PRETTY WELL IN THIS STATE?
- [BOB] IT'S WORKING GREAT
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT CONSERVATION
EASEMENT OPTIONS,
,^ USDA, NATURAL RESOURCE
CONSERVATION SERVICE,
FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE HAS
A LOT IN THIS PARTICULAR
CALL FROM MALTA, THEY'RE
VERY ACTIVE UP THERE,
FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICES
AS WELL AS MONTANA FISH,
WILDLIFE AND PARKS, DUCKS
UNLIMITED NATURE CONSERVANCY
HAS A PRESENCE UP THERE
AS WELL SO THERE ARE A LOT
OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND
THAT'S REALLY FINDING THAT
EASEMENT HOLDER THAT
YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH
AND THAT HAS A SHARED
VISION OF WHAT YOU WANT TO
SEE ON THE LANDSCAPE.
- [JACK] HOW WOULD A
RANCHER, WHAT TYPE OF LAND
WOULD HE NEED TO QUALIFY
FOR ONE OF THESE EASEMENTS?
- [BOB] TYPICALLY IT'S
INTACT NATIVE PASTURE,
IN THE CASE OF THE
FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE
IT HAS A HIGH DENSITY
OF WETLANDS OUT THERE
AND NOT ALL WETLANDS ARE
CAT-TAIL RINGED, DEEP WATER,
PERMANENT HABITATS, A
LOT OF THOSE MAY BE THAT
KIND OF THAT ODD WET AREA
THAT'S OUT THERE IN THE
SPRING, THOSE ARE TYPICALLY
WETLANDS AND THOSE ARE
VERY VALUABLE FOR A LOT
OF SPECIES OF WILDLIFE.
- [JACK] OKAY, WE'LL GET
BACK TO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
I'M GONNA JUMP OVER TO
BARRY QUICKLY AND THEN WE'LL
MOVE OVER TO BOB AND WE'RE
NOT GONNA FORGET YOU,
YOU'RE HERE, TOO.
(LAUGHING)
BUT ANYWAY, THIS QUESTION
CAME IN LAST WEEK, BARRY,
IT'S FROM POWER AND THEY WANT
TO KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION
WITH THE GMO WHEAT THAT WAS
FOUND AT THE HONLEY AREA
AROUND THE STATION AND WHAT
IS MSU DOING TO PROTECT THE
BREEDING PROGRAM FROM
GMO CONTAMINATION?
- [BARRY] THE LONG AND THE SHORT
OF IT THE LAST GMO RESEARCH
WORK WAS DONE IN 2003, 2001
THRU 2003 AND WAS BASICALLY
TO LOOK AT WAYS OF CONTROLLING
GROUND UP READY WHEAT.
WE'VE MONITORED UNDER THE
AFIS AGREEMENT THAT LAND
EVER SINCE AND THIS YEAR
ABOUT IN LATE JUNE, EARLY JULY
WE FOUND SOME WHEAT THAT
DIDN'T GET KILLED BY ROUND-UP,
ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT
APPLICATIONS, WE REPORTED IT
AS WE HAD TO, TO THE ANIMAL
PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE,
WE'VE BEEN COMPLYING WITH
ALL OF THEIR THINGS AND
THE PROBLEM IS PRETTY CLOSE
TO RESOLVED, IT WAS ONLY IN
A VERY SMALL AREA, IT WASN'T
ALL OVER THE AREA, THE OTHER
THING IS WHERE WE'VE WORKED
WITH ROUND-UP READY OR
OTHER GMO WHEATS, WE ALWAYS
KEEP OUR BREEDING PROGRAM
VERY FAR AWAY FROM THAT
AND EVEN OUR FOUNDATION
SEED OPERATIONS SO
THERE'S NO CO-MINGLING.
THERE'S VERY STRICT
REGULATIONS AS TO WHAT YOU
CAN DO IN THOSE FIELDS THAT
WHEAT HAS TO BE DESTROYED
AND THAT'S WHAT HAS HAPPENED
AT HUNTLEY THIS LAST YEAR
AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE IN
ANY OF OUR BREEDING LINES
OR IN OUR FOUNDATION SEED
OF ANY TRACE OF GMO AND
I THINK THIS JUST REALLY GOES
BACK TO THE SYSTEM WORKED
THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
- [JACK] I WOULD
AGREE, ABSOLUTELY.
KENT, AGAIN THE SAME
PERSON FROM MALTA,
YOU MUST HAVE A FRIEND
OR TWO UP THERE.
(LAUGHING)
- [KENT] OR SOMETHING.
- [JACK] OR SOMETHING, THEY
KNOW THAT YOU'VE HAD SOME
EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST WITH
DUCKS UNLIMITED AND THEY
WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPOUND
A LITTLE BIT ON HOW YOU'VE
WORKED WITH CONSERVATION
AGENCIES AS A FARMER
- [KENT] YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN
A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR US
AS A FAMILY FARM AND RANCH,
I THINK WHEN WE FIRST WENT
INTO IT AND I STOOD IN FRONT
OF BOB AND TOLD HIM THAT WE'RE
A VERY PROGRESSIVE FAMILY,
THAT WE INTEND TO YOU KNOW,
TO TELL EVERYTHING STRAIGHT
UP THE WAY WE SEE THINGS
AND WE'LL WORK WITH THEM
AND THEY WORKED, HAVE WORKED
VERY WELL WITH US, WE'VE
LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HIS
NON-PROFIT OR THAT NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS
HELPED US MAYBE ENHANCE
OUR HABITAT, HE'S LEARNED
A LOT FROM US ON OUR GRAZING
SYSTEMS AND WHAT WE HAVE
TO DO IN NORTH PHILLIPS
COUNTY TO GET GRASS TO GROW,
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T POP UP
IN MARCH, IT POPS UP IN JUNE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE
LEARNED AND WE'VE DONE A LOT
OF THINGS, HE'S HELPED US
FACILITATE A, NOT WITH THE
EASEMENT BUT WITH A SHARE,
WITH FISH & GAME TO PUT
IN A BUNCH OF STOCK TANKS,
PIPELINES TO SPREAD OUT
THE RIPARIAN AREAS THAT, YOU
KNOW, I THINK ONCE WE WILL GET
'EM ON THE GROUND AND
RUNNING WILL REALLY BE
AN ENHANCEMENT TO THAT GROUND
FINANCIALLY AT THE TIME
WHEN THEY BOUGHT IT,
MY FAMILY COULDN'T AFFORD
IT AND SO, AND WE'RE IN
THE PROCESS NOW OF PURCHASING
IT FROM DUCKS UNLIMITED
AND I THINK IT'S
GONNA BE A GOOD DEAL.
WE DIDN'T SHARE COMPLETELY
IN THE AMOUNT OF THE EASEMENT
BUT IN THE LONG RUN IT'S
GOING TO BE A BENEFIT TO US.
- [JACK] OKAY.
- [KENT] PARTIALLY.
- [JACK] WE'LL GET BACK TO
THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND
TALK ABOUT HOW SOME OF
THESE PROGRAMS WORK.
TOBY, THIS PERSON IS FROM
BILLINGS AND THEY'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE PONDEROSA PINES
IN THE AREA THAT SEEM
PEAKED WITH ABOUT TEN TO
TWENTY PERCENT OF THE NEEDLES
BROWN IN THE TREES,
WHAT'S GOING ON?
- [TOBY] THAT'S WHAT THEY
CALL SEASONAL NEEDLE DROP,
I'M GUESSING AND IT'S A
NATURAL OCCURRENCE THAT
HAPPENS IN PONDEROSA PINES
EVERY TIME THIS YEAR.
THE TREE CANNOT SUSTAIN ALL
OF THOSE NEEDLES GOING INTO
WINTER SO IT DROPS A LOT OF
THOSE NEEDLES AND YOU'LL SEE
THAT HAPPEN FOR NOT ONLY
PINES, YOU'LL SEE IT,
MY DOUGLAS FIR IN MY
BACKYARD HAS GOT A SEASONAL
NEEDLE DROP, IT'LL HAPPEN
WITH FIRS, SPRUCE, PINES,
JUST ABOUT ANY KIND
OF THE CONFIERS.
- [JACK] OKAY.
THIS PERSON HAS ACTUALLY
CALLED IN LAST WEEK
AND THIS WEEK SO THEY
ARE PRETTY SERIOUS ABOUT
HOW DO THEY KILL A
RUSSIAN OLIVE TREE?
KENT, I KNOW YOU GOT
SOME OF THOSE WEEDS
UP IN YOUR COUNTRY,
YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT
OR TOBY OR WHOEVER?
- [KENT] WELL IN OUR
COUNTRY AND MORE IN THE
MILK RIVER VALLEY THAN
UP IN OUR COUNTRY BUT
YOU KNOW IT'S A NOXIOUS WEED
IN THE MILK RIVER VALLEY
AND THE ONLY WAY THEY
KILL IT IS WITH A CHAINSAW
IT'S, IT JUST SEEMS TO
SPREAD IN DITCHES AND STUFF
ANYWHERE THERE'S WATER AND,
YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY UP IN OUR
COUNTRY THERE'S A LITTLE
BIT OF IT AROUND USING
SNOW BREAKS AND WIND
BREAKS AND STUFF BUT
MOSTLY CARAGANAS BUT.
- [TOBY] YEAH, THE,
IN FACT I WAS JUST AT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN TREE
SCHOOL IN CODY, WYOMING
AND THEY WERE TALKING
ABOUT PROGRAMS IN WHICH
THEY WERE GOING THROUGH
ERADICATING RUSSIAN OLIVE
IN PASTURE AND IT WAS
PRETTY INTERESTING HOW THEY
WOULD CUT THAT AND THEN ALSO
USE A BASIL SPRAY ON THAT
STUMP AND IT WAS NICE 'CAUSE
IT HAD A MARKER TO IT SO THEY
KNEW HOW TO KILL IT OR WHAT
THEY HAD KILLED AND THEY HAD
PRETTY GOOD CONTROL AND IT
WAS PRETTY INTERESTING TO SEE
KIND OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER
PICTURES ALL THE WAY THROUGH
I THINK WYOMING AND INTO
NEBRASKA OF WHAT THEY DID
SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY,
IT'S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO
DO THAT, YOU KNOW,
UNLESS YOU HAD THE
TIME TO GO THROUGH
OR HAD THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT.
- [JACK] OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
THAT CALL CAME FROM
LIVINGSTON AND I HOPE
THEY CAN GET THEIR TREES,
RUSSIAN OLIVE UNDER CONTROL.
BOB, FROM SAKEL, THIS
PERSON WANTS TO KNOW DOES
DUCKS UNLIMITED BUY LAND OR
DO THEY JUST GIVE EASEMENTS
AND HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT
SELLING LAND TO DU IF THEY
HAD LAND THAT THEY
WANTED TO SELL TO DU.
- [BOB] YES, DUCKS
UNLIMITED DOES BUY LAND,
WE'VE GOT A PROGRAM THAT
WE CALL REVOLVING LANDS
AND THAT STEMS FROM THE
APPROACH THAT WE USE AS
OPPOSED TO BEING A
LONG-TERM LAND OWNER IN ANY
GIVEN LOCALITY WE TRY TO BUY
THE LAND, DO A CONSERVATION
EASEMENT, TYPICALLY WITH A
FEDERAL OR A STATE AGENCY
DO IMPROVEMENTS, AS KENT
MENTIONED EARLIER, WE PUT IN
CROSS-FENCING FOR BETTER
PASTURE MANAGEMENT,
ALTERNATIVE STOCK WATER
SOURCES, A LOT OF AMENITIES THAT
MAKE IT BETTER RANCH, A
BETTER CATTLE RANCH AND WE'LL
HOLD THAT FOR THREE TO FOUR
YEARS AND THEN WE SELL IT
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING
THROUGH OUR FIRST ONE RIGHT
NOW WITH KENT, KENT'S BEEN
OUR GRAZING LESSEE OUT THERE
FOR THREE YEARS AND WE
IDENTIFIED KENT AS A GOOD,
RESPONSIBLE OPERATOR, WE
LIKED EVERYTHING ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, HIS STOCKING RIGHTS OUT
THERE AND ALL THE POSITIVE
ATTRIBUTES NOT ONLY ON THE
LAND THAT HE LEASES FROM US
BUT ALSO HIS OWN LANDS THAT
HE GRAZES, EVERYTHING LOOKED
GOOD AND SO WE'RE PURSUING
THAT WITH KENT RIGHT NOW,
IN FACT WE'VE GOT AN
OPTION WE SHOULD BE CLOSING
HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
- [KENT] ABSOLUTELY.
- [JACK] HOW DOES, WHAT
QUALIFIED THAT LAND
THAT YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT TO FALL INTO THAT
CATEGORY WHERE YOU
WOULD BUY IT RATHER THAN
TRY TO LEASE IT OR
PROVIDE AN EASEMENT TO THE
PREVIOUS OWNER?
- [BOB] YEAH, TYPICALLY OUR
FIRST APPROACH IS TO WORK
WITH THE LAND OWNER AND IF
HE OR SHE WANTS TO DO IT
THEMSELVES THAT'S PREFERRED,
A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THESE,
THESE PROPERTIES COME ON THE
MARKET A LOT OF TIMES I'LL DRAG
MY FEET BECAUSE I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL FOLKS
HAVE A CHANCE TO
DO IT LIKE KENT.
UM, IF THAT'S NOT
POSSIBLE, THEN WE'LL GO IN
AND WE'LL BUY THESE, NOW,
THROUGH THE REVOLVING
LANDS WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS
SHOWCASE AS MANY DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE
SO DUCKS UNLIMITED CAN LOOK
THE LANDOWNER, LOOK A RANCHER
IN THE EYE AND SAY, "HEY,
"WE'RE NOT ONLY JUST
RECOMMENDING THESE PROGRAMS,
"WE'VE DONE THEM."
AND I'M VERY TRANSPARENT WITH
THE NUMBERS, WHEN I WORKED
WITH KENT IT'S LIKE HERE'S
WHAT'S THE EASEMENT'S WORTH
AND A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL
DO WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED,
NUMBERS WE'VE EXPERIENCED
BECAUSE EACH APPRAISAL
ON EACH PROPERTY'S A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT SO YOU DON'T
WANT TO GIVE, I'M A BIOLOGIST,
I'M NOT A LAND APPRAISER--
- [JACK] RIGHT.
[BOB] OR A REAL ESTATE
EXPERT SO I TRY TO SPEAK FROM
EXPERIENCE AND, YOU KNOW,
LIKE ANYTHING, YOUR EXPERIENCE
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE COULD BE
DIFFERENT BUT THE PROGRAMS
ARE OUT THERE, THEY'RE
SHOWCASED AND THE POSITIVE
ATTRIBUTES, THE COST SHARE,
THE MATCHING RATES, THAT'RE
OUT THERE THROUGH THESE FEDERAL
PROGRAMS, THEY'RE TESTED
AND DEMONSTRATED TO WORK
THROUGH DUCKS UNLIMITED
AND THEN LOCAL LANDOWNERS
CAN PICK THOSE UP AND
YOU KNOW DUCKS UNLIMITED,
WE'RE NOT GONNA TOUCH
EVERY PARCEL UP THERE THAT
COMES FOR SALE BUT IF OTHERS
CAN LOOK AT IT AND SAY,
"HEY, THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM,
"AND THIS WORKS," THEN WE
DON'T HAVE TO TOUCH THAT,
IN FACT WE'LL PROBABLY, WE
MAY WORK OURSELVES OUT OF
BUSINESS UP THERE AND LOCAL
FOLKS WILL DO IT ON THEIR OWN
JUST BASED ON THE EXAMPLE
OF HOW IT WORKED FOR
DUCKS UNLIMITED ON
THESE PROPERTIES.
- [JACK] SOUNDS
LIKE A GOOD PROGRAM,
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GET BACK
TO SOME MORE QUESTIONS
THAT HAVE COME IN
ON SIMILAR THINGS.
BARRY, FROM CLANCY, THIS
PERSON HAS A MASSIVE
AMOUNT OF SCABBY POTATOES
THIS YEAR, SHE THINKS IT
MIGHT BE A RESULT OF TOO
MUCH MOISTURE SHE'S THINKING
GYPSUM SHOULD BE USED NEXT
YEAR, IS THIS A GOOD SOLUTION?
- [BARRY] NO.
- [JACK] OKAY.
WHAT IS A GOOD SOLUTION?
- [BARRY] THE BEST SOLUTION
IS TO GROW A VARIETY THAT HAS
SOME RESISTANCE AND THE, I
JUST REDID THE MSU POTATO
GARDEN GUIDE AND LISTED ALL THE
DISEASE RESISTANCE IN THERE,
SHE SIMPLY NEEDS TO GROW
A RESISTANT VARIETY.
THE OTHER THING, TOO MUCH
MOISTURE IS NOT THE CASE.
SCAB LIKES IN WHEN IT'S
DRY SO BASICALLY FROM TUBER
INITIATION THROUGH ABOUT
THREE-QUARTERS BULKING
IF YOU CAN ACTUALLY KEEP
THE SOIL FAIRLY MOIST YOU'LL
HAVE LESS SCAB EVEN ON
A SUSCEPTIBLE VARIETY.
- [TOBY] AND BARRY,
DOES, IF YOU HAVE A SOIL
THAT HAS SCAB, WILL
YOU ALWAYS HAVE SCAB OR
CAN YOU ROTATE OUT OF IT?
- [BARRY] YOU'LL
ALWAYS HAVE SCAB.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT'LL
SAY, "OH, WE CAN TREAT IT
"WITH SULPHUR OR SOMETHING
TO MAKE IT MORE ACIDIC."
YOU'VE GOT TO GET DOWN
BELOW PH 5.3 AND THAT'S NOT
THE BEST FOR FERTILITY SO,
JUST GROW RESISTANT VARIETY
AND WE'VE GOT RED ONES,
AND WE'VE GOT RED FLESH
WITH YELLOW, RED SKINNED
YELLOW FLESH, WE'VE GOT
RUSSETS, WE'VE GOT
ALL KINDS OF POTATOES.
- [JACK] AND WHERE DO THEY
GET A LIST OF THESE POTATOES?
- [BARRY] THE MSU EXTENSION
SERVICE HAS A POTATO
GARDEN GUIDE AND ACTUALLY
WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE
SITUATION HERE WITH OUR
SEED POTATO GROWERS THAT
ACTUALLY GROW MONTANA SEED
AND THEY DISTRIBUTE IT OUT
TO THE COUNTIES AND IT'S
REALLY A NEAT PROGRAM, JACK.
- [JACK] EXCELLENT
PROGRAM, I AGREE.
TOBY, QUICK QUESTION,
COTTONWOOD TREE IS SENDING
UP SUCKERS THROUGH THE
ASPHALT, WHAT CAN THEY DO?
- [TOBY] WELL, IF IT'S OUT
THROUGH THE ASPHALT IT'S MORE
THAN FIVE FEET AWAY FROM
THE TRUNK OF THE THREE JUST
SPRAY IT WITH YOUR REGULAR
OLD LAWN WEED HERBILIZ-
OR HERBICIDE 240
WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.
- [JACK] OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
A QUESTION CAME IN, KENT,
ABOUT SARE AND LET'S
GET INTO SARE A LITTLE BIT.
- [KENT] YEP.
- [JACK] EXPLAIN WHAT SARE
IS AND THE GOALS OF SARE
AND HOW IT MAY RELATE TO
CONSERVATION AND WHATEVER
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
- [KENT] OKAY, WHAT WE'RE
WESTERN SARE WE CALL IT FROM
THE BIG WEST, THERE'S
FOUR SARES ALL THROUGH THE
UNITED STATES DIVIDED OUT
BUT WE DEAL IN WESTERN SARE
AND WE HAVE THE 13 WESTERN
UNITED STATES, WE HAVE ALL
THE MICRONESIA, MARIANA AND
THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AND
ALL OF ALASKA AND IT'S A FEDERAL
USDA PROGRAM THAT THERE'S
THERE'S A LOT OF GRANT OPTIONS
AND IT BECOMES A GRANTING
PROCESS THROUGH EDUCATORS,
THROUGH PRODUCERS, THROUGH
PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY HAVE
A CHANCE TO GO AFTER SOME
MONEY FOR SPECIFIC THINGS THAT
HAVE TO BE SUSTAINABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE IS A WORD
THAT NOBODY HAS DEFINED,
YOU KNOW, IN MY
BUSINESS IT'S THAT WE'LL
LEAVE THIS LAND IN
A BETTER PLACE THAN
WHAT WE GOT IT, WE'LL LEAVE
IT FOR THE GRANDKIDS AND
THEIR KIDS IN A BETTER SPOT
FOR THEM TO CARRY ON THE
LEGACIES THAT WE LIVE IN
AND IN WESTERN SARE WE HAVE
ABOUT 16 PEOPLE ON OUR
BOARD AND WE COVER A LOT
OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
FROM EPA TO ARS, YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE SOME PRODUCERS,
WE HAVE SOME BUSINESS,
AGRI-BUSINESS PEOPLE AND
WE JUST STUDY AND WE MAY
DO THINGS WITH POLLINATORS,
VINEYARDS, ONE-ACRE HORSE
BARNS, YOU KNOW, WE GET ALL
KINDS, IT ISN'T JUST A FOR
BIG, ACTUALLY IT'S AND IT
ISN'T JUST ORGANIC, A LOT OF
PEOPLE THINK WELL IT'S JUST
ORGANIC, SARE IS NOT ORGANIC,
IT'S ALL ABOUT AGRICULTURE AS
A ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM OF WHAT
HAPPENS AND WHAT CHANGES
AND WE TRY TO HELP
THAT AND EDUCATE PEOPLE.
- [JACK] WHAT, WHAT IS THE
ACTUAL GOALS OR, BARRY,
YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED
WITH SARE WHAT?
- [BARRY] YEAH, I'VE
HAD A COUPLE OF SARE
ONE OF THE REAL STRENGTHS OF
THE PROGRAM IS YOU HAVE TO
INVOLVE PRODUCERS IN THE--
- [KENT] YEAH.
- [BARRY] IN THE FORMULATION,
GUIDANCE, DISSEMINATION
OF THE RESULTS AND, YOU
KNOW, THAT'S HOW YOU CHANGE
THINGS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE
PERSON SEES IT WITH THEIR OWN
HANDS OR EYES, IT'S
GONNA GET ADOPTED.
- [KENT] YES.
- [BARRY] AND I THINK IT'S
A VERY, VERY STRONG PROGRAM
BECAUSE OF THAT, AND THAT
PRODUCER INVOLVEMENT.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT
THAN OUR SOME OF OUR OTHER
RESEARCH PROJECTS WHICH
ARE PRETTY MUCH MORE
IN THE LAB AND WE GO OUT
TO THESE GUYS AND SAY,
"WELL, LOOK AT THIS."
AND THEY SAY, "WELL, I'M NOT
QUITE SO SURE ABOUT THAT."
- [KENT] YEAH, AND THAT IS
THE GREAT THING THAT SINCE
I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THERE FOUR
YEARS AND IT HAS EVOLVED
INTO EXACTLY THAT IF YOU'RE
GONNA PUT A GRANT IN YOU HAVE
TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE TO
FIVE PRODUCERS INVOLVED,
THOSE TYPE OF THINGS AND THERE'S
AND THERE'S A PROFESSIONAL
PDP GRANT SYSTEM, TOO, THAT'S
STRICTLY FOR FARMERS AND
PRODUCERS AND A FARMER DOESN'T
HAVE TO BE A BIG FARMER,
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE MAYBE
$1,200 GROSS INCOME A YEAR
OFF OF, OFF OF,
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES,
SO IT'S A GREAT
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
TO GET THINGS OUT AND IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE NEW AND
INNOVATIVE, THERE'S THE
TWO THINGS: SUSTAINABLE AND
NEW AND INNOVATIVE, YOU
CAN'T REINVENT THE WHEEL
AND DO IT THROUGH SARE, YOU
HAVE TO DO IT SOMETHING NEW.
- [BARRY] AND I THINK THE OTHER
THING, KENT, YOU MENTIONED
IS THE EDUCATION, EVERY ONE
OF THOSE PROJECTS HAS GOTTEN
AN EXTENSION
EDUCATION PIECE TO IT.
- [KENT] YES, YEP.
- [BARRY] AND THAT GETS
EVALUATED AND IF YOU DON'T
DO A GOOD JOB YOU GUYS'LL
SAY NO TO US THE NEXT TIME.
[KENT] YEP.
WE SPENT TWO SUMMERS NOW,
ONE IN PORTLAND PUTTING ON
AN INFRASTRUCTURE CONFERENCE
TO JUST TO HELP PEOPLE GET
THEIR MARKETING AND
THE INFRASTRUCTURE
MARKETING, TRANSPORTATION
AND THINGS, IT'S AMAZING.
WE WENT TO GUAM THIS SUMMER
AND PUT ON THE SAME ONE
FOR ALL THE ISLANDS, IT'S
AMAZING THAT A LOT OF THE SAME
TROUBLES THAT WE HAVE HERE
IN THE MAINLAND THEY HAVE
THERE IN A DIFFERENT
SCALE BUT IT'S MARKETING,
TRANSPORTATION THOSE
TYPE OF THINGS.
- [JACK] WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE GRANTS THAT RESEARCHERS
HERE IN MONTANA HAVE
RECENTLY RECEIVED?
- [KENT] YOU KNOW A LOT OF
'EM WILL BE A WHOLE SYSTEM
AND IT'LL BE GROWING AN OIL
SEED TO PRODUCE A VIABLE
BIO-DIESEL TYPE OF SYSTEM,
I'VE SEEN SOME CROPPING
SYSTEMS, AGRI-NOMIC CROPPING
SYSTEMS THAT COME THROUGH
THAT HOW THEY ROTATE THE
CROPS IN DIFFERENT WAYS THAT
ENHANCES THE SOIL AND
LIKE I SAY WHEN I'M,
WHEN MONTANA COMES IN TO
THE PICTURE I HAVE TO STEP
OUT OF THE ROOM SO I CAN'T BE,
I CAN'T BE IN THE ROOM WHEN
THEY'RE DISCUSSING IT TOO
MUCH, I CAN SEE THE END RESULT
BUT MONTANA IS MAYBE
NOT NEAR THE TOP
BUT THEY'RE THERE, YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE NOT AT THE BOTTOM
FOR THE AMOUNT OF GRANTS
AND IT JUST, IT JUST TAKES
A PROCESS AND IT'S A LITTLE
TOUGHER PROCESS.
- [JACK] YOU KNOW I THINK
I READ ABOUT ONE WHERE SOIL
AND THE ANIMAL AND RANGE
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT GOT A BIG
GRANT TO LOOK AT SAGE GROUSE
AND GRAZING PRACTICES.
- [KENT] THEY DID.
- [JACK] AND, YOU KNOW,
SAGE GROUSE ARE DEFINITELY
AN, I WON'T SAY AN
ENDANGERED SPECIES, THAT'S
THE WRONG TERM BUT A
THREATENED SPECIES.
- [KENT] IT IS.
- [JACK] AND THE GRAZING
PRACTICES I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
GRANT THAT THEY COULD DO.
- [KENT] THERE WAS ANOTHER
ONE AFTER THE FIRES IN
THE ROUND-UP AREA THERE THAT
THEY GOT A REALLY NICE GRANT
TO STUDY OF HOW THAT
GROUND COMES BACK.
- [JACK] OKAY.
TOBY, QUICKLY, WHAT KIND
OF GRASS SHOULD I PLANT FOR
A NEW LAWN THIS FALL OR IS IT
TOO LATE TO PLANT A NEW LAWN?
- [TOBY] UM, IT'S NOT TOO
LATE TO SEED, I WOULD WAIT
JUST A LITTLE BIT UNTIL WE'RE
GONNA GET THE SNOW COVER AND
TRY TO SEED RIGHT BEFORE SNOW
COVER, HOWEVER, I USUALLY
WOULD JUST WAIT UNTIL
SPRING AT THIS POINT.
- [JACK] BLUE GRASS?
- [TOBY] YEAH, KENTUCKY BLUE
GRASS IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD
UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO WITH
SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS--
- [JACK] NOT ZOYSIA?
- [TOBY] NOT ZOYSIA GRASS, NO.
- [JACK] OKAY.
- [TOBY] I DO TELL PEOPLE
THERE'S REALLY, I MEAN THERE'S
A LOT OF OPTIONS OUT THERE BUT
THERE'S NOTHING THAT REALLY
YOU KNOW OUT THAT'S TAKES THE
PLACE OF KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS.
- [JACK] ALL RIGHT.
- [BARRY] RIGHT, YOU KNOW,
I'M GONNA JUST STEP IN 'CAUSE
WE GET A LOT OF YARDS THAT
HAVE MIXED SHADE AND OTHER
THINGS, BLUE GRASS
DOESN'T DO WELL IN SHADE.
- [TOBY] NO, IT DOESN'T.
- [BARRY] AND I WOULD REALLY
SOMEBODY'S GONNA SEED SOMETHING
USE A MIXTURE OF THE FINE
FESCUES AND BLUE GRASSES AND
LET NATURE SORT OUT WHAT'S
GONNA BE PREDOMINANT BASED
ON THE GROWING CONDITIONS
IN THAT PARTICULAR LAWN.
- [TOBY] YEAH, YOU'RE
LOOKING AT YOU KNOW PROBABLY
60%-65% KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS,
PROBABLY 30% FINE FESCUE
IN A SUNNY SITUATION, IN A
SHADED SITUATION IT'S GONNA
REVERSE, YOU'RE PROBABLY
LOOKING ABOUT 65% FINE FESCUE
AND ABOUT 30%
KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS.
- [BARRY] IF YOU SEED
THAT, SEED A MIXTURE
IT'LL SORT ITSELF OUT.
- [TOBY] YEAH AND EVERYBODY'S
WONDERING WHERE'S THE OTHER
5% THAT'S PROBABLY PERENNIAL
RAG GRASS, THE ONLY REASON THEY
REALLY PUT THAT IN THERE IS
BECAUSE IT GERMINATES IN ONE
TO TWO DAYS SO YOU SEE, "AH,
I HAVE A GRASS COMING UP."
(LAUGHING)
WHEREAS EVERYTHING ELSE TAKES
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS.
- [KENT] THAT WORKS.
- [JACK] BOB, THIS QUESTION
CAME IN FROM SHOTO,
THEY WANT TO KNOW FIRST IS A
CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOREVER
OR CAN YOU PUT A TIME LIMIT
ON IT, SAY 10-20 YEARS?
- [BOB] TYPICALLY THEY'RE
PERPETUAL, THEY'RE PERMANENT.
- [JACK] OKAY.
- [BOB] THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS
WE CLASSIFY THOSE MORE AS
A LONGTERM LEASE SIMILAR TO
CRP, CRP WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT
EXAMPLE OF A 10 TO 15 YEAR
PROGRAM THAT YOU COULD PUT YOUR
LAND INTO AND THEN GET IT OUT.
WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENT
IS ONE THROUGH USDA
THROUGH THE NRCS OFFICE AND
THEY HAVE A 30 YEAR OPTION
ON THAT SO YOU WOULD HAVE
A THEORETICALLY IF YOU PUT
IT IN AND YOU WERE MAYBE IN
YOUR 30S OR 40S YOU WOULD
HAVE ANOTHER OPTION TO EITHER
RENEW THAT DOWN THE LINE
OR DO SOMETHING
ELSE WITH THAT LAND.
- [JACK] OKAY, TO CARRY THAT
FURTHER THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO KNOW IF THERE'S A PRICE
DIFFERENCE IF YOU JUST SELL
THE PROPERTY OR IF YOU
GET AN EASEMENT INSTEAD.
- [BOB] YEAH, TYPICALLY AS
WE'RE FINDING OUT WITH THE LAND
THAT KENT'S LOOKING TO BUY THAT
EASEMENTS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE
A BIG IMPACT ON THE VALUE
OF RANCH LAND BECAUSE YOU'RE
BASICALLY TAKING RANCH LAND
AND YOU'RE ELIMINATING THAT
OPTION TO CROP IT DOWN THE
LINE SO IN THE CASE AND WE WENT
INTO THE LAST FARM BILL OUR
MANTRA WAS "FARM THE BEST,
"CONSERVE THE REST"
MEANING RANCH GROUND TRY
TO KEEP WHAT REALLY IS MEANT
TO BE IN NATIVE PASTURE
OR IN OTHER GRASSES, KEEP
THAT IN GRASSLAND AND FARM
THE QUALITY GROUND THAT
REALLY GOES TOWARDS,
IS CONDUCIVE TO ROW CROPS.
- [JACK] YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET
BACK TO THE FARM BILL AND HOW
THAT IMPACTS CONSERVATION
AND PRODUCTION HERE IN
A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE THERE IS
A QUESTION IN HERE ON THAT
BUT I WANT TO THROW THIS ONE
OUT FOR BOTH BARRY AND KENT,
WITH RAIN CAUSING SPROUTING
AND LOW FALLING NUMBERS ARE
THERE STORAGE PROBLEMS
ON THE HORIZON?
IS THE QUESTION AND # 2, KENT
OR BARRY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN
WHAT FALLING NUMBERS
ARE FOR THE AUDIENCE.
- [BARRY] FALLING NUMBERS AS
I UNDERSTAND IT IS IF IT'S
ABOVE 300 AND SOMETIMES
THEY GO UP TO AROUND 400
THIS WILL MEAN THAT YOU'VE
GOT VERY GOOD GLUTEN STRENGTH
IN YOUR DOUGH THAT YOU'RE
GONNA MAKE FROM YOUR FLOUR.
IF IT'S VERY LOW THAT SEED HAS
ALREADY STARTED TO GERMINATE
AND IT'S USED UP SOME OF THAT
AND IT RELEASES SOME ENZYMES
DIASTASE AND SOME OTHER THINGS
AND SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET
THE RISE IN THE DOUGH, YOU'RE
NOT GONNA GET THE GLUTEN
STRENGTH, IT'S NOT AS
GOOD FOR THOSE THINGS AND
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD
THOSE LATE AUGUST RAINS
EARLY SEPTEMBER CAME
JUST AT THE WRONG TIME,
GOT A LOT OF SPROUT DAMAGE.
ANYTIME THAT YOU CAUSE
DAMAGE TO THE SEED COAT.
- [KENT] YEAH.
- [BARRY] YOU'RE GONNA
GET INCREASED MOLD DAMAGE
AND, JACK, WE HARVESTED A LOT
OF GUYS UP IN HIS COUNTRY,
WE'RE HARVESTING 18%
MOISTURE WHEAT AND THEY
DON'T ALL HAVE DRYING
FLOORS IN THEIR BINS.
- [KENT] NO, THEY DON'T.
- [BARRY] AND YOU CANNOT
STORE YOU MIGHT GET
IF THE TEMPERATURE STAYED
LOW WE MIGHT GET AWAY WITH
IT COME SPRING THOUGH IT'S
GONNA BE A MESS SO IF YOU
GOT SOME HIGH MOISTURE WHEAT,
GET IT DRIED DOWN AS BEST
YOU CAN OR MAYBE MOVE IT TO
SOMEPLACE WHERE IT CAN GET DRY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS SAY
IF WE GOT A 10,000 BUSHEL BIN
OUT THERE, IF I HAD 80
$1,000 BILLS OUT THERE ON
A CLOTHESPIN WITH A STRING,
KENT'D BE OUT THERE REAL
REGULAR TO SEE IF
ALL 80 WERE THERE.
- [KENT] YEP.
- [BARRY] AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT YOU'VE GOT IN A BIN SO
IF YOU'RE DETECTING ANY
HEATING OR MUSTY ODORS THAT BIN
REALLY NEEDS TO BE
UNLOADED AND AERATED.
- [KENT] AND WE ALL DID, WE
ALL COMBINED A LOT OF WHEAT
AT 18%, 16%, 15%, 14%, YOU
KNOW, 14 1/2% AND WE HAVE
BLOWERS IN SOME OF OUR BINS
AND SOME NOT AND WE BROUGHT
A LOT OF IT DOWN TO 13
1/2%-14% STILL GONNA BE SOME
STORAGE PROBLEMS.
- [JACK] YEP.
- [KENT] YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL
GONNA HAVE TO GO IN ON THOSE
COOL DAYS AND SUCK A COUPLE
THOUSAND BUSHELS OUT OF IT AND
MOVE IT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
NO SPOTS IN ALL THE BINS AND
WITH THESE FALLING NUMBERS IT'S
NOT ALL SALABLE AT THIS TIME
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MIX AND
MATCH AND SO IT IS GONNA,
IT'S GONNA BE A
VERY BIG PROBLEM.
- [JACK] OKAY, I'D HEARD
THAT AND WE'VE HAD THAT
IN YEARS PAST OCCASIONALLY, TOO.
TOBY, BRUSSELS SPROUTS
WERE COVERED WITH APHIDS
THIS YEAR WHAT CAN YOU DO
NEXT YEAR TO PREVENT THE
APHIDS OTHER THAN NOT
GROW BRUSSELS SPROUTS?
- [TOBY] YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY
DON'T GROW BRUSSELS SPROUTS,
UM, THE APHIDS THAT ARE
ON THOSE BRUSSELS SPROUTS,
THE PROBLEM WITH THOSE IS
THAT THEY ARE FAIRLY WAXY
AND SO A LOT OF THE SOAPS
AND WHAT-NOTS HAVE SOME
CONTROL ON THEM BUT, MAN, YOU
CAN SPRAY 'EM AND SPRAY 'EM,
AND SPRAY 'EM, UM, WHAT I WOULD
TRY TO DO IS FIRST ROTATE,
TRY TO ENCOURAGE BIOLOGICAL
CONTROL AND THEN SOON AND DO
A LOT OF SCOUTING BECAUSE ONCE
YOU START SEEING THEM THAT'S
THE TIME TO TAKE CONTROL BUT,
YOU KNOW, YOUR INSECTICIDAL
SOAPS ARE PROBABLY GOING
TO HAVE TO MOVE INTO AND
INSECTICIDE THAT'S A
LITTLE BIT MORE POWERFUL.
- [KENT] TOBY, I GOT A
QUESTION, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE TAKE
ORIENTAL MUSTARD MEAL AND
THOSE TYPE OF THINGS AND
PUT ON POTATOES AND BRUSSELS
SPROUTS, CAN, WILL THAT
CONTROL THE APHIDS?
- [TOBY] BOY, I
WOULDN'T HAVE A CLUE.
- [KENT] YOU KNOW IT WILL
AND THE BUGS AROUND BINS
AND STUFF LIKE THAT IF YOU
BUGS, WE WERE CRUSHERS AT ONE
TIME IN MALTA AND WE CRUSHED
SOME ORIENTAL MUSTARD SEED
AND WHEW, YOU KNOW, YOU
CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT BUT
I SPREAD IT AROUND HERE
AND THERE AND THAT'S WHAT
I WAS TOLD, THAT
IS REALLY HELPS.
- [JACK] SOUNDS LIKE A
GOOD SARE PROJECT TO ME.
(LAUGHING)
- [KENT] NOT FOR ME.
- [BARRY] THE OTHER THING I
THINK THAT PEOPLE REALLY GET
THEMSELVES IN TROUBLE WHEN THEY
BUY THEIR SEEDLING BRUSSELS
SPROUTS OR IF THEY RAISE THEIR
OWN VERY OFTEN YOU'RE MOVING
THOSE APHIDS FROM WHERE THOSE
PLANTLETS ARE GROWN TO YOUR
GARDEN AND, YOU KNOW, A THUMB
AND A FOREFINGER SEARCH 'EM
OUT AND SQUASH ALL THOSE APHIDS
YOU'RE GONNA BE, START OUT
WITH CLEAN PLANTS YOU'RE GONNA
TEND TO KEEP CLEAN PLANTS.
- [JACK] YOU KNOW,
THEY EAT FINE, TOO.
IF YOU LIKE BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
OKAY, KENT, THIS PERSON
ACTUALLY FROM SHERIDAN COUNTY
HAS HEARD OF THE MISSOURI
COTEAU THEY WOULD LIKE
AN EXPLANATION WHAT
THE MISSOURI COTEAU IS.
- [KENT] OKAY, YOU?
- [BOB] I'LL GO AHEAD AND
ANSWER THAT, MISSOURI COTEAU
IS ACTUALLY THE EXTENT OF THE
LAST GLACIATION THAT MOVED
DOWN GENERALLY FROM THE
HUDSON BAY AREA 7,000 YEARS
AGO IT STARTED TO RECEDE
AND IT LEFT THAT REAL HILLY
TERMINAL MORAIN IS THE
TECHNICAL TERM BUT WHAT WE
REFER TO IT NOW AS A PRAIRIE
POTHOLE REGION SO THAT
EXTENDS FROM PRAIRIE, CANADA
JUST TOUCHES SHERIDAN COUNTY
NORTHEAST CORNER OF SHERIDAN
COUNTY IN MONTANA AND EXTENDS
ALL THE WAY THROUGH NORTH AND
SOUTH DAKOTA BUT IT'S SOME OF
THE BEST PRAIRIE POTHOLE AND
SUBSEQUENTLY SOME OF THE BEST
DUCK BREEDING
HABITAT IN THE WORLD.
- [JACK] AND IT'S ALSO PRETTY
GOOD GRAZING LAND, ISN'T IT?
- [BOB] VERY GOOD GRAZING
LAND AND TYPICALLY VERY POOR
CROP GROUND.
- [JACK] YEAH.
- [BOB] VERY ROCKY BECAUSE
OF ALL THOSE MATERIALS
THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED
DOWN BY THE GLACIER.
- [BARRY] YOU KNOW ONE OF
THE THINGS, AND I THINK GETS
LEFT OUT WHEN YOU, BOB, YOU'RE
WITH DUCKS UNLIMITED AND
I DO STUFF WITH ELK
FOUNDATION, OH YOU GUYS JUST
WANT MORE THINGS TO HUNT,
WHEN WE CONSERVE LAND
LIKE THIS IT HELPS
ALL OF THE WILDLIFE.
- [BOB] ABSOLUTELY.
- [BARRY] AND YOU GO UP TO
MEDICINE LAKE AND LOOK AT THE
DIVERSITY OF BIRDS UP THERE.
- [BOB] YEAH
- [BARRY] IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.
- [KENT] YES.
- [JACK] YOU KNOW, ONE OF
THE CRITICISMS OF A LOT OF
WILDLIFE AGENCIES RECEIVE IS
THAT MOST OF THE MONEY THAT
THEY GET IS ACTUALLY USED TO
PAY ADMINISTRATORS AND PEOPLE
THAT WORK FOR 'EM, I THINK MANY
OF THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
AGENCIES DO NOT, BOB,
YOU CAN, WHAT DOES DU PUT
INTO ACTUAL
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS?
- [BOB] DUCKS UNLIMITED, WE
PUT ABOUT 80¢ TO 81¢ GIVEN
ANY PARTICULAR YEAR ON THE
GROUND INTO CONSERVATION
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST
IN THE NATION OF ALL THE
CONSERVATION GROUPS ONE OF THE
BEST INVESTMENTS IS ACTUALLY
THE FEDERAL DUCK STAMP THAT
ALL HUNTERS ARE REQUIRED
TO PURCHASE TO HUNT WATERFOWL
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY UP IN THE
90% RANGE WHICH, YOU KNOW
YOU ALWAYS KIND OF HAVE THIS
STEREOTYPE OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
BEING INEFFICIENT, THAT ONE
IS VERY, VERY EFFICIENT AND
THEN ONCE WE GET THOSE DOLLARS,
TYPICALLY WITH DUCKS UNLIMITED
WE'LL TRY TO LEVERAGE THAT
AND THAT MEANS WRITING GRANTS,
LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT FEDERAL
AND STATE SOURCES TO LEVERAGE
THOSE FUNDS AND A LOT OF TIMES
THAT DOLLAR THAT'S DONATED
TO DUCKS UNLIMITED THROUGH
A BANQUET OR THROUGH OTHER,
OTHER SOURCES WE'LL TURN
THAT INTO FOUR, FIVE IN
SOME CASES 10 DOLLARS,
WE'VE GOT SOME FARM BILL
BIOLOGISTS RIGHT NOW IN THE
STATE THAT WORK TO HELP USDA
AND NRCS DELIVER PROGRAMS
LIKE WETLAND RESERVE PROGRAMS
LIKE CONSERVATION RESERVE
PROGRAM, ANYTHING THEY NEED
WE'RE OUT THERE TO HELP AND
IT'S A WIN/WIN, IT'S A WIN FOR
THE LANDOWNER AND IT'S A WIN
FOR USDA FOLKS IN THE COUNTY
OFFICES AND ALSO FOR THE FOLKS
THAT ENJOY WILDLIFE.
- [JACK] YEAH, I REALLY
HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH HOW
THE CONSERVATION AGENCIES IN
MONTANA, WHICH I'VE WORKED
WITH SOME, HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB.
BARRY, YOU WANT TO
MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE
ELK FOUNDATION AND HOW THEY...?
- [BARRY] AH, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE IN A SIMILAR FASHION,
I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE BIT
HIGHER ON OUR, WE GOT A LITTLE
MORE VOLUNTEER STAFF AND
FEWER PROFESSIONAL STAFF BUT
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE DOING
85 TO 90 PLUS PERCENT OF
YOUR DONATED MONEY GOES
FOR WORK ON THE GROUND
AND THEN IT GETS MAGNIFIED
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
THE OTHER THING IS
LANDOWNERS THEY GET INVOLVED.
THEY'RE MAKING A DONATION
IN TIME AND OTHER THINGS
TO LEAVE THAT LAND FOR
THEIR GRANDCHILDREN BETTER
THAN THEY'VE GOT IT.
- [JACK] OKAY, LET'S MOVE
ON, GREAT FALLS, IT'S
COME IN TWICE SO YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO ANSWER IT,
BUNCH GRASS, PROBABLY
QUAY GRASS AND THEY CAN'T
GET RID OF IT WITHOUT KILLING
THEIR LAWN, IS THAT CORRECT?
- [TOBY] YES, YOU WOULD
HAVE TO PROBABLY USE A BROAD
SPECTRUM HERBICIDE SUCH AS
GLYPHOSATE AND KILL IT OUT AND
RESEED IF THAT IS,
IN FACT, WHAT IT IS.
JUST GOT A NEW REPORT OF
CRAB GRASS THAT SHOWED
UP IN A LOT OF PLACES IN
RAVALLI COUNTY SO WHAT I WOULD
DO IS PROBABLY GET THAT GRASS
IDENTIFIED BECAUSE IF IT IS
A CRAB GRASS THERE
ARE HERBICIDES THAT
- [JACK] OKAY.
- [TOBY] IT COULD ALSO
BE CRESTED WHEAT GRASS,
SEE THAT A LOT OF TIMES IN
LAWNS, IT'S A BIG BUNCH GRASS
THAT SHOWS UP.
- [JACK] ANOTHER QUICK
QUESTION, WOUND TREATMENT
FOR PRUNING INJURIES, DO
YOU RECOMMEND IT OR NOT?
- [TOBY] NO, NOT AT ALL.
YOU'LL SEE THE PRODUCTS OUT
THERE, USED TO BE SOMETHING WE
DID YEARS, DECADES AGO.
THE NEW RESEARCH IS TO
JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.
- [JACK] OKAY, BACK TO BOB
AND KENT, QUESTION CAME IN
FROM GREAT FALLS, THEY'VE
HEARD THAT THE CRP ACRES
HAVE BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL
FOR ALL WILDLIFE.
IS IT A WIN/WIN DO YOU
THINK FOR BOTH PRODUCERS
AND FOR THE CONSERVATION GROUPS?
- [KENT] CRP?
- [JACK] YOU'RE
THINKING TOO HARD.
- [KENT] WELL, IT, IT'S A
WIN/WIN FOR CERTAIN AREAS,
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU
KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD ON
A LEGACY TO BRING MORE KIDS IN
IF THERE'S NO LAND AVAILABLE.
IF THAT JUST CONTINUES THROUGH
THE FAMILY AFTER A DEATH,
BUT A LOT OF IT'S BEEN, THE
GOOD LAND'S BEEN TAKEN OUT
AND IT'S BECOMING IN
PRODUCTION AND WE HAVE SUCH
NEW GOOD WAYS OF FARMING THAT
THE CONSERVATION IS STILL
THERE, IT ISN'T
JUST IN A THING SO
IT'S WIN/WIN BUT I THINK
THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT
THEY CAN LOOK AT IT.
IF IT'S PRODUCTIVE LAND
GET IT OUT THERE AND PUT
IT IN PRODUCTION 'CAUSE STALE
LAND IS NOT GOOD FOR WILDLIFE
IN MY POINT OF VIEW IS AS
IT BECOMES STALE IT BECOMES
JUST ISN'T GOOD FOR WILDLIFE,
YOU KNOW, PRETTY SOON THEY'RE
ALL IN OUR TREES,
IN OUR HAYSTACKS,
CRP 'CAUSE IT'S STALE SO,
YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THEY'VE
TRIED TO ADDRESS THAT SO I
THINK THERE'S CIRCUMSTANCES
WHERE IT'S GOOD AND BAD SO
I WOULDN'T PUT A GOLD STAR
ON A WIN/WIN.
- [JACK] OKAY.
- [BOB] AND I THINK
NRCS HAS ADDRESSED THAT
PRETTY EFFECTIVELY WITH
WHAT THEY CALL A CONTINUOUS
CRP SIGN-UP AND SAFE,
S-A-F-E, SAFE CRP
WHERE IT'S TARGETED
FOR SPECIFIC WILDLIFE
SPECIES IN CERTAIN AREAS,
CERTAIN GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
SO IT'S NOT BROAD BRUSH
ACROSS THE STATE OF MONTANA,
I THINK YOU'D AGREE,
KENT, IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE
SAY YOU'RE IN THE GOLDEN
TRIANGLE AROUND GREAT FALLS
WHICH I THINK THIS QUESTION
CAME FROM GREAT FALLS AND
TAKE GOOD WHEAT GROUND OUT
OF PRODUCTION AND PUT A
SMALL SEGMENT, 'CAUSE YOU CAN
ACTUALLY GET, YOU CAN ATTRACT
WILDLIFE INTO AN AREA SAY
TO NEST AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW
DUCKS IF YOU ATTRACT THEM
INTO A SMALL ENOUGH CHUNK OF
HABITAT ON THE LANDSCAPE THAT'S
BARREN ALL THE WAY AROUND
YOU CAN ACTUALLY CREATE WHAT
WE CALL A SINK OR A REDUCTION
OF BIRD POPULATIONS JUST
BECAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR A
PREDATOR TO SEARCH THAT HABITAT
AND FIND THOSE NESTS.
- [KENT] YEP, ABSOLUTELY.
- [BOB] SO YOU WANT TO
WORK IN BIGGER BLOCKS
AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE LOOK AT FROM
A MACRO SCALE, WHAT I REFER
TO AS 30,000 FOOT PERSPECTIVE
IS HEY, WHAT ROLE DOES THIS
PARTICULAR AREA OF THE STATE
PLAY IN, IN MY CASE, NORTH
AMERICA'S WATERFOWL PRODUCTION.
- [KENT] AND CROP
PRODUCTION, TOO.
- [BOB] YEAH.
- [KENT] I AGREE.
- [BOB] BUT WE HAVE
GONE DOWN, I MEAN CRP
I THINK WE TOPPED OUT IN
2006 AT 3.6 MILLION ACRES
AND WE'RE DOWN BELOW
1.9 MILLION ACRES OF CRP
NOW IN MONTANA AND
THAT'S A HUGE LOSS WHEN
YOU LOOK AT STARTING TO
APPROACH 50% LOSS OF THAT
TYPE OF GRASSLAND.
- [TOBY] DO YOU THINK THAT
THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE
IN WATERFOWL AND WILDLIFE
POPULATIONS SINCE THEY'VE KIND
OF CHANGED THE ORIGINAL
CRP USED TO SEEM TO BE JUST
CRESTED WHEAT GRASS AND YOU
SAW THAT ALL ACROSS MONTANA
AND NOW YOU SEE THAT, YOU
KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING MORE
SPECIES OF GRASSES AND
FORBES IN THOSE MIXES BECAUSE
IT'S COMPETITIVE, DO YOU
SEE MORE WILDLIFE SHOWING UP
IN THOSE AREAS BECAUSE OF
THAT OR DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S
JUST THE COVER?
- [BOB] TYPICALLY, I THINK,
IF YOU'VE GOT A GOOD MIX OF
GRASSES BUT ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS, KENT'S TAUGHT ME, IS
FROM A RANCHING PERSPECTIVE
I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME
CRESTED WHEAT ON THE PROPERTY
THAT YOU--
- [KENT] WE DO.
- [BOB] GRAZE AND YOU ALWAYS
SAY THAT'S A GOOD THING
TO HAVE BECAUSE WHEN YOU
FIRST TURN OUT WHAT USED TO BE
YEARLINGS YOU COULD HIT THAT
EARLY, IT GRAINS UP, THE FORAGE
QUALITY IS PRETTY GOOD AND,
I THINK, FROM A WILDLIFE
PERSPECTIVE MORE IMPORTANTLY
IS IT TAKES PRESSURE OFF
YOUR NATIVES, THE NATIVES
ARE ALLOWED TO GO TO SEED
AND THEY'RE NOT HIT EARLY.
AND, KENT, YOU'RE MORE OF
AN EXPERT ON THAT THAN I AM.
- [KENT] OH, I BELIEVE IN
THAT ADAMANTLY, YOU KNOW,
IN OUR COUNTRY IT'S ALMOST
LATE MAY BEFORE WE START TO SEE
THE WESTERN THOSE TYPE OF
GRASSES START TO GREEN UP AND
GET TO WHERE, YOU KNOW,
YOU CAN'T GRAZE 'EM, I HAVE
A THEORY, YOU HAVE TO LET IT
GET BIG ENOUGH THAT YOU WON'T
HURT IT, IF YOU GRAZE IT DOWN
TO THE FLOOR YOU'LL NEVER,
YOU'LL HURT THAT GROUND ALL
THE TIME AND SO WE, WE DO
HAVE SOME CRESTED WHEAT GRASS.
IT'S OLD FARM GROUND THAT
WAS SEEDED IN 40 YEARS AGO
INTO CRESTED, IT'S NOT AS
PRODUCTIVE AS IT USED TO BE
BUT I THINK WE CAN WORK
THROUGH IT, THE EASEMENT IS
DETRIMENT THAT WE CAN'T
GO IN AND TEAR IT UP AND
RE-SEED IT, WE NEED TO, WE
NEED TO DO IT A DIFFERENT
WAY AND WE'LL FIND A DIFFERENT
WAY TO DO THAT BUT IT
DOES TAKE PRESSURE OFF OF
THAT AND LEAVE THE NATIVE
GROUND IN THOSE POTHOLES
AROUND THOSE POTHOLES,
'CAUSE MOST OF THIS GROUND
IS NOT POTHOLED GROUND
AND IT'LL LEAVE THAT GROUND
TO WHERE THEY CAN DO THEIR
NESTING AND THE CATTLE REALLY
DON'T EVEN HIT THAT AREA
VERY MUCH SO IT, I
THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.
WE NEED COOL AND WARM SEASON
GRASSES IN OUR COUNTRY
AND THEN WE TRY TO GET OFF AS
QUICK AS WE CAN IN THE FALL
SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE CATTLE
OFF OF THERE, TOO, TO LEAVE
AT LEAST AT 30-50%
RESIDUAL AND THAT'S GOOD
FOR THE HABITAT, WE'VE, I'VE
LEARNED A LOT FROM BOB, TOO.
- [BARRY] THE OLD SAYING
"TAKE HALF, LEAVE HALF."
- [KENT] THAT'S, EXACTLY.
- [JACK] SOUNDS GOOD.
- [KENT] THOSE WHO DON'T
DO IT THE NEXT YEAR
IT, YOU CAN'T GRAZE IT AS WELL.
- [BARRY] THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
- [JACK] OKAY, LET'S
MOVE OVER TO BARRY,
ANOTHER QUESTION
FROM SHOTO, HOW OFTEN
DO THEY NEED TO ROTATE
THEIR POTATO PATCH
AND WHAT WOULD YOU
SUGGEST THEY ROTATE WITH?
- [BARRY] WELL, POTATO
IS A MEMBER OF THE PLANT
FAMILY SOLANACEAE, SO
TOMATOES, EGGPLANTS, PEPPERS
ARE IN THAT FAMILY SO YOU
CAN ROTATE WITH ANY OTHER
VEGETABLE CROP, THE
CUCURBITACEAE, YOUR SQUASHES OR
CUCUMBERS, SPINACH IS A
CHENOPODIACEAE, ANY OF THE
LEGUMES ARE WONDERFUL AND
IDEALLY YOU'D LIKE TO NOT
HAVE POTATOES ON A PIECE
OF GROUND MORE THAN ONCE
IN THREE YEARS, THERE'S A
NUMBER OF CELL-BORN DISEASES.
THE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT
THING IS DON'T SAVE YOUR OWN
POTATOES, BUY NEW CERTIFIED
SEED THAT'S DISEASE FREE
AND WITH A THREE YEAR ROTATION
YOU'LL SEE THE BENEFITS.
- [JACK] ABSOLUTELY.
- [TOBY] WELL ANOTHER THING,
TOO, IS IF YOU'RE GROWING
POTATOES IN THE SAME SPOT YEAR
AFTER YEAR YOU'RE DEPLETING
THE NUTRIENTS, ESPECIALLY
PHOSPHORUS IN THOSE SOILS
AND THAT CAN BE AN
ISSUE IN SOME GARDENS.
- [BARRY] WELL, ONE OF THE
THINGS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK
POTATOES ARE LIKE OTHER
CROPS, THEY'RE DEEP ROOTED.
THEY'RE GONNA BASICALLY GET
THEIR WATER AND NUTRIENTS
OUT OF ABOUT A FOOT OF SOIL.
- [JACK] ON THAT NOTE, AND
THE SARE PROGRAM, THERE WAS
A THERE SARE GRANT TO SIGNED
THIS YEAR AT MSU, DAVE SANDS,
TO LOOK AT REDUCING THE GLYCEMIC
INDEX WHICH SPIKES BLOOD
PRESSURE AND THAT WAS A SARE
GRANT WHAT, TWO, THREE YEARS
AGO I BELIEVE.
- [KENT] MAYBE FOUR
OF FIVE YEARS AGO.
- [JACK] FOUR OR FIVE
YEARS AGO THERE'S--
- [BARRY] I'M ON THAT.
- [JACK] IT'S INNOVATIVE.
- [KENT] IT IS.
- [BARRY] AND THAT HAS TO DO
WITH STRAIGHT CHAIN STARCHES
VERSUS BRANCH STARCHES,
MOST POTATOES HAVE A STARCH
THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS AND WE
DIGEST STARCH FROM THE ENDS.
- [JACK] YEAH.
- [BARRY] IF IT'S ONE STRAIGHT
CHAIN YOU CAN ONLY NIBBLE
WITH THE ENDS.
- [JACK] OKAY.
- [BARRY] SO WE CAN ENJOY OUR
POTATOES AND NOT PAY FOR IT.
(LAUGHING)
- [JACK] ALL RIGHT, TOBY, THIS
REPORT CAME FROM BILLINGS,
THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT THE
EMERALD ASH BORER WILL BE
IN THE STATE IN THE NEXT COUPLE
YEARS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- [TOBY] I DON'T THINK SO.
THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN
REALLY SEE THAT COMING INTO
MONTANA IS FROM FIREWOOD
THAT IS MOVED FROM AN AREA
THAT HAS GREEN ASH AND THAT
GREEN ASH IS MOVED HERE,
AND EVEN IF IT IS RIGHT NOW
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS, IS NOT
TO WORRY ABOUT IT AT
THIS POINT IN TIME.
UNTIL IT GETS INTO THE STATE,
AGAIN, LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS
AT THIS TREE SCHOOL THAT I
WENT TO ABOUT TRYING TO PROTECT
TREES AT THIS POINT IN TIME
WHICH, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO
SAY IT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE
GIVING, YOU KNOW, CHEMOTHERAPY
TO SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T
HAVE CANCER, YOU KNOW, TO TRY
TO PREVENT CANCER, IT DOESN'T
MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SO
EXTENSION'S RECOMMENDATION
IS NOT TO TREAT FOR EMERALD
ASH BORER, HOWEVER, YOU STILL
CAN TREAT YOUR, FOR YOUR TREES,
AND THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION
FOR OTHER INSECTS THAT MAY HAVE
SOME CONTROL FOR EMERALD ASH
BORER IF IT COMES IN BUT I
WOULDN'T ADVISE IT, IT'S.
- [BARRY] WELL, I THINK WITH
TREES, THOUGH, TOBY, THERE
A LONG TERM THING, WE'RE
TALKING 30, 40, 50 PLUS YEARS
AND I LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE,
THIRD STREET IN BOSEMAN,
ASH, ASH, ASH, ASH, ASH, WE
NEED TO HAVE A DIVERSITY.
- [TOBY] YES.
- [BARRY] IN DIVERSITY YOU
HAVE STRENGTH, WE'VE GONE
THROUGH IT WITH
DUTCH ELM, ELM TREES.
- [TOBY] CHESHIRE BORER.
- [BARRY] A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS SO I THINK IF PEOPLE
OR MUNICIPALITIES, FORESTERS
AND WHAT NOT, PLANT A DIVERSITY
OF THINGS THAT ARE
ADAPTED TO THAT AREA.
- [TOBY] WELL, AND I SHOULD
ALSO SAY THAT WE HAVE
FORESTER, URBAN FORESTERS
THROUGHOUT MONTANA,
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF
TRAINING ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
WE'RE HAVING THEM SEND IN
SAMPLES SO THAT WE CAN TEST
TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE
ACTUALLY HAVE IT BECAUSE
IN SOME OF THESE AREAS
THEY EXPECT, OR SUSPECTED
THAT THEY HAD EMERALD ASH
BORER FOR FIVE OR TEN YEARS
BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY FOUND
IT AND SO WE ARE PROACTIVE
OUT THERE IN THE STATE LOOKING
FOR THIS AND I GUARANTEE
YOU WHEN WE DO FIND IT
YOU'LL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW.
- [JACK] OKAY, EARLIER IN
THE PROGRAM THE FARM BILL
CAME UP AND WE MENTIONED
THAT THERE WAS A PERCEIVED
CONFLICT BETWEEN PRODUCERS
MANY TIMES AND CONSERVATION
PROGRAMS, THERE'S AN ISSUE
WITH THE FARM BILL OR PART OF
THE FARM BILL THAT COUPLES
CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE TO THE
AVAILABILITY OF SUBSIDIZED CROP
INSURANCE AND I'M TOLD THAT
90% OF THE PRODUCERS ARE
UTILIZING SUBSIDIZED CROP
INSURANCE BY MAINTAINING
CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE.
WHAT IS CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE?
- [KENT] WELL, CONSERVATION
COMPLIANCE, THEY CHANGE
THE RULES ALL THE TIME.
- [JACK] RIGHT.
- [KENT] SO I THINK IT'S A LOT
OF RECORD KEEPING, IT'S A LOT
OF HERBICIDE PRODUCTION
RECORDS THAT YOU KEEP,
IT'S THE WAY YOU
FARM AND THE WAY YOU
TELL THE FSA OF HOW YOU
FARM, IF YOU'RE CHEMFO,
AND YOU KNOW RECREATION TILLAGE
THOSE TYPE OF THINGS AND I
THINK WE NEED TO EXTEND THAT
A LITTLE FARTHER, I'VE BEEN
TALKING, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
ON SARE, I'M OPEN TO A LOT
OF THESE THINGS, OR HAVE
AVAILABILITY TO THE COVER
CROP CONFERENCES AND
THINGS TO ENHANCE THIS LAND
AND I AGREE THAT THEY'RE
GONNA TRY TO PUSH US TO TAKE
AWAY THAT SUBSIDY ON THE
CROP INSURANCE AND IF THEY
DO IT'S A HUGE DETRIMENT TO
AGRICULTURE IN MONTANA, WE
CAN GET RID OF THE OTHER
SUBSIDIES AND THAT'S FINE,
WE'LL PLAY OUR GAME, BUT THE
CROP INSURANCE, WE'RE OUT
THERE DOING A GOOD JOB
OF FERTILITY, WE'RE OUT
THERE PUTTING THE DOLLARS OF
THE INPUTS IN THE LAND AND
I THINK WITH THE COVER CROPS
WITH THE CHEMFO, WITH THE
ROTATIONS, I THINK THERE OUGHTA
BE BONUS SYSTEM, A POINTS
SYSTEM THAT WOULD ENHANCE THAT.
THAT WOULD HELP YOU GO
TOWARDS THE CROP INSURANCE.
I'M NOT SURE THEY'VE GOT TO
THAT POINT YET, BUT IT'S TIME
TO DO THAT.
- [JACK] OKAY.
- [BOB] YEAH, THERE IS A
PROVISION IN THE FARM BILL NOW
CALLED THE SOD SAVER
PROVISION AND, BASICALLY,
THAT ADDRESSES THE BREAKING
OUT OF NATIVE PRAIRIE
AND A LOT OF FOLKS BELIEVE
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN
ON THE LANDSCAPE FOR 150
YEARS IN MONTANA FARMING
AND RANCHING, YOU KNOW, THE
BEST LAND, IF THERE'S GOOD
FARM LAND OUT THERE, IT'S
PROBABLY ALREADY BEEN BROKEN
OUT SO YOU'RE REALLY STARTING
TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS
TO FARM VERY MARGINAL,
SEMI-PRODUCTIVE GROUND SO WHAT
THE SOD SAVER PROVISION
IN THE FARM BILL SAYS IS,
"HEY, IT'S AMERICA. IT'S YOUR
LAND, IF YOU WANT TO BREAK
"IT OUT, DO IT," BUT DON'T
DO IT WITH, YOU FOREGO CROP
INSURANCE FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME AND IN MY MIND THAT'S
A LOT LIKE, WELL, IT FORCES
A FARMER TO MAKE SOUND
STEWARDSHIP DECISIONS
ON THEIR LAND.
IF YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT
CROP INSURANCE, GREAT.
BUT IF YOU CAN'T, A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT
THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER,
IT'S BASICALLY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT INSURES THE
INSURERS THAT INSURE
THE LANDOWNER AND INSURE
THE PRODUCER AND ABOUT
75% OF THAT BILL IS PICKED
UP BY THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER,
SO, AGAIN, IT'S IF YOU'RE MAKING
GOOD STEWARDSHIP DECISIONS
ON THE LAND I THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE GOOD ALL THE WAY
DOWN THE LINE.
- [KENT] I AGREE.
- [BOB] FROM THE TAXPAYER ALL
THE WAY DOWN TO THE FARMER
AND THE AG ECONOMY AS A WHOLE.
- [JACK] I AGREE.
OKAY, I WAS CORRECTED,
THE GLYCEMIC INDEX EFFECTS
BLOOD SUGAR, NOT BLOOD PRESSURE.
SO, I'VE BEEN WRONG
BEFORE, I ADMIT IT.
BARRY, IF YOU NEED TO
ROTATE EVERY THREE YEARS,
HOW DOES IDAHO GET AWAY
WITH PLANTING POTATOES
YEAR AFTER YEAR, IF THEY DO?
- [BARRY] THERE'S A LOT OF
POTATOES, COMMERCIAL POTATOES
IN IDAHO THAT ARE MORE THAN
THREE YEAR ROTATIONS, THERE'S
SOME THAT ARE EVERY OTHER
YEAR, THEIR YIELDS REFLECT IT.
WE SEE HERE IN MONTANA
WITH OUR SECRET GROWERS
WE'LL SEE YIELD BENEFITS AND
QUALITY BENEFITS ALL THE WAY
UP THROUGH SIX AND SEVEN
YEARS OUT OF POTATOES
SO TRUST ME IN OUR FARM BACK
IN ILLINOIS, WHEN WE WENT
FROM A THREE YEAR TO A FOUR
YEAR ROTATION WE BUMPED
YIELDS AN EXTRA 10% SO
IT, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
- [JACK] ACTUALLY MANY OF
OUR PRODUCERS HERE IN THE
GALLATIN VALLEY ARE NOW FOUR
TO FIVE YEARS AREN'T THEY?
- [BARRY] YES, AND THEY'D,
IF THEY HAD ENOUGH AVAILABLE
LAND THEY'D GO FARTHER.
- [JACK] OKAY.
BOB, HOW RESTRICTIVE ARE DU
EASEMENTS AND THIS, AGAIN,
CAME FROM MALTA?
- [BOB] OKAY, DUCKS
UNLIMITED, WE DON'T DO A LOT
OF OUR OWN EASEMENTS.
- [JACK] OKAY.
- [BOB] WE RELY ON OTHER
PROGRAMS WHICH ARE SET UP
TO DO THAT, USDA IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE, FISH & WILDLIFE
SERVICE IS PROBABLY THE
GO-TO ONE, WE WORK A LOT
WITH THE FISH & WILDLIFE
SERVICE BOTH IN NORTH AND
SOUTH DAKOTA AS WELL AS
MONTANA AND THE REASON WHY
WE DO THAT, MULTIPLE REASONS,
BUT THE MAIN REASON IS
THAT THEY'RE VERY
RANCHER FRIENDLY.
BASICALLY YOU LOOK AT THE
TERM OF THE EASEMENT AND
I THINK THERE ARE
SIX RESTRICTIONS IN
ON GRAZING WHATSOEVER, THEY
RELY ON THE GOOD STEWARDSHIP
OF THE RANCHER TO
DICTATE STOCKING RIGHTS,
THE ONE RESTRICTION AS FAR
AS REMOVAL OF GRASS COVER IS
INVOLVED, THE ONE RESTRICTION
IS HAYING, HAYING CAN NOT
OCCUR UNTIL AFTER JULY 15TH
AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE LOOK
AT THE PEAK OF NESTING FOR
DUCKS, PHEASANTS, SHARP TAILS,
AND AFTER JULY 15TH YOU HAVE
LESS OF A PROBABILITY OF
MOWING NESTS, THAT'S REALLY
ONE OF THE ONLY RESTRICTIONS
ON THE WETLANDS SIDE, BASICALLY
NOT DRAINING AND FILLING
WETLAND POTHOLES WHICH, FOR
A RANCHER, IS A GOOD SOURCE
OF NOT ONLY FORAGE AROUND
THAT WETLAND BUT ALSO
A STOCK WATER SUPPLY.
- [JACK] YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY, THIS PERSON FROM
MISSOULA'S CALLED BEFORE,
THEY HAVE A 7" LINDER
PINE WHICH IS BROWNING
AT THE TOP, IT WAS
PROFESSIONALLY SPRAYED BUT
"IT ISN'T LOOKING GOOD".
- [TOBY] OKAY.
- [JACK] CAN SHE DO
ANYTHING ELSE FOR THIS TREE?
- [TOBY] OH, IT COULD BE
A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
THINGS AND I'M GUESSING
IT'S A LIMBER PINE,
WHICH IS, WOULD BE
COMMON TO MONTANA
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS
THAT CAN CAUSE TIP DIE BACK
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR
THIS IS, WHAT I WOULD DO
IS GIVE ME A CALL, WE CAN
WORK THROUGH THIS IF THEY'VE
CALLED A COUPLE TIMES
994-6523 IS MY OFFICE NUMBER
AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
TO LOOK FOR.
NOW IF IT WAS COLORADO
SPRUCE THE TOP THREE INCHES,
WHITE PINE WEEVIL ALMOST IS
ALWAYS ACROSS THE STATE BUT
IN A PINE THAT MIGHT BE
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
- [JACK] ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO
GET INTO A TOPIC THAT I THINK
IS REAL INTERESTING,
IT'S HOW CROPS HAVE
EVOLVED INTO MONTANA.
WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 1979,
WE USED TO GROW A LOT OF
SPRING WHEAT DOWN INTO
THE HARDIN AREA WITH 100
TEMPERATURES COMMON IN
SEPTEMBER OR IN JUNE NOW
DURING POLLINATION
WE CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU USED TO BE IN THE
NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE
STRICTLY SPRING WHEAT, NOW
YOU'RE INTO WINTER WHEAT.
WINTER WHEAT WITH THE
CANADIAN PROGRAM HAS BEEN
VERY BENEFICIAL FOR WILDLIFE.
WELL AND BETWEEN BOTH OF
YOU EXPLAIN THE BENEFITS
OF WINTER WHEAT OVER SPRING
WHEAT FOR WILDLIFE AND
ALSO HOW EXTENSIVE AND
HOW YOU GOT IT INTO CANADA
IN NORTHERN MONTANA.
- [KENT] WELL, WINTER WHEAT
IN OUR AREA, YOU KNOW WE LIVE
UP NEAR THE CANADIAN BORDER
AND WE NEVER COULD GROW
WINTER WHEAT WORTH A DARN
BEFORE THE VARIETIES HAVE
COME SO FAR OF WINTER
HARDINESS THAT WE CAN, WE CAN
EVEN DETERMINE SEPTEMBER
TO OCTOBER AND THEN WE CAN
GO INTO A MORGAN OR SOME
TYPE OF WINTER WHEAT THAT'S
WINTER HARDIER YET IF WE
HAVE TO, IF WE CAN GET IT IN
THE GROUND, IT BREAKS
UP OUR ROTATION,
YOU KNOW, OF TIME
SEEDING, OF TIME SPRAYED,
THOSE TYPE OF THINGS
TO GET MORE WHEAT
IN THE GROUND IN THE SPRING
WE HAVE, WE'RE RIGHT THERE.
YOU GET THE FIRST OF
OCTOBER AND SEED IN WINTER,
SPRING WHEAT IN OUR COUNTRY
WILL BEAT IT, USUALLY,
98% OF THE TIME, BUT IT'S BEEN
A GOOD DEAL FOR COMBINING,
WE CAN COMBINE IN JULY,
YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN
WE'RE COMBINING PEAS AND
WINTER WHEAT AND FLAX AND
THESE TYPE OF THINGS FOR
ROTATIONS AND IT'S GOOD FOR,
IT'S GOOD FOR OUR CATTLE,
IT'S GOOD FOR OUR GROUND,
IT'S GOOD FOR OUR DISEASE,
IT'S GOOD FOR THE HABITAT,
AND THE WILDLIFE, I
THINK IT'S A WIN/WIN.
- [JACK] CANADA, WE GROW
A LOT MORE WINTER WHEAT
IN CANADA NOW AND DU WAS
VERY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT,
YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN
HOW THAT OCCURRED?
- [BOB] RIGHT, YEAH, WE
WORKED WITH OUR STAFF
IN PRAIRIE, CANADA AS
WELL AS IN THE DAKOTAS
PRIMARILY WE WORKED
WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
BEAR CROP SCIENCE TO
DEVELOP DIFFERENT STRAINS
OF WHEAT AND ALSO TO
PROMOTE THE PLANTING
OF WINTER WHEAT AND
AGAIN, AS YOU POINTED OUT,
EARLIER, JACK, THE,
WHEN THE BIRDS ARRIVE,
MIGRATORY BIRDS ARRIVE IN
THE SPRING IF YOU'RE LOOKING
AT ANYTHING OTHER THAN WINTER
WHEAT YOU TYPICALLY DON'T
HAVE A LOT OF COVER ON THE
GROUND WHEN THEY ARRIVE
IN THE SPRING, NOW THEY'VE
GOT SOME COVER AND SPECIES
LIKE PINTAIL, DUCK SPECIES
LIKE PINTAIL THAT REALLY LIKE
A FAIRLY SHORT GRASS
PRAIRIE TYPE SCENARIO AND
MONTANA'S PINTAIL HABITAT
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE
YOU GET INTO THE DAKOTAS
AND A LOT OF MALLARD
AND TEAL BUT PINTAILS IN
MONTANA AND WHEN YOU LOOK
AT OTHER SPECIES OF DUCKS
THEY ALL KIND OF RESPOND
WHEN THERE'S WET CYCLES,
PINTAIL HAVE CONTINUED
KIND OF A LONG TERM DECLINE
SO THERE A SPECIES OF
CONCERN TO SAY THE LEAST
BUT THEY REALLY THRIVE ON
HABITATS THAT
INCLUDE WINTER WHEAT.
IT'S NOT A PANACEA, NATIVE
PRAIRIE, NATIVE GRASS IS STILL
MOST LIKELY THE BEST BUT
WINTER WHEAT IS A VERY
GOOD ALTERNATIVE IF YOU'RE IN
A HEAVILY CROPPED LANDSCAPE.
- [JACK] YOU KNOW, AND THE
OTHER THING THAT HAS HELPED
WINTER WHEAT AND WE TALKED
ABOUT THIS BEFORE IS GOING
INTO A NO-TELL SITUATION
AND IT WILL SURVIVE SO MUCH
NICELY, MUCH NICER IF
YOU HAVE SOME PROTECTION
FROM THE PREVIOUS CROP.
- [KENT] YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE
STUBBLE AND THE SEED TREAT--
- [JACK] YEAH.
- [KENT] THE SEED TREAT THAT
IS OUT THERE NOW IS QUITE
AN ENHANCEMENT TO THIS TO
THE SPRING AND WINTER WHEAT.
- [JACK] I AGREE.
FOLKS, WE'VE COME TO
KIND OF THE END OF OUR
PROGRAM AGAIN, NEXT
WEEK WE'RE GONNA HAVE
JESS ABER WITH DNRC HERE
TALKING ABOUT DROUGHT
COUNCIL FOR THE GOVERNOR
AND ALSO SOME WATER ISSUES
FOR MONTANA, I APPRECIATE
THE GUESTS THIS EVENING,
THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING.
ENJOYABLE AND THANK YOU FOR
CALLING IN THE QUESTIONS.
GOOD NIGHT.
- [VOICEOVER] MONTANA AG
LIVE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE
THE MSU EXTENSION SERVICE
THE MSU AG EXPERIMENT STATION
THE MONTANA WHEAT
& BARLEY COMMITTEE
THE MONTANA BANKERS ASSOCIATION
THE MSU COLLEGE
OF AGRICULTURE AND
THE GALLATIN GARDENERS CLUB.