fall 2017 montana · 2017-11-27 · 2 fall 2017 montana business agricultural association chris...

Growing Montana

FALL 2017

A Publication ofMONTANA AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

2 Fall 2017 MONTANA BUSINESS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION

Chris Barge, PresidentRegional Sales Manager CHS, Belgrade 406-380-0505 (c) • [email protected]

Arleen Rice, Vice PresidentHi-Line Chemical, Havre406-265-2294 (o) • [email protected]

Matt Smith, Secretary Bayer Crop Science, Billings406-794-5621 (c) • [email protected]

Joel Farkell, Treasurer CENTROL Crop Consulting, Brady406-753-2220 (o) • [email protected]

Dan BrattainKernaghans Inc., Great Falls406-781-0530 (o) • [email protected]

Rod BrooksAgriBasics, Great Falls406-761-4024/800-926-1078 (o)[email protected]

Burl BrawleyHelena Chemical Company, Havre406-750-7220 (c) • [email protected]

Johnnie ScottSyngenta Crop Protection, Great Falls(406) 453-5004 (o) • [email protected]

Seth KeasDow AgroSciences, Laurel(785) 737-6234 (o) • [email protected]

Jake YatesAgrium Wholesale, Billings(406) 696-7942 (o) • [email protected]

Bob HollernFEI Inc., Bozeman(406) 360-0105 (c) • [email protected]

Luke Dighans Pro Co-op Ag Center, Scobey 406-487-2742 (o) • [email protected]

Dr. Charles Boyer, Ex-OfficioVice President of Agriculture, MSU, Bozeman 406-994-3681 (o) • [email protected]

Dr. Clain Jones, Ex-OfficioMontana State University, Bozeman406-994-6076 (o) • [email protected]

Krista Lee Evans, Executive DirectorMABA, Helena406-227-3523 (o) • 406-439-2215 (c)[email protected]

MONTANA AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MABA OBJECTIVES:• To encourage the proper use of all pesticides, plant food, seeds and other

agricultural products.

• To promote educational programs to bring together those who are associated with the aforementioned practices and uses.

• To provide a means for an exchange of information and ideas among persons associated with agricultural business.

• To encourage and support research and educational programs.

• To cooperate with local, state, regional and national agencies, both public and private, in the solution of problems and/or in the proposal of legislation relating to all such practices.

• To sponsor desirable laws and law changes that would be beneficial to the Association and its members.

• To serve as a clearing house for the legislative requests of various organizations regarding programs affecting the Association.

President’s Message ........................................................... 3

Scholarship Winners .......................................................... 4

Soil Sampling: Using 811 Before You Dig ............................ 5

The Facts About Honey Bees and Pesticides ........................ 8

Board Members Meet With Congressional Delegation .......10

MABA/MGEA Annual Convention ...................................... 11

Annual Convention Agenda ...............................................12

Annual Convention Registration ....................................... 13

MABA Annual Membership Meeting .................................14

Board Nomination Form ....................................................14

Personal Protection Equipment and Paraquat ....................15

Department Doings ...........................................................18

Our Partners: About ResponibleAg ....................................19

Congressional Delegation Comments ............................... 20

Points to Ponder: Board Member Perspective ....................21

Data Management Beyond the Spiral Notebook ................ 22

Calendar of Events ........................................................... 28TABL

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mtagbiz.org @maba_ag facebook.com/MontanaAgriculturalBusinessAssociation 3

A Message from the PresidentChris Barge, President, MABA

CHANGING TIMESMontana’s farmers and ranchers overcome challenges and make necessary changes to their operations every year to ensure their farm or ranch will be passed to the next generation. This past year many of our producers experienced drought, wildfires, and crop failures. Fortu-nately, in spite of the unfair hand some producers were dealt, many producers in Montana experienced winter wheat crops with above average yield, protein, and test weight. Despite weather and commodity price challenges, Montana’s farmers and ranchers continue to persevere leaning on the entrepreneurial spirit, and the “never give up” attitude, their forefathers instilled when their families first settled Montana. The “Montana Spirit” is something I have grown to appreciate the more I work with MABA members, board, and our agricultural community.

Change is something not only our customer’s experience but is a reality MABA and our members face daily. Busi-nesses and associations who may not like change, but who accept change and make the appropriate adjustments, will be the entities who will survive these turbulent times.

There are a myriad of examples of agricultural businesses making significant changes in their operating methodologies including potential mergers, increased focus on research and development, improv-ing communication with end users and decreasing product offerings. These businesses are looking for ways to continue to survive while provid-ing exemplary products and services to agriculture.

I feel strongly that our association’s board and members need to con-stantly evaluate our purpose, goals, and direction. Keeping in mind the lessons we learned from the past but not afraid to discuss what is best for MABA members and our association moving into the future. John F. Kennedy once stated “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

I challenge you, our members to please reach out to a MABA board member and share constructive ideas, thoughts, etc. Reminder, our MABA board is made up of members like yourself who volunteer their time to serve the members of our association. We are all on the same team and to move our as-sociation forward to the future we must all communicate with each other and possess the willingness to have open conversations.

Chris Barge

PresidentMontana Agricultural Business Association


Ag Fertilizers, Inc.Margaret VaughanGreat Falls, [email protected]

Ag West DistributingClinton LilyGreat Falls, MT 406-453-0010 [email protected]

Agrium USA IncJake YatesBillings, [email protected]

AlbaughGreg MulhallAnkney, IA800-247-8013

Jim SchmidtBoise, [email protected]

Arysta Life ScienceSteve ViningKimberly, [email protected]

Asmark InstituteAllen SummersOwensboro, [email protected]

SUSTAININGM E M B E R S

Congratulation to Our 2017 MABA Scholarship Winners

NICOLE DOCKTERConrad High School graduate - 2002

Currently enrolled at MSU – Northern, Havre, MT

Major - Associate of Science Program Study in Business – Agriculture Technology

Nicole is the administrative Assistant at the CHS grain elevator in Shelby Montana.

CHS Shelby Shuttle Facility

BRIANNE MALCHOWShepherd High School graduate – 2017

Currently enrolled at Montana State University – Bozeman

Major – Food Science – Biochemistry

Brianne’s father, Wade Malchow, is currently employed by MillerCoors – Huntley, MT.

MillerCoors – Huntley

EMMA RALSTONThe Independent School – Wichita, KS – 2011

Currently enrolled at MSU – Northern, Havre, MT

Major – BA Diesel Technology

Emma is currently employed by Hi-Line Chemi-cal – Havre, MT.

HiLine Chemical


BASFClark SchmidtBillings, [email protected]

Chris BergConrad, [email protected]

Bentrei Fertilzier Company, LLCValerie, ConwayTulsa, [email protected]

Aaron DyeTulsa, [email protected]

Joel ShackelfordTulsa, [email protected]

BNSF RailwayMaia LaSalleHavre, [email protected]

Central Life SciencesBob JohnstonWalla Walla, [email protected]

CF IndustriesBrad WeaverBig Sandy, [email protected]

SUSTAININGM E M B E R S

Soil Sampling continued on page 6

Soil Sampling:THE 411 ON USING 811 SO YOU DON’T NEED 911It has been just over a year since we (Centrol,LLC) and the whole soil sampling world were “officially” notified that we all need to use the 811 Call Before You Dig system BEFORE we soil sample any field. It has been an interesting tran-sition to say the least. The following is our (Centrol, LLC) personal thoughts and tips on the whole process. We welcome any follow up questions via the contact information at the end of this article.

First and foremost, Centrol, LLC believes that using the 811 system IS important. We believe though, that there are a lot of things that can be done to simplify this process on all ends. Before we get into those, here is a summary of how we get our fields located.

Centrol has been soil sampling for over 30 years with underground lines and, like a lot of other soil sampling companies, have never had a problem. We sample over 100,000 acres a year with an average of 12 one-inch diameter cores pulled up to 42 inches deep per field. The cores are spit out at 0-6”, 6-24”, 24-42”. Standard sampling procedure went as follows: Meet with grower and get maps, digitize maps into Trimble Ag Software (FarmWorks), sample field marking points with GPS, send off samples, receive results, meet with grower. Often we could meet the grower, get set up and sample the same day. This was especially true for all the fields we sample year after year and already had the GPS files. The grower would call us, tell us which ones to sample for that year and off we went.

Now, we get the fields from the growers, generate pdf maps from Trimble Ag Software, login to ITIC Montana One Call, generate a One Call Ticket with maps attached, wait AT LEAST 2 BUSINESS DAYS for the locates to be completed, THEN go sample. This whole process adds 2-4 hours for ticket generation PLUS A MINIMUM OF 2 BUSINESS DAYS before we can go sample. We have found that attaching pdf maps of the fields to the tickets re-ally speeds up getting the fields located. We have currently elected not to pass on the added time to the grower because it doesn’t cost us for a locate ticket.

We initially were told that each field needed their own locate ticket. We obliged for the first few fields and then started combining multiple fields into one ticket at the request of some utility companies and their locators. We have submitted 304 locates from October 1,2016 – October 8, 2017. Our locates lately have been 6-8 fields at a time depending on the job layout. Multiple field locates have sped up the process, especially with our attached maps.

Here are some tips to speed up the ticket generation and locating process:

• Get set up with ITIC and submit your locates on-line. It was way easier than talking to a human who has no idea about Montana or agriculture.


Soil Sampling continued from page 5

SUSTAININGM E M B E R SCHS AgronomyJulie DolanGreat Falls, [email protected]

Larry CookInver Grove Heights, [email protected]

Maureen CovartSt. Paul, MN

Crop Production ServicesIssac SalcidoGreat Falls, [email protected]

Tony HewittHardin, MT406-665-3552

Nathan HaynieBillings, [email protected]

Branden StoneBelgrade, [email protected]

Dow AgroSciences Range and PastureTrent BrusseauCardwell, [email protected]

DuPont Crop ProtectionJohn RaislerBeach, [email protected]

Warren McDougalBennington, [email protected]

• Create a separate e-mail account for your ITIC account. This sepa-rates out all your locate correspondence from your regular e-mail.

• Do not put in lat and long coordinates with ITIC. Fill in the street and cross street, type out your directions, fill in Township, Range and Section, and outline the areas on their map.

• Attach your own map. This answers a lot of basic question from the locators.

• In the Remarks section ALWAYS put “Not sampling in any road right of ways or farmyards” unless you actually are sampling in those areas. This speeds up locates tremendously.

• Be prepared to sample at least 150 ft in from any roads. There are a lot of fiber cables in these areas.

• Use GPS to sample. This proves where you’re poking holes. We map lines over any flags marked out for future uses. Our lines will be as wide as the utilities tell us to stay away from the line.

• Write down every locator and their cell numbers.

• Remember, the 811 System does not include private oil and gas com-panies. If your sampling fields with pump jacks you should contact them separately.

• Watch the 2 business day window. Samples submitted after Thurs-day 12:00 AM don’t have to be cleared until Tuesday 12:00 AM. WATCH MONDAY HOLIDAYS…

• Try to put fields with gas lines through them either together or as their own separate ticket. Learn how to identify the aerial markers for the gas/oil companies.

• BE POLITE TO THE LOCATORS. They are learning as fast as you are and in the end are the ones that give you the green light to sample.

• Call in your own locates rather than growers. You’ll have more con-trol over your schedule this way.

• Keep track of your tickets and map attachments for future use. You can duplicate your ticket if you already located previously.

Here are some interesting things we’ve learned:

• Utility lines have been as shallow as 10 inches. A fair amount have been in the 18-36” deep range. This has included high transmission natural gas lines.

• Not every company uses Ticket Check Status.

• Not all locators have GPS. Some don’t even have Smartphones and can’t text.

• A lot of locators are contracted out.

• Some utility companies only have 1 person in charge of line locates.


• Locates are getting delayed past the 2 business days due to the in-creased number in locates requested. GO FIGURE!

• THERE ARE MORE THINGS UNDERGROUND AND SHAL-LOWER THAN YOU THINK.

Here are some things that we (CENTROL) believe should be done to improve this whole system for both sides:

• Soil samplers should use GPS.

• Locators should be equipped with GPS and the ability to open up the attached pdf maps on their mobile devices.

• ALL underground lines private or not should be part of the 811 system.

• ALL utility companies should use Ticket Check Status to improve communications on the status of the locates.

• More locators should be hired.

• Gas/Oil Utility companies should be able to provide soil sampling companies with the GPS overlay files (shape files or Google Earth files) of their lines. This would allow soil sampling companies to call in fields with the lines in them together. This would make locators more efficient.

• Locates should be done with in 48 hrs not 2 business days. Agricul-ture is not 8-5 M-F. Exceptions could be made for observed holidays.

As far as a depth exemption goes, CENTROL has mixed feelings. The amount of lines that have been shallower than 18 inches is alarming. If anything, MAYBE location exemption to 12 inches would suffice but no one really knows how deep the lines are. We are strong believers in deeper sampling helps make more precise fertilizer recommendations. Not sampling as deep just to not have to get a field located seems like a poor excuse. Besides, does anyone want their soil sampler to get injured or worse?

At the end of the day, the 811 system is a necessary evil of soil sampling. The system is not perfect but is getting better. We as an industry have, and will continue to, have to adapt to worse. CENTROL hopes that our fellow soil samplers will continue to be supportive and active in continuing to make this whole process as seamless as possible for everyone. To this date, we have not lost any customers or employees due to this. Yes, it has forced us to change our ways but we’ve been able to adapt. Honestly it has forced us to be more organized.

We welcome any questions, suggestions or conversations. Contact Joel Farkell (406)581-6243 [email protected] or Jeff Farkell (406)788-4875 [email protected].

SUSTAININGM E M B E R STater EricksonHobson, [email protected]

FEILance TaylorBillings, [email protected]

Bob HollernBozeman, [email protected]

Brad MoenValley City, [email protected]

FMC Ag ProductsJeff WynnAmerican Falls, [email protected]

Sam TuttBalaton, [email protected]

Sam LockhartFargo, ND

GowanGlen FosterSherwood, [email protected]

Greyn Scale CompanySteve GreynChoteau, [email protected]


The Facts about Honey Bees and Pesticides

www.beehealth.bayer.us | Facebook.com/BayerBeeCareCenter | @BayerBeeCare | Connect.BayerCropScience.us

It is estimated that honey bees pollinate one out of every three bites of food that we eat. Much of our food is wind pollinated, including most of the grains we eat, but honey bees play an important role in pollinating many of our fruits, nuts and vegetables. These foods help contribute to a healthy, nutritious diet.

Fact: Honey bees help keep our grocery shelves stocked with nutritious food.1

Despite the growth in honey bee numbers, colonies are exposed to many factors that can affect their overall health. Most experts agree that factors such as parasites, diseases, inadequate nutrition or lack of available forage, adverse weather, pesticides and hive management practices play a role. Researchers are exploring many ways to help protect bee health, but there is much work yet to be done.

Fact: Honey bee colony health should not be taken for granted. 3

Fact: The number of honey bee colonies is increasing.2

Most people are surprised to learn that honey bee colonies actually increased by 45 percent worldwide over the past 50 years.1 And in the past five years, as awareness of honey bee health has grown, the number of colonies in the U.S. and Canada has increased by 13 percent and 18 percent, respectively.2 Annual surveys conducted by the USDA show that the number of honey bee colonies has risen steadily over the past 10 years.3

Hundreds of studies on neonicotinoids and bees indicate that when used according to label instructions, “neonics” are not harmful to bee colonies. Large-scale studies in Europe and North America show that poor bee health correlates well with parasites and diseases, but not with pesticides, including neonicotinoids.4,5,6,7,8,9

Fact: Neonicotinoid insecticides do not impact colony health when used according to the label.4

When used in typical field applications and according to label instructions neonics do not pose a significant hazard to bees, even though some neonics, like many insecticides, are toxic to bees. This is because at normal field doses, the potential exposure to bees is far below levels that would cause concern.10 Distinguishing toxicity from hazard is a routine activity performed by most of us, although we may be unaware that we are doing so. For example, caffeine is more toxic than many pesticides, and yet we drink it in coffee without fear because the levels are so low (e.g., the hazard is very small).

Fact: Toxicity and hazard are not one in the same.5

In the late-1980s a parasite called the Varroa mite invaded North American bee colonies and beekeeping has never been the same since. The Varroa mite is the “single most detrimental pest of honey bees,” according to the USDA.11 This parasite weakens bees and helps transmit diseases that can wipe out entire colonies. Beekeepers try to control the mite with insecticides, but effective control is difficult to achieve.

Fact: A tiny parasite is one of the biggest threats to honey bee health today.6

Number of U.S. Colonies (in millions)2.8

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.4

2.3

2.2

2.12005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014


www.beehealth.bayer.us | Facebook.com/BayerBeeCareCenter | @BayerBeeCare | Connect.BayerCropScience.us

Lost in the discussion of bees and farming practices is the simple fact that farmers and beekeepers depend on each other where bees are needed to help pollinate crops. The farmer gets greater crop productivity and the beekeeper earns a fee for pollination services (and increases the colony’s honey production). Even when bees are not needed, such as in cotton or citrus, farmers routinely make their fields available to beekeepers.

Fact: Farmers and beekeepers have worked together for decades.7

Fortunately, there are many groups working to protect and improve the health of honey bees, including universities, industry, government, beekeepers, farmers and consumers. Programs to help honey bees range from protecting against parasites and diseases to improving the amount of available food that can sustain bees before and after key crop seasons. Many backyard bee enthusiasts are doing their part by planting a variety of bee-friendly plants around their homes and gardens. While honey bees are not native to America, they have become an integral part of our food production. With a little help, we can make sure they thrive.

Fact: Many groups are working to improve bee health.9

Modern beekeeping is principally aimed at crop pollination, rather than honey production. While many people enjoy keeping a few beehives as a hobby, commercial beekeepers manage hundreds or thousands of hives, often packing them on tractor-trailers and transporting them thousands of miles to help pollinate various crops throughout the season. Transporting hives under these conditions can be stressful for the colonies, so it is important to ensure they are well-fed and kept free of pests and diseases.

Fact: Beekeeping is a big business and bees are moved all over the country.8

Bayer CropScience LP, 2 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer and the Bayer Cross are registered trademarks of Bayer. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937), visit our website at www.BayerCropScience.us or follow us on Twitter at @Bayer4CropsUS. If you have questions or concerns about bee health, please call 800-334-7577.

REFERENCES1. Aizen and Harder, Current Biology 19, 1–4, June 9, 2009 doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.03.071.2. Syngenta (January 19, 2015), Bee population rising around the world, AgProfessional.3. USDA (2015) National Honey Report. 4. vanEngelsdorp D., et al. (2009) Colony Collapse Disorder: A Descriptive Study. PLoS ONE 4(8): e6481.5. vanEnglesdorp D., et al. 2010. Weighing Risk Factors Associated with Bee Colony Collapse Disorder by Classification and Regression Tree Analysis. J Econ Entomology 103(5):1517-1523.6. Rogers REL, and Kemp JR. 2004. Assessing Bee Health in the Maritimes: A survey of pesticide residues in honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies. Final Report, Pei Adapt Council Project Number 319.02. October 15, 2004.7. Nguyen, B.K., et al. 2009. Does Imidacloprid Seed-Treated Maize Have an Impact on Honey Bee Mortality? J. Econ. Entomol. 102(2): 616-623.8. Chauzat M-P., et al. 2009. Influence of Pesticide Residues on Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colony Health in France. Environ. Entomol. 38(3): 514-523 (2009).9. Genersch E, et al. 2010. The German bee monitoring project: a long term study to understand periodically high winter losses of honey bee colonies. Apidologie 41 (2010) 332–352.10. Maus C, et al. 2003. Safety of imidacloprid seed dressings to honey bees: a comprehensive overview and compilation of the current state of knowledge. Bulletin of Insectology 56(1):51-57.11. USDA. 2013. Report on the National Stakeholders Conference on Honey Bee Health. 72 pages.

Pollinator movement and crops in the U.S.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service; Sautzman (2011), with input from commercial beekeepers and apiculture experts, including Dr. Jeff Pettis and Dr. David Epstein, an entomologist and authority on pollinators with the USDA’s Pest Management Policy. Crop production acres are from USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012 Agricultural Census.


MABA Board Members Meet with Montana Congressional DelegationJohnnie Scott, MABA Board Member

One of the goals of the Montana Agricultural Business Association is to advo-cate for our members at the state and national level. In an effort to make sure that our Congressional Delegation understands the needs of our member four MABA Board members and Staff flew to Washington DC to advocate on your behalf! Agriculture is Montana’s number one industry. One that provides jobs, income, and other opportunities to many of our states residents. We often-times forget about all the people, factors, and behind-the-scenes efforts that occur around the globe, which contribute to the continued success of Montana agriculture.

As MABA Board Members, we attended a “fly-in” to our nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. in September. To say it was the opportunity of a lifetime would be an understatement. We met with various national agricultural organizations, who spend endless hours representing and advocating for responsible agriculture. Many of which include our MABA sustaining and corporate members.

Gaining first-hand knowledge of the processes and amount of time that goes into representing our great industry was invaluable. With 2017 being an im-portant legislative year, it was a great experience realizing our success, but also outlining critical issues and challenges we will continue to face.

As we met with our state’s congressional delegation, we were able to explain our issues from the ground level, to help them understand and further enhance agriculture in the state of Montana. Our representatives were extremely insight-ful, and very receptive to all our issues, and even provided some on the spot solutions. We were able to provide information that truly explains how impact-ful and the importance of Montana agriculture, and beyond. The primary is-sues that we discussed were the Intake Diversion in Eastern Montana, the farm bill, cover crop seed requirements, Pesticide Registration Improvement Act and the importance of this program, neonicotinoids and their use in Montana, bee health, and free trade agreements and impacts on agriculture.

I am truly thankful and grateful for this opportunity. Those who work tire-lessly, to champion agriculture and those involved should be appreciated. As Montana agriculture advances, we will continue to face some tough challenges, but one thing is for certain: the future of our industry looks very promising.

SUSTAININGM E M B E R SHelena ChemicalPaul OlsonConrad, [email protected]

Shane ErethLaurel, [email protected]

Willie KruegerLaurel, [email protected]

Brooks HammelLaurel, [email protected]

Jerys EngetSidney, [email protected]

Jake GodfreySidney, [email protected]

Hub Intl of MontanaMike InmanChinook, [email protected]

Gary McFerrinGreat Falls, [email protected]

Mark KuhrWhitefish, [email protected]


Join us for the 36th Annual MABA/MGEA Annual Convention in Great Falls, MT on January 24 – 26, 2018. The event will once again be held at the Best Western Heritage Inn and the line-up of speakers is amazing!

The 2017 Season provided many challenges and opportu-nities and this year’s speakers are set to provide you with the tools and education necessary to “Thrive Despite Un-certainty”. There will be discussions on Paraquat, 2-4D, and Dicamba and recent activity and lessons learned. Listen to experts in bee health speak about stewardship opportunities to protect bee health. We will also discuss some of the nitty gritty details of our industry including how to properly submit plant samples and the disease effects of pushing crop rotations.

Damian Mason will kick off our joint sessions with his presentation on The “F” Words of Agriculture. Damian’s humorous approach to the challenges we all face will be sure to provide some great insights!

The MABA/MGEA Annual Convention is a great opportunity to get your CCA Points and Montana Department of Agriculture Points. Plus – you’ll have the opportunity to network with others in our industry.

Don’t miss the chance to learn the latest in our industry and have a little fun at the same time!

Damion Mason

Convention Keynote Speaker“The ‘F’ Words of

Agriculture”

SUSTAININGM E M B E R SIntl Raw Materials LtdBrooke McMullinPhiladelphia, [email protected]

Spokane, [email protected]

Kyle GrantSpokane, [email protected]

J.R. Simplot CompanyTroy TallmanBillings, [email protected]

Lori HamannPocatello, [email protected]

Kennedy/Jenks ConsultantsDoug BrannanWhitefish, [email protected]

Craig DockterBismarck, [email protected]

Julie WestHoffMission, [email protected]

Thrivin g Despite Uncertainty

2018 MABA – MGEA Convention & Pesticide WorkshopBest Western Heritage Inn – Great Falls, Montana

January 24 – January 26, 2018

Detailed agenda/registration online at:

www.mtagbiz.org

PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION AGRONOMIC WORKSHOP:

• Product Updates: Paraquat, 2-4D, Dicamba – What’s the Scoop?

• Stewardship to Protect Bee Health• Particulars of Plant Sample Submission• Disease Effects of Pushing Crop Rotations

with Pulse Crops

GRAIN SESSIONS:• Grain Elevator Management Best Practices• Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment• Pest Control in Storage• BNSF – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly• Fall Protection and Rail Safety

JOINT SESSIONS:• The “F” Words of Agriculture – Damian Mason• Effective Use of Drones in Ag Business• Crop Insurance Impacts on Soil Health

AGRONOMY SESSIONS:• Biocontrol Options for Noxious weeds• Plants & Pesticides Potentially Poisonous to

Animals• Testing Forage for Nitrate• Canola Nutrient Management• Warm Season Crops in Cropping Systems• Emerging Montana Soil Acidification• Herbicide Trials • EPA Regulations – Where Are We At?• Water Management in Pulse Crops

REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.MTAGBIZ.ORG

or send your registration to:MABA/MGEA Annual ConventionPO Box 7325 • Helena, MT 59604

406.227.3523 (o) • 406.227.3745 (f )406.439.2215 (c)

mtagbiz.org @maba_ag facebook.com/MontanaAgriculturalBusinessAssociation

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__ 4-WHEELER RAFFLE TO BENEFIT MONTANA FFA FOUNDATIONSCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT/4H FOUNDATION

TICKETS$20 each

Drawing to be heldThursday,

Jan. 25, 2018

www.lewistownhonda.com

Contact your board members to purchase tickets!


Thrivin g Despite Uncertainty

2018 MABA – MGEA Convention & Pesticide WorkshopBest Western Heritage Inn – Great Falls, Montana

January 24 – January 26, 2018

Detailed agenda/registration online at:

www.mtagbiz.org

PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION AGRONOMIC WORKSHOP:

• Product Updates: Paraquat, 2-4D, Dicamba – What’s the Scoop?

• Stewardship to Protect Bee Health• Particulars of Plant Sample Submission• Disease Effects of Pushing Crop Rotations

with Pulse Crops

GRAIN SESSIONS:• Grain Elevator Management Best Practices• Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment• Pest Control in Storage• BNSF – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly• Fall Protection and Rail Safety

JOINT SESSIONS:• The “F” Words of Agriculture – Damian Mason• Effective Use of Drones in Ag Business• Crop Insurance Impacts on Soil Health

AGRONOMY SESSIONS:• Biocontrol Options for Noxious weeds• Plants & Pesticides Potentially Poisonous to

Animals• Testing Forage for Nitrate• Canola Nutrient Management• Warm Season Crops in Cropping Systems• Emerging Montana Soil Acidification• Herbicide Trials • EPA Regulations – Where Are We At?• Water Management in Pulse Crops

REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.MTAGBIZ.ORG

or send your registration to:MABA/MGEA Annual ConventionPO Box 7325 • Helena, MT 59604

406.227.3523 (o) • 406.227.3745 (f )406.439.2215 (c)

mtagbiz.org @maba_ag facebook.com/MontanaAgriculturalBusinessAssociation


MontanaAgriculturalBusinessAssociationMontanaGrainElevatorAssociation

ConventionRegistrationJanuary24,2018–January26,2018

HeritageInn,GreatFalls,MT(406-761-1900)Company Contact Phone Address Fax City,State,Zip Email RefundPolicy:Afullrefundwillbegiveniftherequestisreceivedinwritingbyfax,mail,oremailatleastoneweekbeforetheconventionbegins.BeginningMondayoftheconventionweek,norefundwillbegivenexceptunderunusualcircumstancessuchasmedicalemergenciesordeath.LateRegistration:RegistrationreceivedafterJanuary10th2018willbeassessedthelateregistrationfee.Option1:ConventionANDPesticideWorkshop–$140/person($145afterJan.10,2018)Name Address Fee______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PleaseEnterTotal(attachadditionalsheetsasnecessary) Sub-Total $ Option2:PesticideWorkshopOnly$40/person($45afterJan.10,2018)Name Address Fee______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PleaseEnterTotal(attachadditionalsheetsasnecessary) Sub-Total $ Option3:ConventionOnly$110/person($120afterJan.10,2018)Name Address Fee______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PleaseEnterTotal(attachadditionalsheetsasnecessary) Sub-Total $ AdditionalPurchasesorContributions–Mealsareincludedwithyourregistration.SilentAuctionCashDonation $ AdditionalSilentAuctionandDinnerTickets($25each) $ AdditionalWednesdayLunchTickets($15each) $ AdditionalThursdayLunchTickets($15each) $ Sub-Total $ Totalofregistrationpackageandadditionalitems TOTAL $ CreditCardPayment:ChargetoVisa____MasterCard____orAmericanExpress____Number: Exp.Date Nameoncard: Address: ZipCode: 3or4digitcode Signature PleasereturntoMABA/MGEAConvention,POBox7325,Helena,MT59604/Email:[email protected]/Fax:406.227.3745/Questions:CallKristaat406.227.3523(o)or406.439.2215(c)/REGISTERONLINEATWWW.MTAGBIZ.ORG


Participate in the Future of YOUR AssociationATTEND THE 2018 MABA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Agriculture in Montana is constantly changing and adapting to meet the needs of consumers, markets, envi-ronmental, and regulatory demands. MABA, like other trade associations, exists because like-minded businesses and professionals understand and value the benefit of the strength in numbers and unanimity. The MABA Board of Directors strives to represent the members goals in a way that is mutually beneficial for all agricultural businesses in Montana.

Representing an industry is not an easy task and the MABA Board needs to hear from you, the members, so that they know your concerns and issues and can take all of that into consideration when making policy decisions.

The MABA Annual Meeting is a great opportunity for you to share your thoughts, concerns, issues, and appre-

ciation. It is critical that members attend the Annual Meeting to help set the direction for the association for the coming year.

The 2018 Annual meeting will have multiple opportu-nities for sharing ideas and to make suggestions. The Annual Meeting agenda will cover many topics including: Management policies adopted by the board in 2017, an update on Gene Editing, and setting MABA’s position on financial responsibility discussions that will be coming this interim. The agenda will also include an overview of work that MABA has done in the previous year, goals and objectives for 2018, and a review of MABA Financials.

Please make sure to allow time in your Convention sched-ule to attend this very important meeting and have your voice heard.

Montana Agricultural Business Association Board of Directors Nomination Form

The MABA Board of Directors works diligently to represent, support, and protect Montana’s agricultural businesses and all the associated issues. Active participation from MABA Membership is crucial to having a board that represents all facets of this diverse and exciting industry.

Serving on the MABA Board is a great opportunity to increase your (or a coworker’s) understanding of environmental, legislative, and regulatory issues facing Montana businesses! This is a great leadership opportunity that will benefit the individual board member but also the company that they represent. Please take a minute and nominate an individual to serve a 3 year term on the MABA Board of Directors.

Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________

Company: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________

Send your completed form to [email protected] or MABA, PO Box 7325, Helena, MT 59604.

After receipt of the nominations from membership the MABA Nominating Committee will identify 2 for each open position and one where members will run against current board members whose 3-year terms are expiring. MABA does not have a limit on the number of terms that a board member may serve.


Personal Protection Equipment and Paraquatby Montana State University Extension

The use of highly toxic pesticides that require respiratory protection were on the decline for over two decades; how-ever one highly toxic active ingredient has been on the rise due to glyphosate resistant kochia in Montana. This ac-tive ingredient known as paraquat is in such formulations as Blanco®, Drexel Quik-Quat®, Devour®, Firestorm®, Helmquat 3SL®, Gramaxone Inteon®, Gramoxone SL®, Cyclone SL 2.0®, Bonedry®, Willowood Paraquat 3SL®, Paraquat Concentrate® and Para-Shot 3.0®. Paraquat is a photosynthesis inhibitor and acts as a non-selective contact herbicide.

Applicators are reminded to use this pesticide product with care as it is classified as a category 1 substance with the signal word ‘Danger – Poison’. This signal word implies that this pesticide product is highly toxic through multiple routes of entry. When using paraquat products applicators should remember to:

1) Have buffers between the pesticide application and sensitive areas (livestock, people, pets).

2) Follow all re-entry requirements on the pesticide product label.

3) Wear proper personal protective equipment.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are usually on the first or second page of the product label under Precautionary Statements. Table 1 represents the PPE requirements for applicators when using the paraquat formulation known as Paraquat Concentrate®. PPE requirements for applicators not mixing and loading include protec-tive eyewear, long sleeve shirt and pants, protective eyewear, chemically resistant gloves and the use of a NIOSH approved particulate filtering respirator with any N, R or P filter with an approval prefix of TC-84A. Mixers and loaders must also wear a chemical resistant apron and face shield (Table 1).

TABLE 1. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR PARAQUAT CONCENTRATE®

Applicators and other handlers (other than mixers and loaders) must wear:

• Long-sleeved shirt and long pants;• Chemical resistant gloves – Category A (e.g.,

barrier laminate, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber, natural rubber, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC or viton);

• Shoes plus socks;• Protective eyewear; • NIOSH-approved particulate filtering respirator

equipped with N, R or P class filter media. The respirator should have a NIOSH approval num-ber prefix TC-84A. It is recommended that you require that respirator wearer be fit tested and trained in the use, maintenance and limitations of the respirator.

Mixers and Loaders must wear:• Long-sleeved shirts and long pants;• Chemical resistant gloves – Category A (e.g.,

barrier laminate, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber, natural rubber, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC or viton);

• Shoes plus socks;• Chemical resistant apron;• Face shield;• NIOSH-approved particulate filtering respirator

equipped with N, R or P class filter media. The respirator should have a NIOSH approval num-ber prefix TC-84A. It is recommended that you require that respirator wearer be fit tested and trained in the use, maintenance and limitations of the respirator.

(Thar

p, 2

004)

Personal Protection continued on page 16


SUSTAININGM E M B E R SKoch Agronomic ServicesTeresa WilsonCorydon, [email protected]

Justin SieckLaPine, [email protected]

Tom KingSioux Falls, [email protected]

MosaicLea Ann FlaaganWest Fargo, [email protected]

Nachurs Alpine SolutionsWarren StensethThree Forks, [email protected]

NuFarmTerry SchlieveDevils Lake, [email protected]

Potash CorporationMike BauneWest Richland, [email protected]

PRO Coop - FlaxvilleLuke DighansFlaxville, [email protected]

PRO Coop - OpheimLuke DighansOpheim, [email protected]

Respirator requirements can be quite confusing due to the wide variety of respirators on the market. Some product labels contain designations such as TC-84A, TC-21A, TC-23C, TC-14G, TC-13F and TC-19C (Table 2). The product label for Paraquat Concentrate® calls for a TC-84A respirator. TC-84A respirators include:

#1 Filtering #2 Air Purifying #3 Air Purifyingface-piece respirator Respirator (APR) Respirator (APR) (N, R, or P) with particulate with combo chemical filters (N, R or P) cartridge and filter (N, R or P filter)

TABLE 2. NIOSH DESIGNATIONS

TC – 84A Filtering face-piece respirator (N, R or P)

Air purifying respirator with particulate filers (N, R or P)

Air purifying respirator with combination chem cartridge and filter (N, R or P)

TC – 21C Powered air-purifying respirator with particulate filter (HE)

TC – 23C Air purifying respirator with chemical cartridges

Powered air purifying respirator with chemical cartridges

Powered air purifying respirator with combination chemical cartridge & filter (HE)

TC – 14G Gas mask with or without particulate filter (N, R or P)

Tight-fitting powered air purifying respirator w/ gas canister with/without HE filter

TC – 13F Self-contained breathing apparatus

Supplied-air respirator with a self-contained escape bottle

TC – 19C Supplied-air respirator

TYPES OF FILTERS AND CARTRIDGESThe ‘Paraquat Concentrate® product label also calls for the use of particulate filters rated as N (NOT resistant to oil), R (RESISTANT to oil) or P (oil PROOF). Filter efficiency is rated as 95, 99 or 100. For example you could have a label that specifies N, R or P filters with an efficiency rating of 100. This is referring to N100, R100 or P100 filters for your respirator. The product label for ‘Paraquat Concentrate®’ allows for the use of any N, R or P filter.

Personal Protection continued from page 15


SUSTAININGM E M B E R SPRO Coop - PeerlessLuke DighansPeerless, [email protected]

PRO Coop - ScobeyLuke DighansScobey, [email protected]

PRO Coop -RichlandLuke DighansRichland, [email protected]

Scotts Co.Michael DiamondKingston, [email protected]

Tessenderlo Kerly IncBritt BeeneRupert, [email protected]

The Andersons IncEd UmmachNorth Sioux City, [email protected]

United SuppliersGary MobbsHauser, [email protected]

Valent USADan LargentMcCall, [email protected]

Jay StrohUnderwood, MN218-826-6696 • [email protected]

Chemical cartridges remove gases and vapors. The most common cartridge or canister required on the product label remove organic vapors (OV). Always read and follow the product label requirements. Chemical cartridges should be changed if you detect chemical odors while wearing respirator. The Paraquat Concentrate product label does not require the use of a chemical cartridge.

FIT TESTINGApplicators using a pesticide product: 1) with an Agricultural Use Require-ments box on the pesticide label and 2) on an agricultural commodity, must comply with the new 2015 Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirements. According to the 2015 WPS requirements pesticide applicators (handlers) required to use respirators must pass a fitness exam by a qualified medical doctor and pass a qualitative or quantitative fit test prior to wearing qualifying respirators. Applicators should fill out and bring the fitness questionnaire to a qualified medical doctor to review. This questionnaire is available at http://www.pesticides.montana.edu/wps/respirators.html by selecting “Medical Evaluation Questionnaire”. If the medical provider approves the use of the respiratory equipment then applicators must pass a qualitative or quantitative fit test to assess the proper fit and size of respirators. Some fit testing centers across Montana are viewable online at http://www.pesticides.montana.edu/wps/respirators.html. It should be noted that fit testing and seal testing are not the same procedure. Upon passing a fit test applicators can conduct the pesticide application wearing the proper respiratory equipment; however each time an applicator uses the respiratory equipment they should perform a negative pressure seal test by covering the surface or hose where air is inhaled and breathe in. If the mask is properly sealed, it should collapse on face with no signs of leakage. Re-adjust mask until you get a seal or purchase a mask of a more appropriate size.

*WPS respiratory requirements described in this article are not all inclusive. Applicators should be aware of the full WPS respiratory

requirements as defined in 29 CFR 1910.134 athttps://www.osha.gov/Publications/3352-APF-respirators.html

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFor more information on respirators see the CDC NIOSH requirements at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-101/ or see pages 96 – 100 of the national pesticide applicator core manual at http://www.nasda.org/File.aspx?id=30515. For full WPS requirements navigate to http://www.pesticides.montana.edu/wps/index.html. For other questions contact Dr. Cecil Tharp (MSU Pesticide Education Coordinator; 406-994-5067; [email protected]).


Department Doings Cort Jensen, Attorney, Montana Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture had many law changes in the 2017 legislative session, so rule making is in full swing to implement them. Two of the laws (HB 126 and SB 55) included changes to their respective fee ranges. HB 126 addressed the pesticide statutes and SB 55 addressed the nursery statutes. The bills each provided a range for the fees that are then adjusted by rule. A fee range allows more gradual increases over time, but requires a formal rule to make it happen. Product registration within the pesticide program and licenses within the nursery program had rule changes earlier this year to implement the lowest fees allowed by the range in law. For pesticide the new amounts are $130 for registrations and 8 dollars for the special fee to fund MSU private applica-tor training. For nursery the following chart indicates the new fees:

Gross annual sales of nursery stock: Fee:

Not more than $5,000 $25

$5,001 to $75,000 $135

$75,001 to $150,000 $200

$150,001 to $250,000 $300

Over $250,000 $400

A landscape service shall pay a license fee of $150. If the landscape service also sells nurs-ery stock, it shall pay a license fee either as a landscape service or as a nursery, whichever is greater. A sod farmer shall pay a license fee of $220.

The pesticide program also attempted a separate, large housekeeping rule to change lan-guage throughout the program. After getting clear feedback that the rule was too large to comment on effectively, the Department has decided to take the comments to heart and instead do a series of smaller and more focused rules dealing with the same issues. These new smaller rules will be noticed and have public hearings over the next year.

The State Grain Lab will also soon start the process of requesting a fee change. The changes involve an increase for grading pulse crops caused by a new standard on wrinkles adopted by the Federal Grain Inspections Service (FGIS). In addition, the lab will have some new charges for services to elevators on placing seals on rail cars and for handling compost samples.

The Department is currently looking at extending the seed viability labelling law out to 15 months from the current 12 months. The rule is currently out for comments and may end up being modified to make the extension out to 15 months only apply to grass/lawn seed and not all seeds.

The Department will also need industry to provide input on pesticide applicator financial responsibility. The legislature has put a sunset on the Department’s ability to create financial responsibility by rule. The current method of using cash or CDs in the amounts of $500 dollar ($1500 for aerial applicators) is no longer time efficient nor does it provide any real proof of financial responsibility. The Department plans to work with all aspects of the industry to identify a financial responsibility option to adopt in rule that is effective.

POST YOUR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON MABA’S WEBSITE!MABA understands that one of the biggest challenges in agricultural is connecting those looking for employees with job seekers. We offer the Employ-ment Opportunities page on the MABA website as a way to make these connections. If you are an agricultural entity in Montana with a job opening that you would like to share on this page please send an email to [email protected].

In your email please include the following information:

• Your Name

• Organization or Business Name

• Job Title for the Position Needing Filled

• Job Description

• Date Applications will be Accepted

• How to Apply (Resume, References, etc.)

• Address/Email to Submit Application

• Who to Contact with Questions

Once your information is received, MABA will review and if deemed appropriate for this page we will post the job announcement. All interested parties will then contact you directly regarding that position.

MABA is committed to Mon-tana agriculture and this is simply one way we are putting our commitment to work.


Our Partners: About ResponsibleAgResponsibleAg Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 to promote the public welfare by assisting agri-businesses as they seek to comply with federal environ-mental, health, safety and security rules regarding the safe handling and storage of fertilizer products. The organiza-tion provides participating businesses a federal regulatory compliance audit relating to the safe storage and han-dling of fertilizers, recommendations for corrective action where needed and a robust suite of resources to assist in this regard.

The fertilizer industry is building upon its corporate social responsibility by promoting safe storage and handling practices. Our goal: Improving safety and security associ-ated with storage and handling of fertilizer products, sup-porting compliance with federal regulations, demonstrat-ing accountability and transparency and providing for the safety of employees, customers and communities-while continuing to serve the vital need of the agricultural com-munity for crop nutrients.

Any business that stores or handles fertilizer products is eligible to participate in the ResponsibleAg Certification Program. The focus of the program for the first three years will be on companies that store and handle ammonium nitrate fertilizer and/or anhydrous ammonia fertilizer. Ap-proximately 9,000 facilities are estimated to be eligible to participate in ResponsibleAg in the U.S. Of these, approx-imately 3,000 handle ammonium nitrate fertilizers and/or anhydrous ammonia fertilizer. These 3,000 facilities are the initial focus for the ResponsibleAg audit program.

ResponsibleAg has compiled a checklist of federal regula-tory requirements applicable to the storage and handling of fertilizer products. The checklist, developed by a tech-nical committee comprised of industry regulatory professionals, contains more than 320 questions. Auditors creden-tialed under the ResponsibleAg Certi-fication Program will use this checklist to audit the level of compliance at each participating facility.

The scope of the audit is determined by the participating facility. All partic-ipants are required to have a base audit for the storage and handling of fertilizer products. A participating facility can choose to add supplemental areas. For

example, if a facility also handles agricultural chemicals, it can add a supplement to the base audit that would cover the storage and handling of these products as well.

Participating facilities will receive an audit by a creden-tialed Respon-sibleAg auditor once every three years. Up to sev-enteen areas of a facility are assessed by the auditor. (Examples of these areas are dry fertilizer, liquid fertilizer, anhy-drous ammonia, shop, office and grounds, etc.) The auditor will enter their findings into the secure portal on the ResponsibleAg website within 24 hours of completing the audit. After it is entered, the facility will receive (if applicable), a corrective action plan listing any issues that were discovered by the auditor.

Compliance education is a key component of Responsi-bleAg’s mission. If the auditor identifies compliance issues, the facility will receive a corrective action plan listing those issues, information on how to correct them and a recom-mended time frame for corrections. Certification may not be obtained until all outstanding issues are addressed.

For more information you can go to:https://www.responsibleag.org/


Congressional Delegation CommentsU.S. SENATOR JON TESTERDrought is nothing new to production agriculture, but our current drought has underscored the urgent need to improve water infrastructure for Montana irrigators.

The Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam in eastern Montana irrigates over 50,000 acres of some of the best cropland in the country, and this summer I fought hard to ensure that no funding is reallocated from this project while the case plays out in court.

Producers across Montana need certainty, and I will keep fighting to make sure the agencies see this important proj-

ect through so irrigators along the Yellowstone River have reliable access to water.

Water is our most valuable resource in production agriculture, and during dev-astating droughts, it is more important than ever that folks are able to utilize our water infrastructure to protect their bottom line and help feed the world.

This month I will launch the next leg of my Farm Bill forum tour to talk with producers about the upcoming Farm Bill.

It is critical that the next Farm Bill meets the needs of Montana, and I want to make sure your voice is heard.

If you can’t make my Farm Bill forums in person, email me your thoughts and ideas at [email protected].

U.S. SENATOR STEVE DAINESTalk about making a deal! Five hundred and seventy-six million dollars was the agreed upon purchase price for a large share of U.S. wheat, including Montana wheat, headed to Taiwan.

Taiwan is Montana’s third largest export market in Asia and consistently ranks among the top importers of Mon-tana wheat. In September, I travelled to Taiwan to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other Taiwanese leaders. I hand-delivered a few letters from Montana, including one on beef from the Montana Stockgrowers, and one on

wheat, from the Montana Grain Growers. I wanted to discuss with them the importance of expanding markets and creating new trade opportunities for more Montana products. We had a great conversation and I look forward to continuing to build the relationship between Montana and Taiwan.

And as you may know, negotiations are underway to write the next Farm Bill before its expiration in September of 2018. As Montana’s only member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, I am working diligently to ensure that the Farm Bill is completed on time and works for Montana, and I encourage you to contact me with your priorities and any feedback that you may have regard-ing that critical piece of legislation.

SUSTAININGM E M B E R SWest CentralTim ErrecartMoccasin, [email protected]

Brian KuehlFargo, [email protected]

West Coast Agricultural ConstructionBrandt HaydenGreat Falls, [email protected]

West Coast Co.Andrew BurleighSalem, [email protected]

Dwayne HaydenSalem, [email protected]

WestbredRyan WeberBozeman, [email protected]

Wilbur Ellis Co.Craig CheethamBillings, [email protected]

Bill WehriDillon, [email protected]

Russ MinerGreat Falls, [email protected]


SUSTAININGM E M B E R SRob WarehimeGreat Falls, [email protected]

Bill O’HaireGreat Falls, [email protected]

Bob McKinleyHingham, [email protected]

Winfield Solutions LLCGreg WalkBillings, [email protected]

Doug UrdahlGreat Falls, [email protected]

Curt DroogsmaBillings, [email protected]

Yara North America Inc.Dean AndersonLacombe, [email protected]

Points to PonderA Board Member Perspective

Agricultural Advocacy, Where does it Begin? The short answer for all MABA members is each and every day. As leaders in the agricultural industry it is our responsibility to have a seat at the table that builds connections around the food plate. Conversations about farming techniques and educating the consumer needs to happen at each and every opportunity including every day conversations. Sensationalism is replacing sci-ence, and agriculture loses when this happens. You see it every day, on social media, local newspapers, and the state and national news.

Our opportunity to promote our industry and practice sound business decisions must include a way to relate what our industry does to the consumers. It is important to stress that we deliver a safe, abundant, and inexpensive food supply to consumers around the world. I strongly encourage you to take 15 minutes a day to engage in social media, or an hour a week to present factual infor-mation. This outreach is critical. Reach out on Facebook, Twitter, or at local community groups, school events, and to our legislators. Having this discussion with lawmakers is critical so that they have good tools for their toolbox in discussions with constituents, other lawmakers and advocacy groups. It is not even a question any more that this is where people are forming their opinions and making conclusions of fact. We have to be a part of that discussion.

Several websites give great information for you to share so that you can con-structively guide and mentor people to educate themselves on facts not fiction. The MABA website has several links to such groups and the Montana Alliance for Biotechnology Facebook page gives lots of great talking points. Don’t just throw your hands up, stay silent, and feel bad that people don’t appreciate what you do, speak up! We have a hard working industry -- be proud of it!

I’m tremendously excited about the upcoming convention, the convention committee has put together a great program with lots of good, interesting training and information for you to gain personal growth and education. Please take part in the education that has been put together. I’m making a personal plea to companies, please limit side meetings at convention, plan them the day before, or when there is not programs taking place. We must continue to update our knowledge in this rapidly changing environment as we are the best and brightest leaders of our industry. Keep the Faith, and Pray for Rain!

Arleen Rice

Vice PresidentMontana Agricultural Business Association


Data management beyond the spiral notebookBy Meryl Rygg McKenna

In farming, as in any business, people strive to make a profit. Few can afford to farm solely for its lifestyle, and agricultural production in the U.S. requires very high capital investments in land, facilities, machinery, and in-puts like fertilizer. Making a profit seems more and more challenging.

Commodity prices that a generation ago changed by a penny or less per day now fluctuate easily 10-fold more than they did then. Markets have changed signifi-cantly even in the past five to 10 years.

“Margins have become very tight. We’re seeing a lot more volatility than we have historically, both on the input side, what it costs to grow the crop, and on the out-put side, in the pricing of our products,” said Markus Braaten, a Certified Crop Adviser for a Kalispell-based company

offering agricultural consulting services.

Thin profit margins drive any business toward efficiency. In order for growers to know what is most efficient, we must have records where we can find them. Tough busi-ness decisions are usually best based on hard data.

But we can’t efficiently manage what we’ve never measured.

NUMBERS, NUMBERSWhat does it cost to produce a ton of alfalfa hay or a bushel of hard red winter wheat? How does our cost per bushel position our product in the market?

We’re in an environment that varies year to year as a function of weather, we have variability within each field, and so our yield is also variable. If we are to say with con-fidence that we know our cost per bushel or ton, we may need more data than we actually have.

We need to know what we have into a crop, but the cost per unit is often a bit unclear. We might know fertiliz-er and herbicide costs, but not consider labor costs or depreciation.

How would the cost per unit change if we get another inch of moisture, an inch less, or hail damage? Suppose I

see stripe rust – shall I spray or not? Is this variety suscep-tible to this particular disease? How has this disease im-pacted past production? Can I afford to spray a fungicide? Can I afford not to spray a fungicide?

A good data system will show the best course of action, based on the history of that particular field or sub-field. Therefore we want our data system to store information and help us access it to make adjustments in season. The system can give us real-time cost-per-unit projection to help determine profit potential, and the profit potential helps us decide things such as whether to spray for rust.

From Braaten’s perspective, growers need to track at least these categories of information: cropping history; product history; soil test data; tissue test data; yield history; yield boundaries; coverage maps; scouting reports; herbicide, pesticide and other crop protection products used; and quality attributes of the commodity, such as grain protein and test weights.

Braaten believes Montana is ripe for the adoption of precision agriculture that becomes possible with such hard data at hand.

“Traditionally we have large fields and a large degree of variability as a function of alkalinity, soluble salts and topography, and all of those factors drive or impact yield variability. As we shift from managing fields to zones within a field, we must have the data platform that accommodates the expanded data set,” he said. “There’s a lot more to it when we break a field into five management zones. Multiply that by the number of fields in an opera-tion, and now we’re talking about digital prescription files that we’re going to input into a controller, for a variable rate of phosphorus or nitrogen into different zones of a field.”

“We now have a significantly higher degree of data inten-sity than ever before,” he added. “We have more factors to consider when we’re making decisions.”

Emotions affect our management, as well. Braaten said he often sees subjective decision-making in the marketing of commodities. A grower thinks, “The price is low; I’m not going to sell today.” Then the price dives even lower – “I should have sold yesterday!” The price goes higher; want-


ing to maximize sales, he waits another day, but by then the peak has passed.

Selling at the top of the market isn’t a realizable goal every time, but we want to move our commodities at a profit. How can we know whether a particular price is profitable?

When we do a good job of capturing data, we can do a better job of making decisions. The more information we have regarding yield per field, fertilizer used, the weed spectrum, and so on, the more objectively we can assess the effectiveness of prior decisions. Then we can base current decisions on something more substantial than the emotion of the day.

OVERWHELMED BY DATA?Collecting, storing and using all that information can be daunting.

“The days of keeping our field notes in notebooks that fall out of our trucks are probably done,” Braaten said.

Data-management tools are available to help capture information associated with producing crops. The prospect of buying and learning to use any of these computer programs and platforms can be daunting, too.

The data “platform” is critical. That’s the computerized system where we capture the information so we can pull it up on our smart phone or tablet or desktop computer.

Many of the platforms are “cloud-based” – the informa-tion is stored off-site via the Internet, not in the grower’s individual computer. Benefits of this arrangement include automated backups and software updates. Even if our computer breaks down, the stored information still exists.

The platform we choose needs to be accessible enough to input while auto-steer is on, or for someone else to input data regularly – sometimes daily.

Programmers who build data platforms should under-stand what a grower needs to know in order to make de-cisions, and that growers have various levels of experience and comfort with technology. Too little bandwidth means an Internet or cloud-based platform is not accessible, no matter how good a tool it is.

On the other hand, “While the Internet can present challenges with cloud computing, that is rapidly changing with high-speed mobile data services and software pro-grams that balance offline use with online syncing,” said Alan Telck, Certified Crop Adviser in Sheridan, Wyo., and board member for the Rocky Mountain CCAs.

There is a lot of chatter in the information technology industry about data ownership. In some cases, whoever owns the platform owns the data. In other cases, the grower maintains ownership.

“Producers do need to do their homework to use a trust-ed and reputable source that has a good privacy policy,” Telck added.

Taking advantage of outside expertise becomes more and more important, whether that is from a certified crop adviser, retail sales representative, precision ag special-ist, University Extension agent, or University Extension specialist. When we need guidance, an outsider’s perspective can help us look at these management questions objectively, not from an emotional viewpoint.

Farming will always be something of a gamble, but using the data we’ve collected can help us make the best of the factors we can control.

For more information on certified crop advis-ers, or to find one near you, go to: http://www.certifiedcropadviser.org.

P.O. Box 7325

Helena, MT 59604

Presorted StandardUS PostagePAID

Helena, MT 59601Permit No. 221

CORPORATE SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Bayer Crop ScienceNasser DeanSacramento, [email protected] SmithBillings, [email protected] KingHuntley, [email protected] HauglandMayville, [email protected]

Dow AgroSciencesBryan StuartCarmichael, [email protected] OhlingerCascade, [email protected] AndersonDodson, MT662-416-8280Seth KeasLaurel, [email protected]

MonsantoJames CurryOlympia, [email protected] NorbyConrad, [email protected] YatesGreat Falls, [email protected]

Syngenta Crop ProtectionDavid FlakneMadison, [email protected] ScottGreat Falls, [email protected]

Western Plant Health AssnRenee PinelSacramento, [email protected]

NOVEMBER28 MABA Board Meeting Great Falls, MT

DECEMBER31 MABA Membership Dues need to be

paid

JANUARY 20182-4 MSU 2018 Crop Pest Management

School Bozeman, MT

23 MGEA/NGFA 2018 Safety Seminar

23- 26 MABA/MGEA Annual Convention and Trade Show

Great Falls, MT

24 MABA Annual Meeting Great Falls, MT

JUNE 201821 NARC – Field Days Havre, MT

TBA WTARC – Field Days Conrad, MT

TBA SARC – Field Days Huntley, MT

JULY 201810 NWARC – Field Days Kalispell, MT

12 CARC – Field Days Moccasin, MT

17 EARC – Field Days Sidney, MT

26 WARC – Field Days Corvallis, MT

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fall 2017 montana · 2017-11-27 · 2 fall 2017 montana business agricultural association chris...

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