Tyler and Shannon Stafslien of Ryder were selected as the 2015 Soil Conservation Achievement Winners from the West McLean Soil Conservation District.

The Soil Conservation Achievement Awards Program is a statewide program whereby each of the 55 soil conservation districts recognizes those who have made an outstanding effort to conserve their valuable soil resources.

Tyler is a fourth generation farmer who returned to the family farm 10 years ago; Shannon grew up on a farm near Williston. Upon his return, Tyler wanted to implement some of the no-till practices that he had observed around the area. The Stafsliens were able to successfully convert to no-till and haven’t looked back. They have a diverse cropping rotation which includes spring wheat, barley, flax, and peas. They also incorporate cover crops whenever possible; their cover crop mixes include turnips, radishes, barley, sugar beets, millet, and winter rye. Cover crops have greatly improved water infiltration, compaction, and erosion issues while also allowing the Stafsliens to reduce fertilizer costs.

The Stafliens have also seeded the first pollinator planting in West McLean County. They have incorporated 3.6 acres into a planting that includes maximilian sunflower, purple cone flower, lead plant, lewis flax, shell leaf penstemon, blue vervain, and black eyed susan.

The Stafsliens were selected as the 2015 Soil Conservation District Achievement Winners from West McLean due to their continuing efforts to enhance their cropland using various conservation techniques.

As winners, the Stafsliens will be the district’s guests at the annual district convention on

November 22-24, 2015 in Bismarck, ND. They will also receive a framed aerial photograph of

their farm.

2015 Achievement Winners

Fall/Winter 2015

September 1, 2015 West McLean SCD

Congratulations!

Fall/Winter 2015

Many planted shelterbelts and farmstead windbreaks in North Dakota have deteriorated due to age or disease and are no longer functional. Through the North Dakota Statewide Windbreak Renovation Initiative, the North Dakota Forest Service (NDFS) will offer technical and financial assistance to private landowners to restore, protect and enhance this deteriorating resource. NDFS and partners will assess windbreak condition and provide a written plan for renovating the windbreak to restore functionality. Through a grant from the North Dakota Outdoor Heritage Fund, this initiative will provide cost-share to landowners to implement their written windbreak renovation plan.

Interested landowners will complete the Windbreak Renovation Questionnaire located on the NDFS website. This questionnaire also serves as the pre-application. Pre-applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. Periodic deadlines, or cut-off dates, will be used to group applicants into pools. Upcoming pool deadlines are August 15th, 2015 and March 15th, 2016.

NDFS will review the information provided on the landowner questionnaire to determine if the project is eligible to participate. If the project is eligible a forester or technician will work with the landowner to develop a Windbreak Renovation Plan. There is no cost for this service and no obligation for the landowner to implement the plan. If the landowner desires to implement the plan, the forester or technician can assist in applying for cost-share.

Applications for cost share will be reviewed, ranked, and approved or denied based on funds available. Successful applicants will sign a cost-share agreement with NDFS. The landowner will have two years to complete the windbreak renovation as described in the Windbreak Renovation Plan. When the renovation is complete and inspected, the landowner will be reimbursed for 50% of the actual cost of implementing the plan, subject to project-specific practice and payment limits as described in the cost-share agreement.

Please visit the NDFS website (www.ndsu.edu/ndfs) or contact (LOCAL SCD) for more information.

Windbreak Renovation Initiative Provides Technical and Financial Assistance

West McLean SCD

2015 Accomplishments Tree Plantings – 48,368 Linear Feet

Fabric Laid – 22,212 Linear Feet

Handplants Sold – 7,021 Trees

Grass Seeded – 437.6 Acres

Fall/Winter 2015

2016 Services and Pricing:

Handplants:

Handplant seedlings are $2.00 each, unless otherwise indicated.

*Payment is due at the time of order

Tree Planting:

$500 minimum

$25 per 100 linear feet of trees planted

* Price includes trees

** A 100% down payment is required unless cost share is available

*** A fee of $75 will be implemented if ground preparation is not satisfactory and results in multiple trips to the planting site

Weed Barrier:

$500 minimum

$55 per 100 linear feet of barrier laid

*Price includes barrier fabric

**A 100% down payment is required unless cost share is available

Grass Seeding:

$500 minimum

$25 per acre – 20-50 acres

$20 per acre – 50-100 acres

$17 per acre – 100+ acres

*Price does not include seed

**A 100% down payment is required unless cost share is available

SEEDBED PREPARATION IS THE PRODUCERS RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF TREE PLANTINGS AND GRASS SEEDINGS. IN ORDER TO ENSURE A SPRING PLANTING, SEEDBED PREPARATION SHOULD BEGIN THIS FALL. THE SEEDBED MUST BE FREE OF COMPETING VEGETATION. THE DISTRICT WILL NOT PLANT INTO AN INADEQUATELY PREPARED SEEDBED.

For more information regarding any district services or to order trees please contact Christina Roth at 701.463.2851.

Order your trees now to guarantee the species you will need. We will take orders up until the trees are ordered from the nursery.

We have Plantskydd on hand in powder concentrate and granular form. Plantskydd protects your trees and shrubs from deer, rabbits, and other browsing animals. Contact our office for more information.

Prices on all district services are subject to change.

All programs and services of the Soil Conservation District are offered on a non-discriminatory basis, without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.

West McLean Soil Conservation District

West McLean SCD

Almond, Russian _______________ Juniper, Rocky Mountain _______________

Apricot, Hardy _______________ Lilac, Common _______________

Arnold Hawthorn _______________ Lilac, Villosa _______________

Ash, Cardan Green _______________ Maple, Amur _______________

Ash, Green _______________ Maple, Silver _______________

Buffaloberry _______________ Oak, Bur _______________

Buffaloberry, Sakakawea _______________ Olive, Russian _______________

Caragana _______________ Pine, Ponderosa _______________

Cedar, Eastern _______________ Pine, Scotch _______________

Cherry, Black _______________ Plum, Native _______________

Cherry, Nanking _______________ Poplar, Hybrid _______________

Cherry, Sand _______________ Poplar, Northwest _______________

Chokecherry _______________ Poplar, Robusta _______________

Chokecherry, Schubert _______________ Rose, Hanson Hedge _______________

Cotoneaster _______________ Rose, Wood _______________

Cottonwood, Siouxland _______________ Sea Buckthorn _______________

Crabapple, Midwest _______________ Spruce, Black Hills _______________

Crabapple, Siberian _______________ Spruce, Colorado Blue _______________

Currant, Golden _______________ Sumac _______________

Dogwood, Redosier _______________ Walnut, Black _______________

Hackberry, Oahe _______________ Willow, Golden _______________

Juneberry _______________ Yucca _______________

Total Handplants _______________ X $2.00 = _____________

Apple Trees (5 to 6 ft tall) _______________ X $25.00 = _____________

Apple tree varieties available this year are Honeycrisp, Haralred, and Red Baron

PLEASE CHECK IF YOU ARE: Sales Tax 7% = ______________

______ Farmer/Rancher purchasing trees TOTAL COST = ______________

for replacements in a windbreak or shelterbelt.

(These are tax exempt.)

Name: _______________________________________ Address:_____________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________ _____________________________________

_____________________________________________ ______________________________

Signature Date

West McLean County Soil Conservation District If you are interested in ordering machine or handplant trees please complete this form and return

to our office. If you have any questions please contact Christina Roth at 701-463-2851.

Payment is due in full at the time of order.

West McLean SCD

I am Andrew Willyard, the new Soil Conservationist in McLean County. I am originally from Portland, North Dakota. I enjoy the outdoors and watching sports, especially the Vikings. Previously, I was an NRCS Summer Pathways intern in numerous offices throughout the state of North Dakota. Throughout my four summer internships from 2011 through 2014, I was able to gain experiences in Cando, Center, Fargo and Hillsboro. Along with my internships, I attended North Dakota State University (NDSU) where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources Management in 2013. I then decided to continue my education and went back to NDSU for my Master’s Degree. I received my Master’s in Natural Resources Management in 2015. I look forward to meeting all of the new faces in McLean County and working with the producers.

My name is Pam Pitts. I was born and raised in Minot, ND but have also lived in New York and California. I’m with NRCS through the Experience Works program as a volunteer. I have an interest in plants, conservation, and people!

I love to read about many different subjects; I feel you should never stop learning. Reading is also a good escape; it can take you somewhere else without ever leaving your chair! I’ve always had an interest in art. One of my favorite jobs in California was working in a small art gallery. Meeting artists, discussing their work, encouraging them and setting up art shows was a lot of fun!

I also love music; I’ve been to many concerts and usually have the radio on while I read. I was exposed to quite a variety of music at a young age so I like almost all music including blues, jazz, and classical. I like most sports but my favorite is horse racing, I’ve been to many racetracks.

I have three sons who were all born and raised in California. It’s hard

to get them very far from the ocean; someday soon I’m going back

myself!

My name is Christina Roth and I am the new District Manager for

West McLean. I am originally from Max, ND and currently reside

south of Max with my husband Darin. I attended Dickinson State

University and received my Bachelor of Science in Agricultural

Business and Management in 2014. After graduation, I began

working for the Farm Service Agency in Ward County. I am excited

to be with the West McLean SCD and am looking forward to

working with the producers in McLean County!

to Wendy Forland and Rod Stockdill for all of their help

this summer and in past years!!

New Faces at West McLean

West McLean SCD

Congratulations to our Keep North Dakota Clean Poster Winners!!!

Bob Callies Elementary/Garrison High School

2014 Winners 2015 Winners

2nd Grade—Jamison Rime 3rd Grade—Connor Seidler

3rd Grade—Connor Kerzmann 4th Grade—Mia Gehring

4th Grade—Carly Seidler 4th Grade—Karli Klein

5h Grade—Emalee Jeffrey 5th Grade—Madison Myers

6th Grade—Kaitlyn Klein 6th Grade—Haley Huesers

7th Grade—Cassidee Sayler

Max Public School

2014 Winners 2015 Winners

1st Grade—Delaney Hankel 1st Grade—Hattie Heer

3rd Grade—Chloe Thomas 2nd Grade—Caleb Whanger

4th Grade—Stephanie Zenz 5th Grade—Stephanie Bingham

5th Grade—Gage Yellowbird

7th Grade—Christina Bingham

8th Grade—Taylor Gray

White Shield School

2014 Winners 2015 Winners

1st Grade—William Ebarb 1st Grade—Angel Black Cloud

2nd Grade—Oscar Felix 2nd Grade—Little Hail Perkins

3rd Grade—Andre Robinson 4th Grade—Brandon Brunelle

4th Grade—Samara Twin 5th Grade—Tommy (Cash) Draper III

5th Grade—Journey McKenna 7th Grade—Blaine Michaelson

7th Grade—Gardner Deegan 8th Grade—Molly Wilkinson

8th Grade—Quentin Felix

Each year area schools compete in the Keep North Dakota Clean Poster Contest. Students in grades 1-8 create posters according to the assigned theme for their class. Posters demonstrate the student’s knowledge and understanding of the responsibility each of us has to keep our state and water resources clean and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. The poster winner for each grade in each school receives a tree to plant and the winning artwork is submitted to the state competition.

Congratulations to the West McLean winners!!

West McLean SCD

South and West McLean SCD’s gathered in Turtle Lake at the South McLean office for the 2015 Joint Meeting on July 23, 2015

Windbreak Restoration Application Deadlines:

Pool 1: August 15, 2015

Pool 2: March 15, 2016

7th & 8th Grade Soil Conservation Tour will be held September 23, 2015 at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge

NDSCD Annual Convention will be held November 22-24, 2015 in Bismarck, ND

Contact Christina Roth at the West McLean SCD office for more information regarding 2016 tree plantings, hand plants, and grass seedings. Detailed information regarding ground preparation will be given out at this time.

Soil Conservation District Board Meetings occur the second Thursday of each month at:

8:30 a.m. April—September *All meetings are open 1:30 p.m. October—March to the public

If you would like to serve on the Soil Conservation Board of Supervisors please contact the office—two supervisors are appointed each year

Please remember if you are interested in participating in EQIP, applications are due October 16, 2015

Thank you to our

newsletter sponsors!!

Agassiz Seed & Supply

CHS

Farmers Union Insurance

Farmers Union Oil Co.

Garrison Lumber Co.

Garrison State Bank

Garrison Super Valu

Max Farm Services

Max Farmers Elevator

McLean Electric Cooperative

Ottertail Power Company

RDO Equipment

Rensch Farm Store

Reservation Telephone Company

Scheresky Ag Service

S & J Hardware

Truax Company

District

Supervisors & Staff

Mark Retterath—Chairman

Ed Hauf—Vice Chairman

Don Bauman

Byron Holton

Richard White Bear

Christina Roth

NRCS

Roberto Luciano

Diane Krzmarzick

Andrew Willyard

District Happenings and Dates to Know:

West McLean Soil Conservation District

140 5th Ave SW

Garrison, ND 58540

701.463.2851