November News

2009 Livestock Pasture- Forage Management Class

On January 6^th -9^th, 2009 a course on 12 month Livestock, Pasture and Forage Management will be held on the DSU campus in Dickinson.

The course is designed for producers and students who want to learn more about developing pasture-forage management plans. This planning course is a cooperative project of the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center, DSU Agricultural Department, NDSU School of Natural Resource Sciences and NDSU Animal Sciences Department.

Participants in the class will create a 12 month management plan for their own ranch, using their own information.

Prior to the start of the course, participants will need to prepare a complete set of maps; obtain copies of aerial photos for their entire land holdings, including owned and leased land; and calculate the acreage of each parcel of land and forage type. Instructions for completing the pasture and forage inventory and maps will be mailed on request.

An option to preparing these maps is to register prior to Nov. 30 and request specialists from the DSU Agricultural Department to develop ArcGIS maps for the entire pasture and forage operation. The cost for the maps is $50 for an average-sized ranch. Location descriptions of land holdings will need to be provided a month prior to the beginning of the course to give sufficient time for map development. Information from completed maps will be explained from 1 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 6.

The cost of the course is $100 to producers ($70 registration and $30 laboratory fee). College students can receive 1 credit from DSU. The cost of the course will be included in regular tuition and fees, but the student must pay a $30 laboratory fee.

Professionals and advanced students can receive a continuing education graduate credit from NDSU. The cost of the course is $50 for the credit, $70 for registration and a $30 lab fee. The textbook will cost $75. Participants will supply their own calculators and notebooks.

The course will run from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 7 and 8. Classes will run from 8 a.m. to noon on Jan. 9. Dickinson is in the Mountain time zone. Space is limited, so those who wish to participate are encouraged to register as soon as possible by calling (701) 483-2185.

In each of the past two years, there have been participants from Golden Valley County in the course. Each has found the course to be very useful for their operations.

The North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association (NDLWPA) convention will be Nov. 21-22.

This year’s North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association (NDLWPA) convention will be Nov. 21-22 at the Best Western Seven Seas Inn and Conference Center in Mandan.

The association and North Dakota State University Extension Service organize the event.

“The 2008 convention offers North Dakota sheep producers with up-to-date, economically important information that is vital for the long-term vitality of our industry,” says Justin Luther, NDSU Extension Service sheep specialist. “Furthermore, updates from a variety of industry organizations will be available. Every sheep producer in the state can gain something from this excellent event.”

Registration is from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Friday night’s speakers and their topics are:

Status of the sheep industry in the U.S. – Dave Thomas, University of Wisconsin sheep specialist
Lamb cook-off – Anne Osborne, Wimbledon sheep producer
The association’s annual fundraising auction

Saturday’s topics are:

Economics of the farm flock - Thomas
American Lamb Board update
Operations of Iowa Lamb Corporation
Make it with wool – Jane Horner, Bismarck
Wooly Women presentations
North Dakota Starter Flock Program winner – Dakota Brekke, Ruso, N.D.
American Sheep Industry Association update – Burdell Johnson, president

Other events include a lamb sirloin luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and the association’s annual meeting at 2:15 p.m. The association’s Master Sheep Producer Award will be presented during the luncheon.

“This is a great opportunity to learn and socialize with other sheep producers from around the state,” says Lyle Warner, NDLWPA president. “The board of directors has worked very hard to put together an agenda that has something to offer everyone.”

The cost of the convention is $50 for couples and $35 for individuals, which can be paid at the door. Just the lamb dinner is $15. Contact the Seven Seas at (701) 663-7401 to reserve lodging.

For more information about the convention, contact Luther at (701) 231-7993

NDSU Offers Tax Program on Nov. 25

Experts will provide tax updates and discuss tax provisions of the farm bill.

North Dakota State University is hosting a Tax Management for Ag Producers program Nov. 25 from 9 a.m. to noon at 12 interactive video sites in North Dakota. The program is for producers and tax preparers.

Experts will provide tax updates and discuss tax provisions of the farm bill, such as limitations on excess farm losses and whether Conservation Reserve Program income is subject to self-employment tax. The requirements for establishing Social Security benefits also will be explained.