The Flames on the Plains

It seems like yesterday I was writing about the intense fires in Central Kansas known as the Starbuck Fire and the year before that it was the Anderson Creek Fire, but those were in April.

Picture taken by Tammy Shawver of Eli Murnion helping neighbors.  All other pictures were taken by Eli himself.

Today, it is the Lodgpole Complex of fires.  There are FOUR separate fires burning that started due to dry lightning strikes.

Map from the Garfield County Rural Fire Department Facebook Page.

These fires have occurred where few people live.  I mean everyone keeps saying that it is near Jordan, Montana.  Jordan has a population of 343 people according to Wikipedia.  That is not a town that handle an influx of volunteers to fight a fire easily.  I know when the fires were raging this spring, the towns had a hard keeping up with supplies especially fuel and food.  

I have never been to Montana, but my friend Tracy has and she shared some amazing pictures of the scenery at the bottom of this post called It's a Wrap.  Tracy was also an amazing resource today as I attempted to get permission to share the pictures in this post.

We in rural America have learned over the years that when they are few people involved, the media tends to not cover the events as fully as those near cities.  This is a fire that is nearly 300,000 ACRES!!  THAT IS HUGE!  Ranches have been completely wiped out. Unlike the Kansas fires which occurred earlier in the spring, there isn't anything green for the cattle to graze or wait out the fire in safety.  April fires in Kansas meant that there were scattered wheat fields for safety of animals and people.  July fires in Montana in the middle of a drought means everything is dry, mature and extremely flammable. 

These ranchers need help.  We know government assistance is going to take time, but those surviving cows can't wait for the government.  They need something to eat yesterday. The cowboys, horses and dogs need a break.  I had so many friends including my own husband who went to help friends during the fires in Kansas.  They need someone to run a feed truck, to help gather supplies and hopefully tell hay trucks where to unload hay.  

If you don't have hay to donate, you can always donate money to buy hay, to buy fuel for the trucks hauling hay or to buy meals for the truck drivers who often donate their time to get hay where it is needed.  We had friends who donated much to all of the above.  

Dawn Haughian contacted me today with a list of things they need. Below is the list she sent me and another avenue is to go to the Montana Stockgrowers Association who has a fund set up to help in times like this. This Spring I remember Zeorian Harvesting sharing lists of things that could be purchased online and picked up at a local store.  I noticed on this list that one of the local stores is willing to take credit card donations to help people pay for supplies and to help feed volunteers.  

This isn't going to be easy for the area to recover.  Many producers had already been selling cows due to the fact that there wasn't the grass to feed them that they needed before the fire.

FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION ASSISTANCE:

***It is essential to call before coming to the fire to aid in suppression efforts. We are only accepting these volunteers from a limited basis and highly experienced individuals.***

· TEXT Anne Miller with name, experience and contact info: 406-853-3610

HAY, TRUCKING AND CATTLE FEEDING COORDINATION:

· Jana Hance, Redwater Valley Bank: 406-485-4782

Call Jana and let her know what you have to donate OR what you need.

· Miles City – Bart Meged 406-951-3005 & Misty Meged 406-951-4840


FENCING DONATIONS (Labor and Materials):

**If dropping off, please call ahead!!**

· Sand Springs drop-off and volunteer coordination: Call/Text Travis Brown at 406-671-8088.

· Jordan drop-off: Please go to Lammers Brothers on the 97 Highway 200 East North side of Jordan 406-557-2356. Please call ahead during business hours to arrange

FOOD/FIRST AID/PERSONAL DONATIONS: (Recommended: On the go foods, travel size toiletries, fruits)

· Jeana Stanton 406-230-2217

· Sherlie Hains 406-230-1672

· Ryan’s Grocery in Jordan. Also accepting credit card donations over the phone 406-557-2744


CASH DONATIONS:

Checks can be made to Garfield County Fire Foundation c/o Garfield County Bank PO Box 6, Jordan, MT 59337 (406-557-2201) or send to Circle c/o Redwater Valley Bank, PO Box 60, Circle, MT 59215 (406-485-4782). NOTE: Applications for Short term and long term funds can be made to Garfield County Fire Foundation and will be distributed by their board. Call the Garfield County Bank for more info.

· Cash and credit card donations for fuel are accepted at Farmers Union Oil / Cenex in Jordan at 406-557-2215

· Cash and credit card donations are accepted at the Sand Springs Store 3198 Highway 200W (Sandy Gibson - 406-557-6144)
· Cash and credit card donations for fuel are accepted in Winnett at 221 W Main St. (Beth Hoverson)

FIRE AREA DROP-OFFS:

**Please have drop-offs occur between 9am and 5pm**

· Jordan: VFW Hall

· Sand Springs: Sand Springs Store (Sandy Gibson) 30 miles west of Jordan on Hwy 200. **Small Drop-offs Only**

· Winnett: B&D Gas Station 221 W Main St. (Beth Hoverson)


SURROUNDING AREA DONATION COLLECTION POINTS:

· Baker: DES Alycia Conroy

· Big Timber: Sweet Grass County Fairgrounds – 7/26-7/28 (Lydia Sargent 406-223-0688)

· Billings:

o Joy Global at 1124 main Street. Drop-off between 6:30am and 4:00pm. (Gerard Murnion406-200-5511)

o NILE office Metra – Sending horse trailer load

o Western Ag Reporter accepting donations as well (Contact Linda Grosskopf)

o Supplies accepted at Border Steele 406-377-4398 or 1-800-423-5219

· Bozeman: KB Building Supply shop at 8256 Huffine Lane.

· Bridger: Town and Country Supply Crystal 406-662-3623

· Circle:

o Circle Sherriff Office

o CHS

o Ryan Ketchum Trucking gathering pallets of barbed wired, bundles of steels & ties, water tanks, also collecting money to purchase supplies. He is coordinating with the following businesses to come pickup in those towns and deliver to Jordon. Contact Ryan Ketchum 406-853-1131 or Erin at 406-974-2059.

· Forsyth: Rosebud County Sherriff Office

· Glasgow: Haylie Shipp – 406-853-0483

· Glendive:

o AgPro Solutions 1028 N. Anderson, Jesse at 406-939-3088

o Border Steele 406-377-4398 or 1-800-423-5219

· Grass Range: Little Montana Truck Stop

· Joliet: Copper Willow Salon, Jasper at 406-647-9879

· Lewistown: Fergus County 4-H Ambassadors are accepting donations at the Central Montana Fair contact Jennifer at 406-366-1677

· Miles City:

o Miles City Livestock – 406-234-1790

o Murdoch's is offering discounts on fencing supplies and gathering donations and coordinating delivery (Call Linda Hardwood 406-232-3422)

o Ace Hardware

o Cowtown Ag

· Sidney:

o Sidney Livestock (7/24 only)

o Reynolds Market

· Scobey:

o Farver Farms north of town 406-783-7113

o Reeverts Fencing LLC: 406-487-2362 accepting monetary donations for fencing supplies by phone


Northern Ag Note:

It is essential that you contact the team leads above before showing up to help or donate.

Donation collection points will continue to be updated. To supply additions or changes to this information please contact Courtney Brown Kibblewhite at ckibblewhite@northernbroadcasting.com (406-698-6932).

Farmer in the Making Week #5

Well, I guess I missed a week of reporting the corn progress.  Yes!  I had someone remind me Monday morning.

The corn has had quite an adventure the last two weeks from cold temperatures to down right hot temperatures this week.

Let's not forget the dust storm.

The severe storms that built above us a little over a week ago and became tornadoes east of us.

And a few days of drizzle, but not a lot of rain.

The corn has been spoon fed a bit of fertilizer this week while the little farmer was in school.

A little bit of rain would be great.  The warm temperatures should really have the corn growing fast as long as it can get to moisture in the soil.

Some of the corn really got beat up by the wind when the dust was blowing.

We have received a little rain, but could really use some more.  My friends to the North and East are just getting into the field to plant.  I think I can safely say that the farmers from us to the west would gladly take some of their excess moisture right now.

I'll try to do better at keeping up on the corn progress, so my friends aren't calling to see how things are going. ;)

-A Kansas Farm Mom

The Beauty of Fall Part 2

The wildflowers continue to bloom after this summer's drought.  Recent rains have helped them come out and bloom.  Even the weeds are pretty this year.  Enjoy!  I really don't think any words are needed.

-A Kansas Farm Mom


Linked on Fresh From the Farm's Farmphoto Friday.  Please go check out the other pretty farm pictures.  :)
 AND
 

What is Worth the Fight in Your Life?

My love of Red Dirt music goes back to my college days at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.  No, I wasn't there in the glory years of Garth Brooks, Barry Sanders or even when the basketball team won. 

Listening to good Red Dirt music was about the best entertainment on a Saturday night in Stillwater.  It seemed as I moved back to Kansas the Red Dirt music followed me to our local radio stations and concert venues.  Maybe that was due to some of my friends moving back to the area that became good friends with those playing Red Dirt music.  

I have been a fan of Cross Canadian Ragweed for years and did not realize that they had disbanded, BUT the good news is that some have regrouped as Cody Canada and the Departed.  Their new single was released yesterday and they would love it if you would listen to Worth the Fight.  

What did you think?  Are there things in your life Worth the Fight?

As most of you know that follow my blog, my husband and I truly believe that farming is Worth The Fight.  But what do we as farmers fight?

• ·         Mother Nature:

o   Drought- no rain equals no crops and no grass or water for the cattle on our farm.

o   Freezing Temperatures-baby calves born when it is too cold outside have a brutal welcome to the world.  The mama cows have a hard time staying warm themselves and eating enough to not lose weight.

o   Floods-yes, rain is a good thing, but too much is not what any farmer wants to see.

o   Drought (yes I know I listed it twice.)-the heat of a drought can make crops disappear before your eyes.

• ·         Not enough hours of daylight-often the things we do are so time sensitive.  When dealing with living things it seems that every task needs done yesterday.

• ·         Extremist groups- that feed the public with misinformation.  This is the hardest fight today for many of us.  We have family members and friends asking us if the things they hear are true.  Some days it is hard to believe what others will say to hurt your way of life.

AND WHY DO WE DO WHAT IS “FAR FROM EASY, WORTH THE FIGHT?”

Our fight for you protects our way of life, our family.  Someone once said that farming is what we do, it is who we are.  We want our kids to grow up, learn the value of hard work and to be in touch with nature everyday.  And now you are saying to yourself, that is just great, Nicole, but what does your fight have to do with me.

Fighting for American Agriculture helps protect YOUR:

•          Country-A country that produces its own food in abundance is a secure nation with happy citizens.

• ·         Food Safety- We are home to the safest food supply in the world.

• ·         Abundant Food- We are home to the most abundant and most affordable food in the world as well.

What is Worth the Fight in your life?

My Family is Worth the Fight.

-A Kansas Farm Mom

Thank you to Dairy Carrie for giving the Ag Community the idea to use this song as a blog post.

Picking Corn

Corn harvest arrived this week.  Just like much of the country we are in a drought and corn harvest is not looking really great.  In a normal year, we would start picking corn the first part of September.  This year it looks like we could be done before the boys go back to school.

The corn we are picking is not sweet corn, but it is called field corn.  It is the corn used to feed livestock, make ethanol, corn oil and lots of other industrial uses.

Most of our corn goes to Arkansas and Missouri to be fed to chickens and turkeys.  If you drive through the back roads of the Ozarks, you will find lots of chicken and turkey barns every few miles.  The birds are usually grown close to a processing facility.
 

Did you notice I call it picking corn not cutting corn?  The corn header for the combine actually pulls the ears off the corn stalk.  When we have good healthy corn plants, the ears are the only thing that goes through the combine.  When drought weakens the plants, the leaves and tops of the plants break easily when the header starts to shake the plants.  This slows the harvesting process quite a lot.  Check out this video of us picking corn today.

As I have said before, this is the second year that our area has been in a drought.  So far, the corn actually looks better than last year.  We have also heard that there possibly isn't as much aflatoxin affecting the quality of the corn this year.  That would be great news to those of us that feed corn to our livestock.

And a few pictures for the men.  Here are some up close pictures of the corn header while it was in the shop being repaired today after I hit something I shouldn't have.

There's more to a Drought than Short Grass & No Crops

There is a lot of news about the drought on the news programs recently.  CNN even did a piece at one of our local livestock markets just a few days ago you can view the link here.  Our area is in the second year of drought and we have been blessed with more rain than last year.  I am not saying that our pastures are green and lush, but we do have more pond water than last year at this time.  There are a lot of things that ranchers are contemplating and monitoring in these dry conditions.  Let me fill you in on what we have to watch even if we aren’t selling cows, because we are out of feed or can't afford feed for them.

One thing we decided to do was wean some of our calves early.  The cows have the highest nutritional requirements when they are producing milk for their calves.  Our cows are all 30-75 days pregnant as well.  Some of our younger cows were struggling to maintain body condition under the heat stress and drying pastures.  Weaning the calves will reduce their nutrient demands and hopefully they won’t lose any more weight.  The best case scenario is they will actually gain some weight before winter sets in.  I know winter seems a long time away now, but just like I don’t lose weight overnight, these cows won’t gain weight back overnight.

We have to make sure the cows have water in their ponds, can get to it and that it isn’t toxic.  Last year we used the drought as an “opportunity” to do some maintenance on some of our ponds.  Ponds, just like lakes and rivers, have silt deposited in them and need to be cleaned out periodically.  We had to use the tractor and loader to dig trenches in some of the ponds, so the cows could actually reach the water.  They were wading into mud up to their bellies.  Older (weaker) cows have been known to get stuck in the mud.  If they are lucky the rancher finds them quick enough, and can get them out and to safety before they die from exhaustion from the struggle.

If our ponds have enough water in them, sometimes they will develop blue green algae blooms.  We had one pasture develop this last year.  It looks like someone through bright green paint on top of the water.  Drinking the water can kill the cattle and any wildlife using the water source.  The algae actually produces a cyanide.  For more information about Blue Green Algae go here.

In a drought situation, your first instinct is to bale anything and everything in sight for cattle feed.  This sounds like a great idea until you learn about nitrate and prussic acid poisoning find out more about these here.  

One thing the farmers are really nervous about is aflatoxin in the corn.  Aflatoxin is a fungus that is found naturally in the fields.  It infects kernels that have a crack in them.  Corn is at much higher risk of this infection during a drought.  This toxin can have a negative impact on humans, cattle, chickens, dogs, well pretty much anything that handles or eats the corn.  For more information go here.

The final thing that we are all super nervous about is wild fires.  We all see on the news the wildfires in the mountains that are near big cities. Right now, there is a 100,000 acre fire burning near Ainsworth, Nebraska.  We have some friends that ranch in that area.  She has reported that it is 20% contained and one entire ranch was lost.  That means those cows (if they survived) have absolutely nothing to eat and their winter hay was probably burned up as well.  They are asking that if you want to help out to please donate to the Red Cross.  

As you can tell there are a lot of things on farmers and ranchers minds these days.  Sometimes, it isn't as simple as there isn't any feed left.  We try to shield our kids from the stress as much as possible, but sometimes it isn't possible.  When we got that rain a week and a half ago, I think the boys were more excited than I was.  They were ready to throw a party!  I know this probably sounds like a broken record, but if you are so inclined, please pray for rain and that the farmers and ranchers have the guidance to make the correct decisions in this tough year.

I just had to share this picture from last week.  Our long time baby sitter was in the 4-H Style Revue.  She was afraid that if she didn't have an escort on stage, she would fall over.  Our youngest gladly said yes to her request.  Aren't they adorable?  We love her like a daughter and she loves our boys like brothers. 

Have a great week and try to stay cool this week!

-A Kansas Farm Mom

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Early Calf Weaning and Some 4-H Baking

This past week was a bit busy with random activities.  In fact, I wasn’t really sure where to begin.  I guess I will start at the beginning of the week.

Monday we weaned calves.  We normally don’t wean our calves until at least September.  Our area, like much of the country, is in a drought.  This is the second year that out area has been in a drought and our perennial grasses are having a hard time growing this year.

The grasses were getting shorter and our first time mothers were getting thinner trying to produce milk for their growing babies.  We made the difficult decision to wean the calves early after much discussion.  The calves are only 5 months old.

To get them to eat at the feed bunks, we put prairie hay in and then put a little bit of ground corn on top.  They are used to eating grass, so the hay helps to get them eating at the feed bunks.

They were pretty hungry because they went straight to eating hay.  That doesn’t happen when they have plenty of grass in the pastures.

On Wednesday, I was the Crazy Farm Mom.  I have talked about how we have a community of babysitters when we are busy in the field.  The 4-H girls are all getting ready to go to the fair and for some reason they like to bake in my kitchen.  This is one way that I pay them back for helping with countless 4-H projects, making sure chores get done and the long hours they put in when I am driving the combine.  They are all way under paid, but never let me pay them more.  

Their favorite recipe is a Two Cheese Braided Wheat Bread that I found from the Kansas Wheat Commission.

They also made yeast rolls, wheat bread and a fresh apple cake.  God did not bless me with any girls in our family, but I am glad he placed these 3 girls in our lives.  Teenage girls can be a bit trying and have very busy schedules to work around, but they bring a lot of joy and love to our family.

My 4-H’er also made Oatmeal bread in the bread machine and some delicious no bake cookies.

Thursday we took the lambs and calves to the first fair of the summer.  Our 4-H’er has been working really hard every day with his livestock and it showed Friday night.  He came home with 4 Reserve Champions and 1 Grand Champion.  He said the best part of the evening was that he got to hang out with his buddies (average age of 15 and he is 9!).  The amazing thing is that they all tell me they love him as much as he loves them and they treat him as a peer not a little kid bothering them.  I love 4-H kids!

Reserve Champion Breeding Heifer and Grand Champion Beef Showman!!

Little brother gave up trying to watch the shows.  They got done well after 11:00 pm.  Long day for everyone.

Friday afternoon we were blessed with a very localized 2 inch rain.  Most of our crop fields got a bit of a drink and all of our pastures received some much needed rain.  The sad thing is that our neighbors 10 miles to the north and south did not get a drop.  We are very thankful for what we received, but know that this did not come close to ending the drought in the area.  Everyone is praying that the crops can hold on until the next rain which isn’t forecast for at least a week from now and we are going to have high temperatures again this week.

Just had to share the view from my kitchen window this week.  The bulls are all back home after the breeding season.  Every so often they stop by the house to visit.  I love looking out the window to see one of them.

Have a great weekend everyone and try to stay cool!

-A Kansas Farm Mom