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South Dakota Farm and Home Research SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station

Spring 1997 South Dakota Farm and Home Research South Dakota State University

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~ 3o, 1 S o '11,'17' V. ',r~ n, ,, , q, 1 -.ontents ~ f r b rector's comments Chlzen Input helps set research agenda ...... 1 RESEARCH Through advisory boards, commodity organizations, Extension agents, and one on one con­ A CHRONICLE OF BIOSTRESS RESEARCH tact with SDSU researchers, South Dakotans provide input to the Experiment Station. Volume 48, number 1, April, 1997 Calving later, weaning earller- wlll h cut wintering costs? ••.•••••••..•••...••••••••••••••••.•••••..••••••••••.•••••..•.. 2 Researchers at SDSU's Cottonwood Range and Livestock Field Station are conducting an econom­ South Dakota State University ic evaluation of late calving/early weaning versus more traditional cow-calf management programs. Robert T. Wagner, President IBR protection In cattle starts at the cell surface ...... 4 College of Agriculture Severe winter and spring weather can bring cattle problems with IBR and other respiratory & Biological Sciences diseases. Research and vaccination have helped keep IBR under control. David Bryant, Dean Fred Cholick, Director, 'The plagues are hertt, Baby' ...... ~ ...... & Agricultural Experiment Station Mylo A. Hellickson, Director, They're here: new diseases like Ebola,HIV,antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and many others. In Cooperative Extension Service the next decade, we will be waging war against unknown enemies too small to see. Eugene Arnold, Director, Safflower r11s all West River Academic Programs cropping condhions but needs a market ...... 8 Farm Home Research Staff Safflower is a quality oilseed crop and fits well with West River growing conditions. The next & Emery Tschetter, Department Head step for potential growers is working out ready access to processing facilities. Larry Tennyson Biostress research projects go beyond Jerry Leslie Mary Brashier Northern Plains Blostress Lab •••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••...•••••••••••••••••.. 1 O Tom Bare The Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory is one building that is home to dozens of research Duane Hanson projects that encompass all aspects of the mission of the Experiment Station. Contributing writer: Kate Gundvaldson, University Relations Sheep can be cust~m-r11ted to almost any farm or ranch ••.••••..••••.•••••••••••••••••••..•..•••••••••••••..•••..• 12 South Dakota has some of the best lamb and wool markets in the country. With numbers Published quarterly by the Agricultural Experiment down, sheep are likely to be profitable for some time to come. Station, College of Agriculture & Biological Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Economists outline rules for Dakota. Sent free to any resident of South Dakota in surviving under new farm bill ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••..•..•••••••••••••.••••..• 14 response to a written request. With the 1996 farm bill, the rules of survival have changed for South Dakota farmers. Four SDSU ag economists discuss the new management environment for farmers. Articles in South Dakota Farm & Home Research report the results of research. Because conditions will differ by Grain destinations determine locality, management skills, etc, results cannot be producer marketing plans ••••.••••••••••••..••••••••••••••••...•••...••••••••••••.•.•.• 16 exactly duplicated by operators. Mention of a trademark, South Dakota grain producers need to be aware of the needs of their ·customers for the great- proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the South est economic advantage when developing a marketing plan. · Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and does not Internet-surfing farmers can imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or 'catch a wave' for latest information ...... 18 vendors that may also be suitable. The Experiment Station has always worked to make the most current information available. Material appearing in this publication may be reprinted if Our Internet pages give South Dakotans another way to find answers to their questions. the meaning is not changed and credit is given the researcher and the South Dakota Agricultural Grad student researches effects Experiment Station. of protein, energy supplements ••.•••••.••••••••••••••••••.•••....•••••••••..•.•..•. 20 South Dakota Farm & Home Research is edited and SDSU graduate student Mike Reese is a researcher and a beef producer. He says relating his designed in the Department of Ag Communications, research to his farming operation has given him better understanding of the cow-calf industry. SDSU, and printed on campus at the SDSU Printing Laboratory. http://www.abs.sdstate.edu/

Published in accordance with an act passed in 1881 by the 14th Legislative Assembly, Dakota Territory, establishing the Dakota Agricultural College and with the act of re-organization passed in 1887 by the 17th Legislative Assembly, which established the ..... Agricultural Experiment Station at South Dakota State University. South Dakdta State University is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Two approaches to reduce winter feed costs and stiN achieve high reproductive Opportunity Employer (Male/Female) and offers all benefits, services, education and employment opportunities without regard performaree are under investigation at SDSU's Cottonwood Range and Livestock for ancestry, age, race, citizenship, color, creed, religion, gender, disability, national origin, sexual preference, or Vietnam Era Field Station. One is to calve later so the peak forage produdion meets the CCN/s veteran status. higher requirements after calving. The other is to wean calves earlier so the cow is in better body CQndiJion going into the winter and in need of less winter feed. 5,000 printed by AES at a cost a 53e each. AX036 4/97 Printed with AgriTek ink, containing soy, corn, and other vegetable oils. Director's comments • enhance production efficiency. How can producers obtain maximum return from investments and evaluate Citizen input helps these production systems in terms of productivity and cost/benefit ratios? • benefit from new technology. For set research agenda example, you are interested in site spe­ • cific farming, global positioning systems, feedlot management, and improvement by Fred Cholick and renovation of livestock facilities. Basically, your questions are: does the technology fit, can it improve the sys­ tak~holders of the _south Dakota input to project priorities and keeps us tem, is it cost effective? Agncultural Expenment Station focused on South Dakota needs. S • stay abreast of other technologies. (SDAES) provide input into its priorities • direct contact between end user and Herbicide/insect resistant crops and and research agenda, in primarily four researcher. This happens in a number of grazing management systems are exam­ ways: settings-sometimes when the researcher ples. We can do this because of our net­ • advisory boards for the various is speaking on a program, at a field day, · work of outlying experiment stations. research farms located throughout the or setting up an agreement with a poten­ We can show how given chemicals state. Advisory boards vary in structure tial farmer-cooperator. We have such respond to local environments or how but typically are made up of producers contacts in every county of the state. animals gain on pastures that are like and Extension personnel, and they meet those of stakeholders. annually with administration and he talk between stakeholder and • add value to South Dakota products. research faculty to provide direction and researcher can range from general T You want to know alternative uses of var­ voice local research needs. philosophical discussions about the ious commodities, different marketing • membership in commodity organi­ future of agriculture to the specific needs systems, and new processing methods. zations. These groups have provided sig­ of an individual. Whether general or spe­ • integrate technology into a system nificant funding of research activities in cific, this guidance and feedback regard­ level. While producers must be able to the SDAES. Boards and councils of pro­ ing the mission and activities of the evaluate each component of the system, ducers meet with us to discuss research SDAES is of great value. Through it, we you also want to know how these com­ needs as well as progress achieved on measure the impact of our research and ponents interact. Typically, you are con­ ~pecific projects. A number of these we learn if we are, in fact, making posi­ cerned about integrated livestock/crop groups, in addition to supporting their tive changes in South Dakota agriculture. production systems-management sys­ particular commodities, also represent The following six general areas sum­ tems that look at the entire operation. broad interests which cover the entire marize the inputs that stakeholders have • maintain a healthy agriculture in a agricultural spectrum in South Dakota. made to our research. If your concern healthy environment. You want produc­ • the Extension/research linkage. does not appear to be covered, consider tion systems that minimize degradation Extension specialists and agents, in daily that the categories are painted with and improve our natural resources. Your contact with producers and consumers in broad strokes and the inputs are from concern goes beyond production agri­ the state, report the questions and needs only the last several .months. Briefly, you culture to homestead landscapes and of the citizens to us. This provides direct want us to help you: South Dakota's future.

hese six categories are not all­ Tinclusive. But hopefully your needs and questions fall within them. We can't answer all questions immedi­ ately or even with our own research; but we make every effort to meet the needs of South Dakota citizens, sometimes by obtaining information from our col­ leagues through the region and nation. We hope that you would convey your thoughts and questions to us, either to me or to a researcher or Extension agent. You all, as individual producers and consumers, are the end users of our research results and are our supervisors Cat~erin~ Carter, Plant Science Department, shows Fred Cholick, Ag Experiment Station director, how she starts new soybeans from tiny pieces of tissue in the and the directors of agricultural Northern '.lain~ Biostress Lab growth chambers. Beans with special genes for oils research in South Dakota. We wel­ and proteins will answer producers' requests for an ag product with added value. come- and need- your input. O Calving later, weaning earlier­ will it cut wintering costs?

by Jerry Leslie

ill lat~r calving_ and. earlier To reduce winter feed costs and still that is available when the cow's nutri­ W weamng cut wmtenng costs achieve high reproductive perfor­ ent requirements are the highest. of the cow herd without sacrificing mance, two approaches may have "By shifting the beginning of the reproductive performance? potential, Pruitt believes. One is to calving season from March to May, That's what researchers at the Cot­ calve later so the peak forage produc­ the cow's nutrient requirements better tonwood Range and Livestock Field tion meets the cow's higher require­ fit the forage cycle," Pruitt explained. Station of South Dakota State Univer­ ments after calving. The other is to However, if calves are weaned at 7 sity are trying to find out. wean calves earlier so the cow is in months of age with this protocol, for­ A long-term economic evaluation better body condition going into the age quality will have declined while of this technique against more tradi­ winter and in need of less winter feed. the calf is still nursing and drawing tional cow-calf management pro­ down its dam. This could lead to thin­ grams, when completed in 5 years, ,,Both of those approaches- ner cows going into the winter and ·should add a new block of knowledge weaning early and calving lower calf gains, Pruitt continued. to an array of cow-calf management later are getting a lot of interest and So, without changes in manage­ information that has already come discussion in the industry, so we want ment at the weaning end, reduced out of this station. to evaluate them in a controlled situa­ calf weaning weights could result Dick Pruitt, associate professor of tion where we could get enough from later calving. Animal and Range. Sciences at SDSU, information to do an economic analy­ Another potential disadvantage to heads up the project at this research sis," said Pruitt. be checked out is that calving in Mayl) station in the heart of cow country­ "Calving in May will take advan­ requires that the breeding season is Jackson County, South Dakota. tage of abundant high quality forage in the hottest months of the year.

2 ~ If the cow can calve in May, she has weaning .. This later group will be the protein is a good way to keep supple­ access to abundant forage when her control group. mental costs low, said Pruitt. nutrient requirements are highest, says The new project started in the All-natural protein supplements Dick Pruitt, SDSU Animal and Range spring of 1996 when Pruitt divided like soybean meal or alfalfa hay are Sciences Department. But the calf may 126 cows into three groups and split recommended over non-protein nitro­ have to be weaned earlier, at a lower their breeding season. The cows are gen sources like urea. Nutritionists weaning weight, to prevent the dam wintered at Cottonwood but go to have been interested in using specific from going into winter in poorer summer grazing at Sturgis. amino acids in combination with a condition. grain-urea supplement for cows graz­ revious research at the Cotton­ ing winter range. Research at the Cot­ wood Station has made a dif­ tonwood Station showed no benefit to This may reduce reproductive perfor­ P ference to cow-calf producers. Con­ including methionine in a com-urea mance. trolled feeding studies have been con­ supplement. "We're also interested in feeding ducted with cattle and facilities in The station did find that wheat those calves to slaughter to see what Brookings to explain the results of the middlings can be an economical effect that management has on feed­ supplementation studies with cows source of supplemental energy. lot performance and carcass charac­ grazing at the Cottonwood Station. Although cow weight gains during the teristics," he added. Past Cottonwood research, plus winter were greater with soybean supporting research from Brookings, meal or a combination of corn and ith calves produced from the includes refinement of body condition soybean meal, the cheaper cost of Cottonwood Station, another W scoring for cost reduction through wheat middlings per unit of protein SDSU researcher, Robbi Pritchard, strategic feeding of limited feed and energy in some areas makes it an noticed that putting calves on feed at resources. Supplementation research economical choice in some situations, a younger age produced higher quali­ looked at grain or higher protein sup­ Pruitt said. ty grades (better marbling) at slaugh­ plement. Other research examined Pruitt reports a lot of rancher inter­ ter. That's one thing Pruitt and associ­ protein and energy supplement effects est shown and phone calls received ates will be looking for when they on utilization of hay. about his supplementation research. slaughter the offspring. This cluster of research demon­ He's also had many requests for "One disadvantage of calving later strated that cow body condition copies of his condition scoring slides weaning earlier is that calves are a \ or scores can be used to adjust winter and tables from various sources. One W}lighter at weaning. Although you may nutrition to meet the cows' feed needs feed company printed a poster with reduce the feed cost, you also have a for reproduction and still minimize his condition scores on it. The same potential of reducing income," said winter feed costs, Pruitt said. material has been printed in SDSU Pruitt. Abundant forage for at least 30 beef reports and refereed journals, "We want to see if weaning lighter days prior to and during the breeding not to mention beef magazines. calves is offset by any changes in season is a key. Managing mature One beef magazine allowed an feedlot performance, carcass charac­ cows to be a condition score 5 by the article by Pruitt and Pat Momont to teristics, or improved price by market­ end of the winter f~eding period b~ reprinted and distributed to inter­ ing at times when supplies are not at should ensure relatively high repro­ ested producers. their highest.,, ductive performance, Pruitt said. In South Dakota, grass accounts for Pruitt will compare the late-calv­ With a condition score of five, on a 50 percent of the acres and beef is the ing, early-weaning protocol to March scale of one to 10, you can barely see number one industry. Here, the kind and April calving and late October the outline of the cow's spine, but of research done by Pruitt and associ­ you can see the outline of one to two ates at the Cottonwood Station is crit­ rear ribs. ical to reducing costs. That's a neces­ sity if producers are to prosper in hen cows are consuming good times and survive tough times­ W mature, low-protein forage, like the bottom of the price cycle and such as winter range, protein is the a winter weather disaster. 0 key nutrient to supplement in order to improve forage intake and digestibili­ ty, said Pruitt. And unless that protein Biostress connection: requirement is met, supplementing Stress management for with grain may actually be detrimen­ tal to cow performance. the cow is the key for When using low protein forage to profitability from the calf minimize winter feed costs, pricing supplements on their cost-per-unit-of-

3 IBR protection in cattle starts at the cell surface •

by Mary Brashier

he sounds of spripg this year: Tbirdsong, water splashing, hooves sucking in and out of feedlot mud, cattle coughing. "We have a whole set of problems in cattle health as a result of our win­ ter and spring weather," said Chris Chase, DVM and virologist in South Dakota State University's Animal Dis­ ease Research and Diagnostic Labora­ tory. "Many animals were stressed by the severe winter, increasing the number of respiratory diseases and abortions that we see." Some of those coughs and abor­ tions are due to the !BR-Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis-virus, Chase said. "IBR costs U.S. cattle producers somewhere around $25 million annu­ ally. Up to 6 percent of all abortions that come through the Diagnostic Lab are caused by the virus." Tom Noordsy, veterinarian at the Howard Animal Clinic, also was pre­ pared for more cattle problems this spring. "But IBR won't contribute more than its normal share to the case­ load," he predicted. "We've pretty Chris Chase, (center) SDSU Veterinary Science Department, and undergraduate much got IBR under control now. This assistants John Rein and Diane Stoik examine a film "map" of E. coli cultures. The black dots indicate colonies where genes have been inserted and stored. E.coli is a is one place where research and vacci­ common lab tool these students will use again when they go on to study the nation have proven themselves. IBR molecular biology of other infectious diseases. used to give us real abortion storms 15 or 20 years ago. "Not that we should stop all research on the virus," Noordsy call it "the perfect parasite." It is tified under the electron microscope added. "We've got it controlled, not related to the human herpesvirus that by the different knobs, hooks, spikes, licked. And what Chris and other causes cold sores and genital herpes, and tethers projecting from their sur­ researchers learn about the IBR virus but BHV-1 has its own special quirks. faces. They all have a purpose. will help us in other animal health When inert or drifting through the The IBR virus, Chase said, "has a areas." air, "BHV-1, like any virus, is just tethering protein like a drag anchor DNA, a genetic blueprint, surrounded that slows the virus down and allows hase knows bovine her­ by a protein coat," Chase said. it to stick to a cell, and another pro- I) C pesvirus I, BHV-1, the organ­ The virus coat offers more than tein that acts like a winch to dock it in ism that causes IBR, well enough to protection. Different viruses are iden- tight. After the virus particle is

4 snugged up to the cell, the virus DNA peting with it for landing sites, the enters the cell and takes over the ani­ receptors on the cells, or maybe mal's own cell machinery to replicate something that alters the receptors so .itself. they are inhospitable to the virus." "The virus calls the shots. The cell Chase and his team are working on hasn't a chance. Finally, the virus kills several of these approaches. "We need the host cell, after it made billions to understand the events, and then more viruses that will spread through­ find out ways to inhibit the virus. But out the respiratory or reproductive anything that stops the virus usually tract." is also lethal to the animal cell because the virus does its damage irst, however, the virus particle inside the host cell," he said. Fmust get into the body of a sus­ Another research direction is to ceptible animal. BHV-1 most com­ add genetic resistance to the ·cattle monly enters through the respiratory new calves. "We want to protect the~ genome. This has worked for toma­ tract. from IBR right from the first because toes, corn, and soybeans, Chase said. While cough droplets can float sev­ there can be shedders in the cow "When the virus comes along, a copy eral hundred yards, Chase said, close herd, too." of its coat protein is already there and contact, as in the feedlot or on the A vaccine is made up of antigens blocks the virus from entering the cattle truck, is ideal for spread of the that are essentially empty virus coats cell," Chase said. virus. Only cattle and a few wild with their unique hooks, knobs, teth­ "Or we can go the opposite direc­ rumina~ts are susceptible. A week or ers, and projections. The animal's tion. We can trace the gene responsi­ so after the first animal shows a little body produces antibodies in reaction ble for the receptor and engineer it nasal discharge, a large number may to the vaccine virus. The antibodies out of the genome of the host animal. come down with the disease. "remember" which of the correspond­ Selective breeding on a large scale As infection progresses, an animal ing projections they should pair up would be the next step." rapidly loses weight and develops with when a live virus appears on the The BHV-1 team led by Chase con­ diarrhea. Crusts form on the nostrils scene later. sists of research associate Tim Frew, ~rom the nasal discharge. If these "Every company wants to make the graduate students Pu Wang and Shaw crusts are rubbed off, the tissue claim that its vaccine has more mem­ Akula, fulltime technician Lyle Braun, underneath is red and inflamed. This ory and therefore is a better product and "four really outstanding under­ gave the first name, "red nose," to the than the one made by the competi­ graduates" Diane Stoick of Marietta, disease back in the 1950s. tion," Chase said. Minn., John Rein, Laresboro, Minn., After establishing a primary infec­ An antiviral needs to be given Wendy Wiese, Sioux Falls, and Trisha tion in the respiratory system, the before animals are exposed. "If you Burbach, Vermillion. "The training virus multiplies and is ready to spread wait, by the time you get the levels of they're getting now will be invaluable to other locations. antibodies up, the virus has already tq them," Chase said . ."The frontline One of its destinations may be the gone through one round of replica­ public health authorities, for example, reproductive system. Abortions can tion," Chase said. are veterinarians, not medical doc­ occur at any stage of gestation, and And BHV-1 is like another all-too­ tors. Infectious diseases are what calves can be born infected with the familiar herpesvirus. Infection is for we're about, and what this team is IBR virus. life. "In cattle, we don't see the side learning about IBR now may help us Semen, because it has many white effects of this latent infection, like the control not just IBR but other animal blood cells, also "is a good place for cold sores human;get. But if we really or human diseases." 0 BHV-1 to hang out," Chase said. Pink stress the animals or give them hor­ eye is also caused by the virus. mones to suppress their immune sys­ tems, we can make the virus reappear. eedlot cattle are routinely vac­ "So, if we knew the cattle were Biostress connection: Fcinated for IBR. "But," Chase going to be really stressed-about to admitted, "the vaccines aren't as good be shipped or a bad storm was in the Virus is controlled-for as we wish they were. Very few vac­ forecast-it would be nice to have a now. Additional cines prevent infection. They prevent virus-blocking drug on hand we could approaches are disease." spray down their noses or add to their being investigated That's why, Noordsy said, he and drinking water. It could be either producers in his area also vaccinate something that mimics the virus, com-

5 The spread of human infectious diseases hinges more on human behavior than any other factor, warns David Benfield of SDSU's Veterinary Science Department. • Changes in agricultural practices and urban conditions; international travel, globalization of food supply, and other human activities create pathways for diseases.

A celebrated livestock virologist, who with a colleague isolated the virus that causes Mystery Swine Disease, Benfield seems to make a leap from the agricul­ tural world when he lectures on human disease. But is it such a leap? Most organisms that cause new ahd emerging diseases are "zoonotic," meaning they exist somewhere in nat­ ural animal reservoirs, Benfield said. "This is especially true of vir.uses which undergo spontaneous evolution of new entities that already exist in a mouse, in a rat, in a small mammal," said the professor.

ith the new and re-visited dis­ W eases, many of them night­ marish, that have been in the news and the subject of movies in the last A\ several years, Benfield had plenty of ~ material for this lecture. He gave examples of emerging viral diseases: Machupo, Marburg, Ebola, HIV/ AIDS, Hantavirus, Lassa fever, Morbillivirus, Sabia, Rift Valley fever, influenza, yellow fever, and (perhaps) Gulf War virus. Emerging bacterial diseases listed were Legionella, toxic shock syndrome, 'The plagues are here, cholera, 0157:H7 E.coli, Meningococ­ cus, pneumococcus, antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, Salmonella, tubercu­ losis, and Streptococcus. Baby!' Other emerging diseases: Cryptos­ poridiosis, Cyclospora, Lyme disease, by Jerry Leslie malaria, mad cow disease (BSE). enfield showed that of human 'Mankind has conquered many State Unive~sity, introduced his Phi B deaths worldwide, 33 percent things on this earth and has Kappa Phi Lecture on emerging diseases or 17:3 million are due to infectious been able to move into and thrive in new last October at SDSU. diseases and 67 percent or 34.6 mil­ and inhospitable areas of the planet. Benfield, in his talk, "The Plagues are lion are due to other causes. But one final frontier remains which Here, Baby!," gave an overview of Among deaths due to disease, the may never be conquered, and that is emerging human infectious diseases, ten biggest killers, in descending the world of microbes. showed some examples, told how and order, worldwide, according to Ben- a , That is how David Benfield, livestock why they emerge, and philosophized field, are hepatitis B, HN/ AIDS, ~ virology researcher in the Department about what humans may be up against measles, neonatal tetanus, whooping of Veterinary Science, South Dakota in the next decade and beyond. cough, roundworm and hookworm,

6 respiratory infections, diarrheal dis­ eases, tuberculosis, and malaria. "The most frequent factor in emer­ ~ence of new diseases is human ,.,/behavior that increases transfer from the animal host to man," Benfield said. "We just have to put on that backpack and go trucking up in the most isolated area we can find and kick up some dust and scare up the mice and other critters. Sometimes we have to pay for that." ment of resistant varieties of bacteria was under control because DDT had Benfield said, "Rodents and arthro­ that are difficult for the medical com­ just been discovered and we thought pods, fleas, ticks, and other blood munity to control. it was going to be the answer to the sucking insects are the most common Legionella is an example of how mosquito vector. But we found out vectors for emerging diseases of man. adaptive microbes can be, said Ben­ the drawback to DDT and malaria has Usually there is some vector involved," field. Here, bacteria have learned how not been eliminated." said Benfield. to thrive in the biofilm that collects in Benfield said, "The last outbreak of Activities of mankind are the great­ cooling towers of building air condi­ smallpox was in 1977 or 1978. In the est factors in the emergence of human tioners. When the fans blow the year 2,000 we think we will have diseases, according to Benfield. These sloughed-off material around and worldwide eradication of polio. So we activities include changes in agricultur­ humans inhale it, they come down have made some good progress." with Legionnaire's Disease. al practices and urban conditions, But new and emerging diseases Deforestation in Bolivia and planting garbage -collection or lack of it, interna­ present mankind a never-ending task of com let the mouse population grow tional travel, globalization of food sup­ of responding to changes in diseases unchecked and, moving into human ply, and changes in food processing. organisms. homes, they caused hemorrhagic fever. More include organ transplants, Benfield's take-home message was a Reforestation, as in Minnesota, overuse of antibiotics in animals and quote from Thomas McKeown who increased the tick population and humans, clearing of rain forests, said in 1976, "Improvement in health along with it, the incidence of Lyme is likely to come in the future as in the building of dams, famine, migration, Disease, said Benfield. • ~concentration of people, urban decay. past, from modification of the condi­ tions that lead to disease, rather than Also influential among emergence ,,Emerging viruses seem to from intervention into mechanisms of of disease are sexual behavior, drug come from Africa, China, and disease after it has occurred." use, and use of high density facilities. several other areas, but few start in the With his years of studying viruses United States, Benfield noted. "It may and other diseases, Benfield has ew York City could be one be related to our sanitation or perhaps developed a philosophy which he garbage collector's strike away our better health care system. We real­ N shared with his audience: from the Black Plague, according to ly don't have an explanation for that. "Perhaps humankind's greatest les­ Benfield. New York had a rat popula­ We are not a prominent site for emerg- tion estimated a few years ago at only ing diseases." · son for the 20th and 21st centuries is 2,000 below the number required to The Ebola virus, which killed 245 that we are not entitled to dominion cause such an outbreak-and that was people in Zaire, is a disease too horri­ over all the earth. For, while we may when garbage collection was going on ble to contemplate, and Benfield learn to live in harmony with the as scheduled. showed pictures of this hemorrhagic birds, fishes, and beasts, if we cannot Free trade and modem transporta­ disease, warning the audience they live in harmony with the indigenous tion take humans, food, and animals to may not want to look at them. microbes, then perhaps this is the many places where they would never The new disease has no cure and Creator's plan to remind us that in go, and that opens the way for diseases kills about 90 percent of those who this place, we are not yet welcome."0 to travel, Benfield said. Rats stow away get it. Quarantine and isolation are on ships and carry fleas and diseases the only preventions known. with them. Imported food may not fol­ low the same sanitation standards he world has made some required in this country. T progress in eradication of dis­ Biostress connection: Changes in the food processing eases. "In the late 1950s we were Constant vigilance detects industry have led to more 0157:H7 bold enough in this country to think new and re-emerging . through fecal contamination of meat, we were on the way to conquering infectious diseases. We thought we diseases in humans • ~ for example, Benfield related. - Widespread uncontrolled and had it pretty well figured out. and animals overused antibiotics in animals and "We had vaccines for measles and humans have resulted in the develop- whooping cough. Malaria we thought

7 South Dakota has the soil and climate to make safflower a viable crop, says Clair Stymiest, SDSU West River agronomist, but no close-by processing plant to • produce the oil and meal that give producers a higher income than just from selling the raw seed.

either tame or wild sunflowers, which generally are themselves considered very resistant to drought and heat. Interestingly, safflower also taps into a moisture reserve that other crops leave untouched. Wheat crops root to about 3 feet for spring wheat and 4-5 feet for winter wheat. Mois­ ture and nutrients that sink farther than 5 feet therefore are lost to crops other than ones like safflower. Non­ used, excess nitrogen leaches_ down · into the soil during the summer fal­ low period or during a period when there's poor plant growth. This nitro­ gen ends up on top of the clay pan and accumulates. After that, it may move along until it surfaces as pollu­ tion in a spring or saline seep. Unused, excess soil moisture follows &' the same general pattern. • "So, because of all this, safflower is , an environmentally friendly addition to our typical West-River crop rota- tion," said the agronomist. "It actually thrives on leftovers that other crops ignore." Safflower "There's also an equipment advan­ tage," Stymiest said. "Western South Dakota doesn't have a lot of row-crop fits all West River equipment, but safflower can be plant­ ed with regular grain drills and har­ vested with a straight-head combine." cropping conditions Why western South Dakota and not eastern South Dakota? "The reason is that safflower is sus­ but needs a market ceptible to leaf-spotting diseases from a wet summer," Stymiest continued. "From Pierre eastward is too wet in by Dr. Larry Tennyson July and August, especially in August." 1 The crop also seems to fit with the afflower may prove to be a thrives in hot, dry weather like that in new political climate in agriculture. S new friend of many western western South Dakota. One reason is The new "Freedom to Farm" Act of South Dakota crop producers, accord­ its fibrous root system that extends as 1996 allows the substitution of minor ing to Clair Stymiest, West River deep as 7 feet in search of water. oilseed crops for wheat. So, if some- Extension agronomist for South Dako­ According in Stymiest, there's more one had a rotation of a SO percent A , ta State University. root mass at the 5-7-foot depth than wheat base, they could substitute this • /, This deep-rooted, thistle-like there is above 5 feet. Safflower has a crop in very early and still be in com­ oilseed crop originally from Pakistan more extensive root system than pliance with the farm program.

8 o how does it work in the typi­ flowers, and they also are putting S cal West River crop rotation? data together on safflower. The study "SDSU has several long-term envisions small, community-oriented research studies on crop rotations of plants serving growers in a 10-20- · • various combinations of safflower and mile radius. other crops, " Stymiest said. These The meal left over from the extrac­ studies have been supported by funds tion would be about 21 .percent pro­ from two South Dakota organizations, tein, and this could be pelleted or the Wheat Commission and the caked for livestock feed. A pellet like Oilseed Council. years, but South Dakota is able to . that would contain about 8-10 per­ In the past couple of years, some of grow more pounds per acre because, cent fat, making it a terrific feed addi­ the highest-profit rotations have been at this latitude, this state gets more tive in rough winter weather, said to use a winter wheat crop first, fol­ units of heat from the sun. The grow­ Stymiest. lowed by safflower, and then by mil­ ing season here is longer, and if the The crop still is in its infancy in let. Winter wheat, a cool-season grass, crop is planted here by April 15, it western South Dakota, with roughly is followed by a warm-season will be ready to harvest by September 50,000 acres planted this past grow­ broadleaf, safflower; so each has a 15. The prairie provinces of Canada . ing season. different growing season and differ­ may have an early frost, and the crop Kent Kjerstad of Quinn, S.D., is one ent moisture demands. Millet, a very would be lost. Safflower grows rapid­ of the growers. He planted about low-moisture demanding crop-, com­ ly at 70-95 degree weather. In Cana­ 1,500 acres into safflowers last year pletes the rotation. Finally, a good da, there are many days in the 40-60 and plans a similar amount for the amount of residue is kept as cover degree range, and a really hot day is 1997 growing season. He agrees there throughout the whole period. about 80 degrees. is considerable interest in the crop in "In dry years, we· might substitute "Our situation is that we know saf­ the Wall-Quinn area. In fact, most of summer fallow for the millet crop. flower fits our rotation well, and the those attending a safflower confer­ Millet isn't really a high-value crop, growers have been getting a pretty ence last year at Great Falls, Mon­ but in most cases it pays better than good price for the past several years. tana, were from his locality. Kjerstad summer fallow," Stymiest added. But we are limited in our markets. plants a high linoleic acid variety that )'his rotation also works to limit dis- Most of our product is going into the yields an oil with special qualities in ~ eases, the agronomist said. None of the birdseed market, and this has a lot of enhancing the shelf life of food items diseases that affect wheat will affect fluctuation. Furthermore, if the plant such as potato chips . . safflowers. The same is true between at Culvertson, Montana, should close, Kjerstad has taken a continuous safflower and millet, and millet .to transportation costs would make the cropping approach to farming and is wheat, so there is no disease carryover. crop unfeasible as an oilseed crop. well satisfied with the way safflower Does the rotation have an effect on What we need to stabilize our market fits into his rotation. "We don't have a yield? is to process some of that product lot of crops to choose from due to our "We are seeing a 5-bushel gain in ourselves," Stymiest said. "All other arid climate conditions," he said. "So, wheat, particularly after summer fal­ conditions are favorable for this crop, safflower really fits well. In continu­ low, because of soil changes that but we do have ta be concerned about ous cropping, you also have to have a result from having safflower in the these marketing challenges. crop that will break up the disease rotation," Stymiest said. "There's a good market for the oil, cycles of the other crops in the rota­ and there's always a market for high­ tion, and safflower does this for us ost of the safflower in the quality, high-energy meal. The oil is too." M upper Midwest is grown in high in Vitamin E and low in saturated His only concern with safflower is Montana and North Dakota-not nec­ fat. This makes it a good oil for cook­ with market fluctuations. "We have essarily because their soils or climates ing," Stymiest went on. "In fact, cook­ had good prices over the past 2 years, are better suited for it, but because ing oil is one of the main possibilities however." 0 these states have access to processing. for expanding the market. Safflower Nebraska, for instance, did some early oil also is used in nearly all kinds of work in growing safflower, but cosmetics, and there's also demand for because it is located 600 miles from it in the health food industry especially the nearest processing plant, the crop if the oil is cold-press extracted with never caught on. There is a small pro­ no use of chemicals." Biostress connection: cessing plant in Montana, but, accord- A desert plant fits West t \ \ ing to Stymiest, the nearest commer­ he State Department of Agri­ River rotations, improving V dally sized plant is in California. Tculture and the South Dakota production systems A considerable amount of safflower Oil Seed Council are now doing a fea­ was raised in Canada for several sibility study for oil extraction on sun-

9 Biostress research projects go beyond Northern Plains Biostress La

photos by Tom Bare

Biostress research is part of every Experiment Station project. Les Flake, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, has watched pheasants jump for standing corn. To help wildlife through winter stresses, he places food plots near large dense areas of cattails, tall grass, or shelterbelts. Ag Engineer Jim Julson, above right, attacks another aspect of stress, to assure economic stability on the farm through new ag-based products. This is extruded corn flour, biodegradable when buried in soil, but rigid enough to be formed into insula­ tion. Right, the research of Dairy Scientists Bob Baer and Dave Schingoethe to improve milk fat composition will increase the marketability of dairy products.

10 In alfalfa breeding, Arvid Boe (above) is searching for a leafhopper-tolerant, longer­ flowering cultivar with good leaf retention for places where producers only' get one or two cuts a year. Nels Troelstrup (left) says that water plants and animals reveal changing water quality. If they are healthy, land management upstream is probably keeping excess soil and chemicals from entering the water supply .. .

Pete Schaefer (above) of Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks looks for signs of superior genetics in a plantation of hackberries from 120 different seed sources. Doug McFarland (in center at right) of Animal and Range Sciences and assistants Jane Pesall and Zaikai Li measure protein synthesis rates in skeletal muscle cultures. Their goal is • to identify the factors that will help meat animals grow more cheaply and quickly for the farmer and rancher.

11 Sheep can be custom-fitted to almost any farm or ranch

by Mary Brashier

''South Dakota probably has high spinning count. And since there's sheep inventory has slowly declined better lamb markets-more little farming out-there, there is less since an all-time high in 1942. outlets, and niore opportunity for dirt contamination. The high yielding In 1996, South Dakota tied for competition-than anywhere else in wool has less foreign matter in it." third-with Montana and behind the country." When producers sell lambs, they Texas and Wyoming-in the nation in Not to be outdone is the other seg­ use the terminal market, sell direct, lamb crop when 390,000 lambs were ment of the sheep industry. "Wool pick buying stations, or use auction raised. In 1995 we were undisputed marketing agents can be found barns scattered across the state. third with 420,000 lambs. Nation­ throughout the state, and the wool "We are consistently quoted on the wide, the 1996 lamb crop was a warehouses in Belle Fourche provide markets about as high as any place," record low 5 .28 million head, down 6 one of the strongest regional wool Slyter said. · percent from the previous year. markets in the country." On January 1, 1997, South Dakota Those are the opinions of Lowell ary Krull of the South Dakota market sheep and lambs totaled Slyter, professor in the Department of G Agricultural Statistics Service 95,000. At the same time in 1996 Animal and Range Sciences at South had supply-and-demand reasons for they were 115,000. Dakota State University. the strong prices. "Fewer sheep, fewer lambs born, His opinions are backed by evi­ The average value per head for all higher prices," Krull said. dence. South Dakota sheep in 1996 was $97. "Wool buyers prefer western wool In 1995, it was $70. ow to take advantage of high- • from South Dakota, Wyoming, and But the inventory is down, Krull Her prices? Slyter summarizes Montana. They say it is the highest said. The state's 1996 flock was his recommendations in one sentence. quality premium wool they purchase. roughly 450,000 sheep and lambs. "Anytime you can get more lambs When that wool comes off whitefaced The 1995 flock was 500,000. The per ewe, you increase productivity," western ewes, it is uniform and has a trend downward is nationwide; all- he said. He added that there is no simple formula. "Nor are we encouraging selection for quadruplets or quintu­ plets at every breeding. We don't, for example, turn out a range ewe with more than two lambs. But, on the other hand, two 80-pound lambs return more to the producer than one 100-pound lamb." Success of a sheep operation also seems to depend on where the pro­ ducer lives, Slyter added. "The weight of lambs at birth and weaning, lamb survival, growth rate, amdtmt and quality of wool-nearly every parameter we measure in sheep production changes with whether the flock is raised on farm or range," he said. "Even when we use the same The best thing about sheep is their versatility, says Lowell Slyter of the SDSU Animal sheep breeds in both the farm and ~ - and Range Sciences Department. They fit operations in East and West River, they range flocks." • produce two different products-wool and meat. Markets for both are handy, and And there is the secret of success. prices are high. "And sheep are easier to push around than a penful of cattle." Producers that outstrip all others

12 Top Five Sheep & Lamb Producing States because they are confined less, there Total Inventory, January 1 ~ 1997 is less chance of spreading disease." Agricultural Statistics Board NASS, USDA The main reason to lamb later at Antelope is that lamb production is .OO)Head matched to the grass resource, he 1,500 .All emphasized. • Breeding urrently, there are about 3,000 Market 1,000 D C sheep operations in South Dakota, with more producers and sheep in East River but larger flocks in West River, said Jeff Held, SDSU 500 Extension sheep specialist. The average range flock is 600 head of ewes, and the average farm flock is 120. . Feedlots are located mostly in east­ Texas California Wyoming Colorado South Dakota ern South Dakota because of the feed supply of corn and alfalfa and the proximity to finished lamb markets. include crossbred ewes in their breed­ "We have individual lambing pens The largest Held knows of has an ing flocks. at Buffalo too. Our lambs stay in for 18,000-head capacity. Over 5 years, Finn-Dorset-Targhee 2 or 3 days, around the buildings for a The highest valued wool is produced ewes at both the Antelope Range Sta­ week or two, and then as soon as in West River. "The wool market is here tion at Buffalo and in a farm flock at there's grass, they're out to pasture to stay," Slyter said. ''The quality of the the SDSU Sheep Unit at Brookings with their mothers." product and the prices buyers are will­ had a higher number of lambs born, Slyter sees West River lambing pro­ ing to pay show that it's worthwhile to number of lambs weaned, and total cedures turning full circle. "When I make a commitment to wool." lamb weight weaned than did started, essentially everybody lambed Targhee ewes. The Targhee ewes on open range. Then they began using ''The one thing about sheep is • produced more wool. sheds to save more lambs. Now some that they are so tremen­ This means, Slyter said, that 100 people are switching back to the dously versatile," Slyt~r said. "If you Finn-cross ewes produced 28,974 lb range to reduce the labor and feeding want to winter lamb because you of weaned lambs and 2,994 lb of costs that go with shed lambing. The have more time in those slack months, wool, compared to 24,310 lb of tradeoff is lower survival." then lamb in winter. If you want to weaned lambs and 3,542 lb of wool spring lamb to avoid weather stresses, for straightbred Targhees. go ahead. If you're in eastern South Dakota and have harvested feeds, he advantage for the Finn-cross feed lambs out. If you want to empha­ Theld both in the range and size wool, go for it, but make every farm flocks. But the range ewes effort to have high-quality wool and weaned more lambs per ewe exposed then sell grade and yield after a core and had heavier lambs. test. If you want to raise natural, col­ Slyter gave several reasons for the ored wool, there is a specialty market higher lambing results at Antelope. with the hand spinners who will offer "We lambed later out there, in more value per pound. April, versus February in Brookings. "More years than not, sheep are So we had a chance for better weath­ profitable," he concluded. "With num­ er when the lambs were born, thus bers down, it looks like they'll stay increasing lamb survival. Having a shed ready still pays, the that way for a while." 0 "Later lambing also meant later researcher said. "If a late storm comes breeding in the range flock. Ovulation in only one of every 5 years and wipes increases as fall progresses. We expect out your lamb crop, you've bought Biostress connection: a higher lambing rate as a result." your shed whether you used it or not." Slyter uses sheds for lambing at Another reason for more successful Production systems both locations. "In Brookings it's an lambing at Antelope is related to are tailored to avoid absolute requirement in January crowding stress and animal density. environmental stress when we're fighting cold, snow, mud, "Lambs are born when pasture is and temperature fluctuations. becoming available, and we think that

13 Economists outline rules for surviving under new farm bill

compiled by Dr. Larry Tennyson

he 1996 farm bill has created a effective risk managers. They must not only with production costs, but T brand-new management envi­ learn to use all risk management also with quality. And this may force ronment for South Dakota farmers. tools available, including forward some tradeoffs between production The rules of s·urvival have changed. pricing with futures and options, costs and certain inputs to .meet the How do farmers change with it? Farm diversification, vertical integration, quality demands of consumers. & Home Research asked that question and insurance. Agricultural producers must ada.P,t of four leading agricultural econo­ to changing consumer demands, the mists. Here are their answers: needs of the communities in which by Dr. Burton Pflueger they operate, and the environment. SDSU Extension Farm Financial Agricultural production will no longer by Dr. Richard Shane Management Specialist exist independent of the inter-rela­ Acting head, Department of Economics tionships of the food and fiber system. he 1996 farm bill added to the South Dakota State University These relationships must determine changing environment of agri­ T what the win-win position of all play­ he 1996 farm bill was designed culture and increased opportunities ers in the system will be. This rela­ to slowly wean farmers off of for both success and failure. Manage­ T tionship will demand that producers income support from crop subsidy ment skills now need to be oriented network with other producers and payments. Crop payments will dimin­ around knowledge, rather than tasks. ish over 7 years through 2002. Pay­ Agriculture is in a post-industrial other businesses in the production, ments are no longer tied to acreage period where differentiated products delivery, and consumption of high diversion programs, and farmers can are produced in a highly controlled, quality agricultural products. plant any crop on any amount of responsive, and flexible production Successful management will acres that fits their rotation and man­ system. In this new era, farmers still require more information and greater agement plans. This flexibility suppos­ need to be low-cost, efficient produc­ detail in all aspects of the operation. edly makes up for lost subsidy pay­ ers, but they also must produce prod­ Operations will need to be compared ments because farmers can plant the ucts that meet consumer demands. with past performance, with similar most potentially profitable crops in Farmers now need to be concerned operations, and with other industries, response to market signals. One fear is increased variability in crop prices and incomes. This is sup­ ported by a theory that farmers will plant high-priced crops and cause large price changes. However; history suggests that prices will remain low during times of surplus and level off at U.S. government loan levels. These loans will protect the bottom of the market, albeit at a low price. During qop shortage caused by drought, flood, or frost, prices will shoot high­ er, but increases will be controlled by the severity. World commodity condi­ tions usually dampen price variability, but all producing countries occasion­ ally may harvest a short crop, and SDSU economists (from left) Don Peterson, Burton Pflueger, Dick Shane, and Larry price will escalate as in crop year Janssen suggest guidelines for farming and ranching under the 1996 farm bill. The 1995-96. rules have changed, they say, making the risks higher, the need for precision All this can be summarized by say­ management more necessary, and the opportunities for success-and failure­ ing that farmers must become more greater than ever before.

14 but these are but part of the continual consuming some of the business. proactive process of improvement. When price exceeds total costs, an Quality control, efficiency, and best- economic profit exists, and this .cost production are the new driving should be used as a reserve for lean forces in agriculture. Managers will years. have to adjust to ensure if their opera­ Because prices tend to be highest tions are to remain competitive in the before a crop is harvested, pricing new environment. some of the crop while it is still in the field may be necessary to cover all . costs. This will require learning to use by Dr. Donald Peterson a set of marketing tools to lock in SDSU Extension Marketing & Ma nagement Specialist . profitable prices when they occur. This set of tools may include cash for­ arming rules changed forever ward contracts, minimum prices con­ with the passage of the 1996 F tracts, options, and hedging with Farmers must closely control their use farm bill. Acreage controls and price futures contracts. of debt capital. Some may increase supports no longer exist. As time passes, the rules may their use of production contracts and There are two areas of manage­ change again. For those betting on shift price risk to the contractor, but ment that will need close attention. more government support, I feel they the financial and production risks One is cost control, and the other is need to temper those hopes with the assumed need careful consideration. profitable marketing. realization that there is strong pres­ Land prices and rents are likely to Cost control depends on careful sure for a balanced budget, and farm be squeezed as market transition pay­ budgeting and record keeping. Bud­ programs are a prime target for cut­ ments decline and commodity market geting is planning how to produce ting. Second, each election results in prices revert toward their long-term and what each step will cost. Records more of Congress being elected from average over the next 6 years. Renters provide a history of costs and serve as urban areas, whose constituencies are will need to control land rental costs a reality check on the budgets. Bud­ less sympathetic to farming. There to remain in business. Land rental gets, to be most useful, show total will be three more elections before negotiations could emphasize flexible A\ costs, and include a wage for family th~ FAIR Act expires. In other words, cash rent or share rental agreements. ~ labor, a return for management, and don't bet the farm on it. When the In the future, landlords should expect fair return for capital investment. tide goes out, we will see who has lower returns from cropland rent as Land cost is one to watch very been swimming naked. well as declines or slower increases in carefully-whether for rent or pur­ land values. Owner operators could chase. A good budget will show how use their declining market transition much revenue is left to pay for rent or by Dr. Larry Janssen payments to reduce land debt. Own­ land purchase after labor, manage­ SDSU Ag Economist ers and renters of marginal cropland ment, and interest costs have been also will need to carefully evaluate its paid. A heavy debt load for land own­ reater market orientation in ~ctual contribution to the productivity ers can cause serious cash flow prob­ agriculture has been part G and profitability of their operation. lems in years of low profits. Renting rhetoric and part reality for the past Shifting the most marginal cropland land at a price that allows all other 25 years. Passage of the 1996 farm to other land uses may be more prof­ costs to be paid in full may require bill has greatly increased the reality itable for some-especially those eli­ some strong negotiating with the that all producers must pay attention gible for new CRP contracts or wet­ owner. to market signals and be prepared to land reserve programs. 0 A good budget should include cope with increased price risk. The labor and management costs, because market transition payments (MTP) in if a farm operator takes more for fam­ the 1996 farm bill are fixed amounts ily living than he earns from labor each year, regardless of market prices. and management, he is consuming Use of CCC and Farmer Owned Biostress connection: some of his farm business. Reserve (FOR) stocks and disaster Farm bill contains Once a budget has been estimated payments also are minimized. The chanenges and as accurately as possible, the expected implication is increased price risk and opportunities that both income risk for most producers. cost of production can be compared create and alleviate directly with the net price offered by Financial management is an impor­ \ the market. If the price is equal to the tant component in managing farm stress • ~ total cost, then all costs are covered increased risk. This includes reducing and the farm family can live without debt and increasing savings or equity.

15 Grain destinations determine producer marketing plans

by Dr. Larry Tennyson

killful marketing has become commented, "and S the cornerstone of economic the information survival for S~mth Dakota· grain produc­ would be fresher ers. Now, more than ever, farmers as a and more useful." group have to know how to market North Dakota and toward the needs of their customers. Montana already "If they don't know, how can farm­ have such a sys­ ers make effective marketing plans?" tem, he continued. asked Dr. Bashir Qasmi, South Dakota The survey State University agricultural econo­ yielded informa­ mist. "How can they possibly take tion for all major advantage of a particular niche market crops. if they don't even know where it exists? How can they analyze demand inter unless they know the destination of W wheat for the product?" 1994-95 produced Information also is needed for grain 56 million bushels transportation systems and by groups from 1.5 million charged with market development and acres. Of 120 ele­ promotion. vators in Qasmi's Qasmi took a large step toward sample, 78 han­ meeting these needs with a study dled about 28 mil­ designed to discover who buys South lion bushels. · Dakota grains and where it goes. He found 39 percent of the John Moore, manager of the Brookings Farmers Cooperative here had been a general feeling shipments from (right), shows Bashir Qasmi, SDSU Economics Department, Tthat keeping such data confi­ those elevators part of the records which he keeps as elevator manager. dential protected the business inter­ were by rail. Of Marketing, destination, and mode of transportation summaries ests of those involved in the grain these, 5 7 percent are cornerstones in planning market development and trade, Qasmi explained. However, went to Min­ promotion. when USDA and SDSU Ag Experiment neapolis and Station funds were matched with about 5 percent funds from South Dakota organiza­ went to Sioux City. The rest went to nations. For instance, 84 percent of tions that included the Wheat Com­ other locations except Portland or the amount from the central region mission, Com Utilization Council, Soy­ Duluth. went to Minneapolis. Only 20 percent bean Promotion Council, and Oilseed Qasmi estimated that about 17 mil­ of the shipments from the southeast Council, Qasmi began assembling lion bushels originated in the west­ went there. In the northwest, about 41 ,data. central part of the state, 13 million percent went to other South Dakota While the survey collected results came from the central part, and about loc~tions. A full third of all shipments from 120 elevators across the state, 6 million bushels came from the from the north-central region were to Qasmi said the ideal method would be north-central area. South-central other north-central locations; the voluntary reports on a monthly basis. accounted for about 5 million bushels same was true for east-central. In fact, Qasmi and Wheat Commission and the southeast for slightly less than The majority (33 percent) of the Executive Secretary Randy Englund are that. The northwest, northeast, and winter wheat crop handled by these seeking industry cooperation to estab­ east-central regions each accounted elevators was sold to Minneapolis area lish that as a standard practice. "This for less than 1.4 million bushels. dealers. Again, there were regional dif­ would be easier than reporting a whole Qasmi noted regional differences in ferences. Over half of the winter wheat year of shipments at a time," Qasmi the amount that went to various desti- shipped from the west-central region

16 went to Minneapolis area dealers, and southeast. Northeast accounted for only 1 percent went to processors. about 38 million bushels, and 26 mil­ About 26 percent of the shipments from lion came from north-central. About the central area went to processors, and 10 million bushels came from the cen­ 5 7 percent went to the Minneapolis tral, and just over 3 million came from • spot market and to dealers. the south-central region . .. Local destinations within 30 miles of n spring wheat, 86 surveyed ele- the elevators received nearly a fourth of I vators handled about 29 million the crop. Just under half went to Port­ bushels of the 1994-95 harvest. Over­ land. Sales directly to foreign buyers amounted to 7 percent, and 3-4 percent all, about 72 percent was shipped by went to other South Dakota locations, rail, and 89 percent of it went to Min­ Minneapolis, and Sioux City. None neapolis, 6 percent to Duluth, and 5 went to Duluth, but 11 percent was percent to other locations. scattered among other locations. Slightly over half was handled by Terminals bought just over half of elevators in the north-central region, tral region, and just over 300,000 the crop reported by the elevators. about a quarter from the northeast, bushels came from the south-central. · Farmers bought large quantities as and about 10 percent each from the All of the crop reported in the feed, ranging from 68 percent of the northwest and central regions. Small south-central area went to Sioux City, total crop in the south-central region amounts came from south-central, and so did just over half that reported to 9-23 percent elsewhere. Ethanol southeast, and east-central regions. in the southeast. Portland was the des­ producers bought 14 percent of the Almost all (8 7 percent) of the crop tination for 77 percent of the north­ crop handled by elevators in the north­ from the north-central areas went to central crop, 58 percent of the north­ central region. Terminals were large Minneapolis, as did 90-94 percent east crop, and 78 percent of the cen­ buyers in the north-central (69 per­ from the northwest, northeast, central, cent), northeast (78 percent), central tral crop. About a third of the east-cen­ and east-central areas. Only 60 per­ (61 percent), and east-central regions tral crop went to Sioux City and a cent shipped from the south-central ( 43 percent). third to Portland. Minneapolis went there, and a third went to "other received about a fourth of the north­ locations." Overall, 88 percent of the ccording to Englund, "What east crop and 18 percent of the east­ \crop reported in the survey went to A we're proposing is that the Pub­ central crop. • VMinneapolis. lic Utilities Commission work with us Terminals bought about half of the Feed mills in the northwest area to gather this information on an annual total crop reported by the elevators, bought 92 percent of the crop originat­ basis. We're asking a lot of our elevator with amounts ranging from 72-86 per­ ing there, and 80 percent of the crop operators, and we need their coopera­ cent in the north-central, northea~t, from the southeast went to "others." tion if we are to continue. PUC has and central areas. About half of the The bulk of the crop went into the indicated if we get the cooperation of east-central crop went to other proces­ Minneapolis spot market with amounts the elevator managers, we can collect sors and half to terminals. Nearly all ranging from 33 to 63 percent in the this data on the backside of their (92 percent) of the crop from the north-central, northeast, central, and monthly storage sheets. The informa­ south-central region went to other east-central regions. tion would be kept ~trictly confidential processors, as did 59 percent of the and limited exclusively to the market­ bout half of the 1994-95 soy­ crop from the southeast. ing, destination, and mode of trans­ bean crop was handled by the portation summaries for our grains. If A asmi sampled 115 elevators 98 elevators in the survey. Qasmi esti­ this can be computerized, it would take that together handled about 83 mated that all South Dakota elevators Q only about 10 minutes. Agricultural million bushels of the 1994-95 com handled about 80 million bushels of crop. About 45 percent of the com production is our biggest economic soybeans that year. About 57 percent handled by South Dakota elevators base, but we've got to have this infor­ of the beans handled by the elevators was shipped by rail. Overall, three mation whether it's for com, wheat, or was moved by rail. Portland received quarters went to Portland. Very little oil seeds so our marketing dollars will 60 percent, 6 percent each went to rail-shipped com ended up in Sioux give us maximum results.0 Minneapolis and Duluth, 2 percent City or Minneapolis, none in Duluth, went to Sioux City, and the remaining and 22 percent was scattered among 26 percent went to other locations. other locations. Biostress connection: About 29 million bushels came from Economists estimate South Dakota elevators in the southeast, about 20 elevators handled a grand total of 175 Marketing research • \million from the east-central, 17 mil­ million bushels of com during the crop aids economic survival ~lion from the northeast, and 13 million year. About SO million bushels of that on the farm from the north-central region. Only came from the east-central region. about 1.5 million came from the cen- Almost as much came from from the

17 Internet-surfing farmers can 1 'catch a wave' for latest information •

by Jerry Leslie

p-to-the-minute unbiased Uinformation from the South Dakota State University College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences (ABS) is now as close as the comput­ er screen in offices, kitchens, or liv­ ing rooms on thousands of farms across South Dakota. South Dakotans who have a com­ puter, modem, and Internet access can now dial up their Internet providers and link up with the many departments and specialties of the College at SDSU. Those who haven't the equipment have another option-their county Extension office where the staff will f)J make the connection for them. "SDSU's evolving Web presence and that of its ABS College will enhance distance education capabili­ Hamlin County Extension agent Don Guthmiller (left) and SDSU Extension Micro­ ties and help farmers and ranchers computer Specialist Mike Adelaine examine the Extension home page on the World keep up with changing technology," Wide Web. Guthmiller, handy at managing the new technology, is more concerned according to Emery Tschetter, head with the content than fancy imagery. The advantage of the Web, he says, is "imme­ of Ag Communications at SDSU and diate information, and as long as we stick with universities, the information is chairman of the ABS network adviso­ research~tested and unbiased." ry committee. In January 1997, SDSU Extension researchers, administrators, and sup­ "Internet access will position county Microcomputer Specialist Mike Ade­ port staff, are "hard-wired" into the Extension agents as community lead­ laine brought the college Web pages university network by fiber optics ers in education and community on-line. Some ABS departments cabling. development," he continued. already had a presence through uni­ "Statewide Internet access for versity level servers. agents and specialists, plus having ne of these leaders is Don Shortly thereafter, Adelaine SDSU scientific data on-line, will 0 Guthmiller, Hamlin County brought on-line two more computers reinforce the concept of the county Extension agent at Hayti. Guthmiller to establish what is known as a "pop" Extension office being the education teaches his clients how to benefit E-mail system for the Cooperative center for each county," said Tschet­ from the Internet and how to use Extension Services county offices and ter. computers. state specialists. "That way we'll be able to deliver Guthmiller is using Internet access The computers have a dial-access directly to the counties, and they can "to help answer producer questions system for cou·nty Extension agents. access information on campus imme­ when specialists aren't available. We Most of the on-campus ABS employ­ diately. It will be another distance can log onto the Internet and get f) ees, including Extension specialists, education tool," Tschetter added. information immediately while the

18 producer is sitting here waiting," A special ABS disaster home page The connection also provides access Guthmiller said. for dealing with winter weather and to district Extension offices, area farm ~ Guthmiller sees the advantage as flooding went on line in February. It management agents, and the West -.,) "immediate information, and as long makes available the news articles gen­ River Ag Center in Rapid City. as we stick with universities, the erated on the disaster by the Depart-· information is research-tested and ment of Ag Communications as well outh Dakota was estimated to unbiased." as other agencies in federal and state S have 35,000 Internet users "We hope 100 percent of county government. across all sectors near the end of 1996 field offices will eventually be on the Another ABS Internet page is that by Mary Beth Crowe, president of Extension E-mail system, and about of the Department of Veterinary Sci­ mbc cq Internet Consulting in Pierre, 45 counties do have local Internet ence, home of the Animal Disease S.D. Nationwide, about 35 to 40 per­ providers," according to Larry Tide­ Research and Diagnostic Lab. cent of farmers have computers and a rnann, program leader for ag and field The Plant Science Department third of those have Internet access, operations for the Cooperative Exten­ home page provides access to crop estimates Eric Abbott of the Depart­ sion Service. "However, about 15 variety trial information, research sta­ ment of Journalism at Iowa State Uni­ counties do not. The question is how tion reports, and project home pages versity. can we afford to provide all offices of the freeze resistance laboratory, If South Dakota has 33,000 farms access to the Web. The new E-mail for row crop pathology, winter wheat and follows the national trend of 10 Extension is efficient, inexpensive, breeding, and genetics. Kevin to 15 percent possessing Internet and ready to go." Kephart, forage researcher in the access, it would put the number of Adelaine said the Extension E-mail Department of Plant Science, has a farm and ranch Web connections in system makes use of educational-use project page with current forage vari­ the state at between 3,000 and 5,000. access to the Internet and short bursts ety trial information. Why should farmers own comput­ of information, which reduce costs. ers and access the Web? Mike Some county Extension offices may Boehlje, an ag economist with Purdue not be able to afford Internet/WWW University, has long advised farmers access fees, according to Tidernann. to "be the first to capture the innova­ . , Extension Service administration ''will tor's profits," but to "be right'' about '__) try to help them over the hump." Five the innovations they make. county offices need computer Adam Golodner, deputy adminis­ upgrades and about a dozen need trator of USDA's Rural Utilities Ser­ new moderns, Tidernann added. vice, says farmers will not be exempt from the need for cyberspace skills, here is a substantial amount of and he counsels that agriculture must T information available on the "make sure we are not left off the ABS Web pages. One of the Web Information Superhighway." pages is that of Al Bender, state cli­ SDSU's ABS Web presence is a matologist and an Extension specialist foresighted move to see that doesn't in the Ag Engineering Department. happen. Surfing farmers and ranch­ Bender's home page provides ers can open doors to their future in instant access to automated weather agriculture by accessing the SDSU data as it comes in from around the ABS College web site at . 0 current forecasts from the National Weather Service. Nationwide and The Cooperative Extension Service worldwide weather and climate infor­ also has its own home page and mation is also available. Users can search capabilities. The Feed Finder link to up-to-the-minute radar and program is on this home page. The satellite maps from Bender's page. CES Web page allows surfers to go Biostress connection: SDSU's agricultural news releases directly to home pages of Extension Biostress research is and feature articles, which previously specialists in horticulture, plant sci­ instantly accessible have been delivered by mail, cornput­ ence, pesticide application, econom­ to farmers and ranchers -J er disk, or by the Extension Electronic ics, animal science, dairy science, ag Bulletin Board System, are also avail­ engineering and weather, 4-H, and able on the Internet. family and consumer sciences.

19 Mike Reese, from Hancock, Minn., a graduate student in animal science, and Dr. Richard Pruitt, associate professor, discuss weight gain results .• of cows in Reese's study. Reese hopes his study on the effect of protein and energy supplements on hay intake and digestibility will help beef producers get the most from their resources.

supplement treatments and all the hay they would consume. The sup­ plements included various combina­ tions of corn and soybean meal or no supplement at all. Previous research at the Agricultural Experiment Sta­ tion's Cottonwood Research Station west of Philip demonstrated that providing adequate protein with ·mature forages is key to minimizing cow weight loss in the winter. In some cases, feeding grain may not Grad student be beneficial unless adequate supple­ mental protein is provided. Reese's research will take this one step fur­ researches effects ther. He finished the first of two feeding trials in January. With another year's data, Reese and SDSU of protein, energy Animal Scientist Dick Pruitt want to determine if the response to protein • and/ or grain is dependent on the supplements maturity of the forage. So far, he has measured weight gain and feed intake, and has.deter­ By Kate Gundvaldson mined changes in condition score/fat thickness of the cows. His next steps involve measuring ike Reese is more than a ly, he hopes to explore the idea of digestibility of the feed by analyzing M graduate student. He is also balancing diets for degradable intake feed and fecal samples. a businessman in search of a higher protein. profit for himself and other beef pro­ "The study is important for area eese, who earned his bache­ ducers like him. cow-calf producers," Reese said. R lor's degree from SDSU in Reese, a first-year graduate stu­ "They're looking for ways to improve 1990, plans to use his research when dent in animal science, is studying feeding programs. They want to he returns to his business after grad­ the effect of protein and energy sup­ make them more economical while uation. He entered the graduate pro­ plements on hay intake and ensuring that mature cows, depend­ gram in animal science last fall after digestibility of beef cows. This study ing on their condition score, increase devoting 6 years to farming in his expands previous research in which or maintain weight, especially dur­ hometown of Hancock, Minn., where feeding a high energy supplement, ing the winter. It's important to have he and his brother, Randy, '86, are such as com, with a lower protein an economically sound method of working together to take over the hay has been shown not to be benefi­ supplementing a herd." family farm. cial. If the hay is at or below eight In the project, Reese is studying "It's really interesting relating the • percent crude protein, a protein sup­ 30 cows divided into six groups. The research to my farming operation," plement should be added. Ultimate- cows were individually fed various Reese said. "Now I can see that the

20 way I was doing things previously wasn't always right. I'm also gaining a better understanding of how to make sound economic decisions in the cow-calf industry, and to make the most of my resources." • Reese also plans to use his research --Mike Rees&. to benefit his hometown. "One reason gra~ student in animal science I came back to school was because I can see the need to expand the agri­ cultural industry in rural communi­ ties," he said. "We need to attract new research should add to the informa­ than a graduate student who just fin­ people and keep young people in tion that we have learned in previous ished a bachelor's degree." those rural surroundings. When I research and will have a greater After completing his master's looked at Hancock's future, I knew I application to an eastern South degree in cow-calf management and needed more education if I was going Dakota situation," he said. "Having nutrition in the fall of 1998, ·Reese to play a part in it." good graduate students is very will return to the farm full-time. Cur­ Pruitt, who has dorie extensive important to the quality of research rently he travels the 140 miles on research in the cow-calf industry; is and teaching in our department. weekends, so that he can help out on supervising Reese's project. "Dr. Without qualified graduate students, the grain and livestock operation. He Pruitt is really great to work with. He we could not provide the same quali­ and his brother are developing a reg­ points me in the right direction when ty of service to students and the ani­ istered Angus herd, and in the future advisi!lg me on my research and mal industry." they hope to sell seed stock. 0 classes," Reese said. "I feel fortunate Reese is pleased to be back on to work with him. He is one of the campus, and feels his work experi­ Biostress connection: leaders in cow-calf management ence helps him as a student. "I'm research at a national level, and I've really enjoying the opportunity to Empowering graduates really learned a lot from him." come back and learn what I didn't to increase their profits Pruitt finds Reese's project impor­ the first time. The education is a lot and contribute to tant to continuing research in this more intense," he said. "Having their community area of cow-calf management and spent the last 6 years farming, I • appreciates his assistance. "Mike's think I have a different perspective

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. Is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.abs.sdstate.edu/abs/aes.htm

A printed copy of the Annual Report will be made available to residents • of South Dakota in response to a written request. 21 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY College of Agriculture and Biologi_cal Sciences Non-Profit org. U.S. Postage Agricultural Experiment Station Brookings, SD 57007 PAID Fred Cholick, Director Brookings, S.D.. _ Permit24 ~ Penalty for Private Use $300 Publication

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Calendar of Events

Date Event Person to Contact

May 1997 5-6 Home Based Business Conference, Beaver Creek, CO Darlene Moss, Family & Consumer Sciences,SDSU 14-16 SDCAA Spring Meeting, Pierre 16-18 4-H Council/Ambassador Meetings, SDSU Mary Ellen Aamot, 4-H , SDSU 17 South Qakota Feeder Pig Show and Sale, Mitchell 26-29 South Dakota Stockgrower/Cattlewomen/Junior Stockgrower Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Pierre

June 1997 3-6 State 4-H Youth Conference, Brookings John Burton, 4-H, SDSU 3-6 South Dakota Youth Range Camp, Sturgis 10-12 2nd Annual 4-H Horse Camp, Oak Lake Research Station 21-25 American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences Annual Conference, Washington DC Darlene Moss, Family & Consumer Sciences, SDSU .)