LOGAN COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT 103 Lake Ave E, PO Box 240, Suite 1

Napoleon ND 58561

701-754-2234 Ext 3 www.logancountyscd.com

Fall 2015

Vol. 11 Issue III

SCD Holds Achievement Banquet The Logan County Soil Conservation District Board held their annual Achievement Awards Banquet on October 19th honoring their award recipients. Guest of Honor was Ardell Ivanov ~ 2015 Achievement Winner. The Logan County SCD Board of Supervisors wish to thank their winners in promoting soil and water conservation:

Rangeman of the Year—Ron Rivinius & Sons; Established Tree Manager Award—Tom & Tori Gross;

New Tree Manager Award—Murray Lepp; and Wildlife Habitat Award—Ralph & LorRaine Rivinius.

Ron Rivinius & Sons Tom & Tori Gross Ralph & LorRaine Ardell Ivanov Rivinius

Ardell Ivanov’s Farm

2015 Achievement Winner Each year Soil Conservation Districts across the state of North Dakota select farmers and ranchers, from their districts, that are doing an outstanding job of conserving land and other natural resources.

This year the Logan County Soil Conservation District Board of Supervisors selected Ardell Ivanov as the 2015 Achievement Winner. Ardell will be honored at the Annual State Convention held in Bismarck on November 23rd where she will receive a framed print of her farm. Ardell was honored locally at the Logan County SCD Banquet on October 19th.

Congratulations to Ardell!

OFFICE CLOSED ON THESE DATES:

November 26th – Thanksgiving Day

December 25th – Christmas Day January 1st – New Year’s Day

Fall 2015

Vol. 11 Issue III

2015 Board of Supervisors Cleo Boschee – Chairman Jeff Schneider – Vice Chairman

Gabe Erbele Dallas Bakken Ardell Ivanov

Dugout vs Fresh Water Mike Czeczok, Soil Conservationist

Many livestock producers may not realize that the most important nutrient for livestock health and development……is Water! We all know that water plays a vital role in every day processes. Water is essential for digestion, absorption, and utilization of nutrients and also for body temperature regulations. Ranchers may say that water isn’t an issue for them because the dugout in their pastureland/rangeland is sufficient for their use; but is it really?? Not only is water quantity an important aspect, but water quality is just as significant! Dugout water sources may become contaminated by a vast range of agents such as minerals from dissolved solids, microorganisms, manure, and algae. This can impact the chemical and physical properties of water sources as well as the odor, appearance, and taste of the water.

Ponds or dugouts that are used as a primary water source can become contaminated by manure especially when cattle spend a great deal of their time loitering in these areas. These manure contaminated areas can become favorable conditions for bacterial growth; and can have negative implications to livestock such as mastitis, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and other numerous infections. Manure or feces contaminated water sources can also increase algae blooms which stem from nutrient loading (eutrophication) and can be poisonous to livestock.

Developing watering systems that provide reliable good quality water will require some input costs. Like many good things, they come with a cost. Price ranges can vary with different systems such as a well with a solar pumping unit or by providing water to a tank with a shallow pipeline. A recent publication by Ohio State University which analyzed data collected in Alberta, Canada, showed a dramatic increase in average daily weight gains for trough water sources over standard dugout sources. This is clear evidence how water quality impacts livestock gains. Please refer to figure below.

If you do the math, the input cost in developing a reliable watering system plus the increased weight gains in your livestock, you will

see that the system will pay for itself.

With livestock having an easy access to reliable clean water, your operation will see the benefits including increased reproduction, growth development, milk production, and less animals experiencing illness and disease. There are many options to provide reliable good quality water for livestock with wells, various pumping units, and pushing water with shallow or deep pipeline. Ask yourself one question, will that dugout provide dependable water quality and quantity all year round? Please, feel free to stop in the Logan County NRCS/SCD Office and visit with our experienced staff about potential water source options and programs! Thank you and have a great week.

Trough

Dugout

Fall 2015

Vol. 11 Issue III

DUE: DECEMBER 10, 2015

ND FOREST SERVICE WINDBREAK RENOVATION INITIATIVE

Many planted shelterbelts and farmstead windbreaks in ND have deteriorated due to age or disease and are no longer functional. Through the North Dakota Statewide Windbreak Renovation Initiative, the North Dakota Forest Service (NDFS) will offer technical and financial assistance to private landowners to restore, protect and enhance this deteriorating resource.

NDFS and their partners (Logan County Soil Conservation District & NRCS staff) will assess windbreak condition and provide a written plan for renovating the windbreak to restore functionality. Through a grant from the ND Outdoor Heritage Fund, this initiative will provide cost-share to landowners to implement their written windbreak renovation plan.

Interested landowners must first complete the Windbreak Renovation Questionnaire located on the NDFS website. This questionnaire also serves as the pre-application. Pre-applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. Periodic deadlines or cut-off dates will be used to group applicants into pools. The next pool of applications are due March 15th, 2016. Field office staff are be able to assist in completing these questionnaires.

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

LOGAN COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT PO Box 240 | Napoleon | ND 58561

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Logan County SCD

Nonprofit Organization

US Postage Paid

Permit #5

Napoleon ND 58561

The US Dept of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs & activities on the basis of race, color,

national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for

communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact USDA's TARGET

Center at 202-720-2600 (voice & TDD).

Vol. 11 Issue III

Fall 2015