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Dear Readers - North Dakota farmers planted fewer potatoes this year - but they still lead the nation in potato production at 79,000 acres. Another bright spot is the future of two varieties that are grown in the state - one in the east and the other in the west. Barbara Peterson |
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Williston Ag Diversification Group Receives $85,000 to Enhance Specialty Potato | |
News Release
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Pictured is North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. |
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has awarded 10 grants totaling more than $640,000 to promote the development and cultivation of specialty crops in North Dakota. "Specialty crops, such as vegetables and fruits, are increasingly important in North Dakota, as more consumers look to local food sources, especially for fresh produce," Goehring said. "These grants will help boost production and sales of these crops, ensuring North Dakota producers play a larger role in the 'go local' movement." Specialty crops are defined in law as "fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture." The Williston Ag Diversification Group was one of the recipients - receiving $85,340 to enhance the competitiveness of specialty potato variety Mondak Gold (MN15620) and evaluate multi-state potato breeding lines for processing and fresh specialty markets. See Entire Story.
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| Researchers and Growers in the Nesson Valley Celebrate Potato Harvest with Tour and Steak Fry | |
Williston Economic Development
by Ann Kvande |
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Potato variety trial plots at the Nesson Valley. |
The Williston Area Ag Diversification Group recently hosted the Mon-Dak Potato and Irrigation Research Tour -giving some regional and state leaders along with associates of the potato industry a unique opportunity to learn about the irrigation opportunities and potato variety trials at the Williston Research Extension Center field at Nesson Valley. The Nesson Valley research extension plots are used for water use efficient studies, tillage studies, crop rotation, crop varietal studies, plant breeder programs, foundation seed increase, surface water vs. ground water trials and switchgrass / biomass production. See Entire Story. | |
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New Potato Variety Could Rival Those Grown in Pacific Northwest | |
PotatoPro/AgWeek
 | | Pictured is Dr. Asunta "Susie" Thompson, a potato breeder at North Dakota State University. |
Will a newly discovered russet potato variety make the Red River Valley a yield contender with the Pacific Northwest? Carl Hoverson of Larimore, N.D., thinks so, and - as one of the key growers for the Simplot-processed potato plant in Grand Forks, N.D. - he's one of the folks who should know best. Hoverson Farms hosts some of the test plots that include trials by Dr. Asunta "Susie" Thompson, a potato breeder at North Dakota State University in Fargo. This year, one of Thompson's new crosses, a variety called 4405-1 Russet had an "incredible" yield of 777 hundredweights per acre (almost 100 tons/hectare). Hoverson was so impressed with it that he put out his own press release about it. "There were about nine very nice, uniformly-shaped (potatoes under each hill) with light russeting tubers under each plant," Hoverson says. Each of the potatoes weighed about a pound, and were perfectly shaped. See Entire Story. | |
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Wet Weather Hampers 2011 Potato Production | |
KXNet
 North Dakota leads the nation in potato production. This year harvested potato acres in the state are expected to reach 79,000- that's down 1,200 acres from last year. Like with many crops it's been a challenging year for spud growing and digging. See Entire Story.
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2010 North Dakota Potato Crop Up 15 Percent | |
North Dakota Ag Connection
 Final production for the 2010 potato crop totaled 22.0 million hundredweight (cwt), up 15 percent from 2009, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. Planted acres for 2010 totaled 84,000, up 1 percent from 2009. Harvested area, at 80,000 acres, increased 7 percent from the previous year. Yield for all potatoes averaged 275 cwt in 2010, 20 cwt per acre higher than the 2009 average yield. The value of potatoes sold from the 2010 crop totaled $174 million, up 7 percent from the 2009 crop. The marketing year average price was $8.75 per cwt, compared with $9.45 for the 2009 crop and $8.30 for the 2008 crop. See Entire Story.
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EPA Officials Tour North Dakota Farming and Ranching Operations | |
Fargo Forum
 Environmental Protection Agency officials promised recently to let Washington know the concerns North Dakota farmers and ranchers have about new rules for oil and fuel handling, pesticides, and dust from agricultural operations. The EPA representatives participated in a two day tour put together by North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. He said he wanted to give producers a chance to discuss federal rules and policies with agency officials and bring up to speed on technologies being used on the farm. "Whether it's real or perceived, there have been increased regulations," Goehring said. "The regulatory environment has changed. There's a lot of angst. There's a lot of concern." See Entire Story. | |
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Editorial: Ethanol Can Fuel Job Creation | |
Grand Forks Herald
An editorial by Russ Newman of Casselton
 Everyone in America is talking about jobs. From President Barack Obama to local officials, policymakers around the country are searching for a strategy that will put Americans back to work. At the same time, America is facing an energy crisis. With our economy so dependent on foreign oil, we risk a double-dip recession every time a crisis rises in the Middle East or an OPEC leader sends the price of oil skyrocketing. As it turns out, the answer to both these problems has been right in front of us all along. Ethanol - made right here in America - is already creating jobs that cannot be outsourced and displacing foreign oil with a clean, renewable and uniquely American fuel. But we can do more. See Entire Story.
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Co-ops: A Vital Source of Rural Jobs | |
USDA Rural Development
News Release
 As we observe Cooperative Month throughout October, it is fitting that we focus special attention this year on cooperatives as a key source of jobs. Co-ops are playing a role as our nation strives to reduce high levels of unemployment by providing good jobs for tens of thousands of people in the farm sector alone. According to USDA's just-released economic survey of farmer cooperatives for 2010, U.S. agricultural and fishery cooperatives created 7,000 new jobs in 2010, boosting the number of fulltime jobs to 129,000 at the nearly 2,400 agricultural co-ops surveyed. This survey also shows that ag co-ops had their second best year on record for sales at $170 billion. Pre-tax net income of $4.3 billion was also the second best year ever for agricultural and fishery co-ops. See Entire Story.
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October is National Pasta Month | |
North Dakota Ag Connection
 October is National Pasta Month, so celebrate by enjoying your favorite pasta dish and keep your eyes and ears open for a chance to win a pasta prize package to be given away during Pasta Lovers' Week Oct. 23-29. Pasta is enjoyed around the world, but its roots are right here in North Dakota where the main ingredient, durum, is grown. North Dakota produces nearly 50 million bushels of durum each year, or about two-thirds of the nation's total. Durum is milled into semolina and mixed with water to produce the many pasta products we enjoy. Growing quality durum is harder than it looks - producers must select the right variety, manage the developing crop for disease and pest threats and hope that the weather cooperates to produce a high yielding, quality durum crop. See Entire Story. | |
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Editorial: Call Them Farmers | |
American Farm Bureau Federation
An editorial by Cyndie Sirekis
 Steering clear of "producer" and "industry" when talking about food grown or raised by America's farm and ranch families was one of the tidbits of advice offered at a recent gathering of Farm Bureau members and staff from around the country involved in agricultural promotion and education. The solution? Just use farmer. J. Scott Vernon Ph.D., a featured speaker at Farm Bureau's national Promotion & Education Conference, is the founder of I Love Farmers...They Feed My Soul. The group uses non-traditional methods to "create a conversation among peers about our food, our farmers and our future such as tee shirts, ball caps and temporary rub-on tattoos. See Entire Story. I Love Farmers...They Feed My Soul Website.
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Papa's Pumpkin Patch Open in Mandan | |
North Dakota Department of Tourism
 Celebrate the season at Papa's Pumpkin Patch, 2500 Longspur Trail, Mandan. Since 1983, thousands of people have made it tradition to come to Papa's and celebrate fall. Let the kids run on the pumpkin-lined paths while you ponder life and visit with neighbors over a slice of fresh pumpkin pie. There are dozens of photo opportunities, the famous Bale Mazes, Papas'ville, pony rides, Slide Mountain, Sebastian's train ride, horse-drawn hay rides, pumpkin cannons, obstacle courses and more. Papa's Pumpkin Patch Website.
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| Thanksgiving Day Project Needs Recipes | |
News Release
 As the holidays approach, Forum Communications Co. needs your help to make them tastier than ever this year. The Forum is working on a multimedia Thanksgiving cooking project and want to hear about your favorite recipes, traditions and memories. Here are the categories that they need your help in: secrets to making a great turkey; turkey recipes; thanksgiving meal horror stories (fires, raw turkey, pie fell on the floor, had to order pizza, etc.); turkey cooking questions: You ask, we'll get you answers; cooking questions about any aspect of Thanksgiving: pies, sides, salads, etc. See Entire Story.
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New Book Showcases Barns in Montana | |
mtbusiness.com
 A new book by the Montana Historical Society Press, "Hand Raised: The Barns of Montana," is a beautiful tribute to the farmers and ranchers who helped build this state. "Barns are part of the fabric of the history of our state," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "They are a beautiful and useful reminder of our heritage." Concerned that historic barns are disappearing from the landscape, authors Chere Jiusto and Christine W. Brown and photographer Tom Ferris traveled the state to document those that still exist. See Entire Story.
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| Upcoming Williston Events | |
10/11 Williston Blood Drive
Held at the New Armory from noon - 6 p.m. on Tuesday. For an appointment or more information call 572-3495. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.
10/11 Williston City Commission
The commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
10/11 Williston Young Professionals Lunch and Learn
There will be an informal exchange of information and networking at Gramma Sharon's Family Restaurant at 12 p.m. For more information call Kim Wenko at 774-6236.
10/11 Photo Transfer Class at JMAC for 4-6 Graders
The James Memorial Art Center will host a three-day photo transfer on mixed media art. It will be held on October 11, 18 and 25. The class will be from 3:45-5:45 p.m. It will be taught by Aaron Hexom. Call JMAC at 701-774-3601 to register.
10/12 Read to Achieve with Ronald McDonald
Ronald McDonald will be in Williston to talk to kids about the importance of reading. He will be a Rickard Elementary at 8:30 a.m., Lewis & Clark Elementary at 10:15 a.m., McDonalds at 11:30 a.m., and at St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary School at 1:30 p.m. All are invited to McDonalds to meet Ronald McDonald.
10/14 Williston Concert Association
Street Corner Symphony - Hot young male vocal sextet. New and exciting male acapella sextet based in Nashville has come together and already is making waves in the music world. They recently competed in The Singoff - a new reality show for vocal ensembles on NBC. Williston High School Auditorium 7 p.m.
10/14 Bakken Oil Product & Service Show
Exhibitor setup and social October 13th. Show to be held from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. at the Raymond Family Community Center.
10/15 Teton Athletics Wing Cook-Off
The Teton Booster Club will host the 2nd Annual Teton Athletics Wing Cook-Off at 6 p.m. at the Upper Missouri Valley Fair Grounds.
10/15 Coffee Tasting 101 at Cooks on Main
Cooks on Main will be holding "Coffee Tastings 101" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The class will cover the history of coffee from tree to cup, growing regions, and coffee pairings. Cost is $10 per person. For more information, call 701-572-2665. | |
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