PRAIRIE SHORT CUTS

Home

E-Mail

Back

Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.

New SDSU Ag Center Planned

The South Dakota State University West River Agricultural Research and Extension Center will be moving into a new home in the northwest part of Rapid City.

A project of the SDSU Foundation, no taxpayer money will be used to construct the new building. Farmers, ranchers, businesses and other friends of agriculture will fund the project through donations. The 8,100 square-foot facility is expected to cost approximately $500,000. Construction will begin as soon as $230,000 has been raised.

When completed, the building will have additional capabilities not available in the current leased facilities. These include a classroom, a conference room and library, a laboratory, additional offices and storage space.

The West River Center has eight faculty members in the areas of farm and ranch management, range and natural resources, 4-H and youth, crops, economics and livestock production. In addition, the West River Extension supervisor provides administrative support for 21 county and reservation extension offices.

NAWG/Ciba Women’s Program

The National Association of Wheat Growers Foundation and Ciba-Geigy are sponsoring a leadership development program for women in the wheat industry April 10-14, 1996, at Ciba headquarters in Greensboro, N.C. Program topics include: persuasion skills, better public speaking skills, time and stress management, and working with the media. Through the program, women become more effective spokespersons for the wheat industry. Travel and expenses will be sponsored by Ciba. For more information, contact the MN Assn of Wheat Growers, 800-242-6118; ND Grain Growers, 800-932-8822; or SD Wheat Inc., 1-800-WHEATSD.

NDGGA Elects Officers

John Cook, who grows small grains and canola near Mohall, ND, and is also a partner in a turkey operation, has been elected president of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association for 1996. The NDGGA also has three new board members: Bruce Freitag, Scranton; Tim Johnson, Stanley; and James Ostlie, Northwood. They replace Don Hardy, Beach; Syd Craft, Stanley; and Roger Gussiass, Carrington.

South Dakota Session

The 71st S.D. legislative session began on January 9 with SD Gov. Bill Janklow’s State of the State address. Issues that South Dakota Wheat Inc. will be following include: the school aid formula; 20 percent property tax cut revision; funding for the Northern Crops Institute; funding for the coordinated soil and water programs; private property rights; and funding for research and extension. With a tight budget and only 35 days to complete the tasks at hand, legislators have a full agenda this year. Call your legislator at: Senate, 605-773-3821; House, 605-773-3851.

SDWI Joins Prairie Grains

South Dakota Wheat Incorporated has joined the Minnesota Assn. of Wheat Growers, North Dakota Grain Growers Assn. and the Minnesota Barley Growers Assn. in distributing Prairie Grains to members and prospective members of the organizations. Prairie Grains magazine, formerly called Spring Wheat, is published by the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, with support from the Minnesota Wheat Council.