Issue 28
April 2000

Prairie Shortcuts

Farm and Ranch Economic Dictionary online

 Want to become more fluent in farm financial and business jargon used by lenders and other ag numbers crunchers? Then check out the "Farm and Ranch Economic Dictionary" by James D. Libbin, New Mexico State University extension farm management specialist. It may be found online the Internet at: www.cahe.nmsu. edu/pubs/_z/z-103.html

Price planning guide available from NDSU

An annual publication containing short- and long-term agricultural price projections that producers can use for planning is now available from the NDSU Extension Service. The publication lists year 2000 price projections for crops and livestock produced in the state as well as price projections for future years.

The estimated short-term planning prices should be used as a guide in setting price expectations for the year 2000 production, says Ron Haugen, extension farm economist at NDSU and one of the publication's authors. These planning prices can be used for preparing annual enterprise budgets and annual whole-farm cash flow projections. Producers should use estimated long-term prices for planning capital purchases or expansion alternatives which extend beyond the next production year, Haugen says.

To obtain this free publication, titled "Plotting a Course 2000" (EC-1090), contact a county office of the NDSU Extension Service, call (701) 231-7882 or write to NDSU Agriculture Communication, Distribution Center, Box 5655, 10 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5655. Requests also may be faxed to (701) 231-7044 or e-mailed to dctr@ndsuext.nodak.edu The publication will soon be available via the Internet at www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/agecon/market/ec1090w.htm

Hagen named head of NDGGA

Lance Hagen has been hired as executive director of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.  Hagen farms near Ellendale, ND, and served as chief clerk of the ND House of Representatives during the 1999 ND Legislative Session.  Hagen replaces Lance Gaebe, recently named executive director of the N.D. Agricultural Products Utilization Commission.

Also, Eric Bartsch, a recent NDSU graduate in crop and weed science, will be managing the ND Dry Pea and Lentil Association and ND Dry Pea and Lentil Council, as well as working with other commodity groups.  He replaces Paul Thomas, who recently accepted a position with the Northern Canola Growers Association.

The NDGGA has also hired Barbara Wickel to manage its private, for-profit company, Association Management Services, which provides administrative, management, membership services and communications, and lobbying for associations, groups, and start-up companies. Wickel, a Brigham Young University graduate and former executive director of the Wyoming Dental Association and the Wyoming State Board of Dental Examiners, will oversee the operations of AMS and its accounts, which include the NDGGA, NDDPLA, and NDDPLC.  Wickel will also work directly with the North Dakota Buffalo Association.

Recommended Malting Barley Varieties in 2000

 The American Malting Barley Association, Inc. (AMBA) recommends the following malting barley varieties for planting in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota in 2000:  B1602 , Foster, Robust, Excel, Morex, and Stander

Wheat midge outlook good

The orange wheat blossom midge may be less of a problem for many wheat producers in ND during the 2000 growing season, says NDSU extension entomologist Phil Glogoza. Based on results from the latest wheat midge survey, the overwintering population has declined overall compared to the 1999 population, with a parasitic wasp helping to reduce the wheat midge population. Still, a few hot spots remain in northwestern North Dakota, primarily Burke and Divide counties. The best preventive action producers can take against the midge is to plant wheat as early as possible this spring and select an early maturing cultivar suitable to their region, says Glogoza. With early planting, wheat can reach the flowering stage before significant levels of midge have emerged.