AGRICULTURE NEWS - Minot Daily News
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Range Plant Day
WATFORD CITY - Understanding how plant communities influence grazing systems took center stage as the McKenzie County Soil Conservation District (SCD) and the Watford City field office hosted a Range Plant Identification Day on September 4. The event brought 18 participants into the field for hands-on learning about prairie species, grazing principles, and the growing threat of early C3 invasive grasses, according to the McKenzie County SCD.
Mike Gerbig, Badlands Conservation Team Lead, guided the group plant-to-plant, outlining key identifying traits and explaining each species' value for wildlife, grazing suitability, and soil health.
As the group moved across the prairie, the conversation broadened into grazing management. Several producers shared examples from their operations, detailing what had worked well and what hadn't. Gerbig emphasized the importance of rest, season of use, and utilization, while also pointing out the advantages and drawbacks of various grazing systems.
A major focus of the workshop was early C3 invasive grasses—particularly Smooth Brome and Kentucky Bluegrass, which Gerbig identified as significant threats to rangeland function. Participants examined examples in the field, learning how these species crowd out native vegetation and alter plant community dynamics.
The workshop reinforced NRCS's commitment to locally led conservation by helping producers better identify plant communities, improve grazing strategies, and address invasive species—key steps in keeping North Dakota's working rangelands resilient, productive, and sustainable for future generations.
Avian Influenza Risks
The fall migratory bird season has arrived, bringing an increased risk of transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza to domestic birds.
On September 1, a commercial turkey operation in LaMoure County was confirmed to have HPAI. This is the first recorded case in North Dakota this fall.
Both commercial producers and owners of backyard flocks should review and implement biosecurity protocols to reduce disease transmission from wild birds to domestic birds or livestock, according to North Dakota State University Extension specialists.
"HPAI is a disease carried by wild birds that can affect domestic birds and livestock," explains Dr. [Name Redacted].