The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Earlier this month, I heard a Carrington resident tell his friends that he was enjoying the perfect life. “I went golfing and ice fishing both in the same day,” he explained.
Warm days and cold nights in early December were favorable for all kinds of outdoor activities.
The NDAWN station at Carrington reported record highs of 56 degrees on Dec. 6 and 55 degrees on Dec. 7.
A weather system passed through on Dec. 8, leaving behind five inches of snow. However, temperatures quickly rebounded and were above normal by the middle of the month.
If you are wondering, the warmest Christmas Day on record in Foster County was 44 degrees in 1999. The warmest New Year’s Day was 40 degrees in 1968.
Foster County weather records date back to 1967.
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According to a recent report from the Farm Service Agency, Foster County farmers planted nearly 50 percent of their cropland to soybeans in 2023. Corn was planted on 22 percent of tillable acres.
Fifteen percent of Foster County cropland was prevented plant in 2023 due to wet conditions in spring.
Cropping patterns have changed remarkably with time.
Twenty years ago, 63 percent of Foster County cropland was planted to wheat, barley, and sunflowers. Those crops accounted for just 12 percent of this year’s acreage.
Official crop yield data has not yet been released for 2023.
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My brother-in-law, Joel, built a heated shop on his farm 15 years ago. He tells me that it’s been a game-changer to his operation.
“I can’t say enough good about my shop,” Joel said. “You wonder how you ever got along without it.”
Every North Dakota farmer and rancher knows that during winter months, even simple jobs can become a miserable experience due to cold.
To save energy costs, Joel chose to install a geothermal heating system in the building. He acknowledges that the cost of geothermal systems has risen significantly over the years. “But we’re pleased with how our system works, and having a heated floor really makes things nice.”
Are you planning to build a new shop or improve an existing one? If so, there is a USDA program which may be of interest to you.
The Rural Energy for America Program provides grant funding to farmers, ranchers, and rural small business owners to install renewable energy systems or improve the energy efficiency of existing structures and equipment.
The grants pay up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs.
Funds can be used to buy, build and install high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, insulation, lighting, doors and windows.
Funds can also be used to replace energy-inefficient equipment, such as old grain dryers.
Applications for the program are accepted year-round.
The grants are competitive, and the application must be submitted and accepted before beginning the project.
For more information, contact me in the Extension office (652-2581, jeff.gale@ndsu.edu) or visit the webpage for the Rural Energy for America Program.
