Burke County, ND News

Dan Folske
Extension Agent/Burke County
May 6, 2008

Common Tansy Added to Noxious Weed List

The Burke County Weed Board has added Common Tansy (tanecetum vulgare) to the county noxious weed list. This means that landowners are required to control this weed. Under the North Dakota Weed Law control means stopping the production of seed and preventing propagation through mechanical, cultural or chemical control methods.

This plant is an introduced species which was once common in gardens and flower beds. It was used for medicinal purposes and also has some insecticidal properties. It gradually spread into shelterbelts and around the edges of wetlands and other noncrop areas at an ever increasing rate. Over the last fifteen years it has spread faster and faster as it became more adapted to our area. It has also been brought into the area in CRP grass seed. With changes in crop production systems it is now moving into cropland where it can be extremely difficult to control in no-till and direct seeding systems. It is found in all areas of the county but is most severe along a line from Bowbells to Portal and extending north and south of that line for about three miles. The Burke County Weed Board has mapped many of the sites (Click for Map) where this weed is found and that information is available to landowners and producers.

Common Tansy is a non-woody perennial which slowly spreads by roots and by seed. It typically grows up to 4 feet tall, with established plants having a bush like appearance from multiple stems. Right now it can be easily seen as last years stems remain standing well above any grasses around it. During the growing season it has a bright green fern like leaf and gets clusters of yellow flowers in July and August. Photos of this weed can be found on the Burke County website at www.burkecountynd.com.

Mechanical methods of control include mowing, cultivating, and hand digging. Cultural methods would include burning and possibly intensive grazing. It can be poisonous to livestock but is generally unpalatable. It does not tolerate the extreme hoof action of intensive grazing rotations which does not allow seedling to get established and may prevent seed production from established plants.

Chemical in non-cropland can be easily accomplished with high rates of dicamba (Clarity or Banvel), Tordon, Milestone, and Escort or Ally (metsulforon). The Burke County Weed Board will be offering costshare on Tordon and Escort for common tansy control.

For more information or to discuss a management plan and costshare contact the Burke County Extension office at 377-2927

Soil Temps

Soil temps at the Bowbells NDAWN site are finally warming up. On Sunday, May 4th temps were 49F under bare soil and 41F under sod. Most fields with crop residue will be somewhere in between. Last year the temps were 58F bare ground and 51F under sod. Current soil temperatures are just one of the weather data items available anytime just by calling 377-4455. Weather information is downloaded to a database every night. Information in the database can be accessed online at: http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/

Watch for Grass Tetany This Spring

Grass tetany is more likely in pastures with little litter or standing forage from last year, according to Greg Lardy, North Dakota State University Extension Service beef cattle specialist and professor in the NDSU Animal Sciences Department.

Early grass growth often contains low levels of magnesium. When cattle or other livestock consume these forages, they can develop a condition called grass tetany, or hypomagnesia. As the term implies, cattle with this condition have low blood levels of magnesium.

The most common symptoms associated with magnesium deficiency are excessive urination, muscle spasms and staggering, as well as erratic and nervous behavior.

The onset of symptoms usually is quite rapid and affected animals simply may be found dead in the pasture. Cows in early lactation may be more severely affected since the demands of lactation further contribute to mineral imbalances, Lardy says.

Cool-season grasses, such as crested wheatgrass or bromegrass, and annual forages, such as ryegrass or wheat, often have been associated with grass tetany. They generally have high protein and potassium levels, which can worsen the problem, and low levels of magnesium. In some cases, native pastures with limited amounts of litter also can result in grass tetany cases.

“If grass tetany is a common problem in your herd, consider increasing the magnesium level two weeks prior to the spring turnout date by adding magnesium oxide to the diet,” Lardy advises. “It is not particularly palatable, however, and should be blended with more palatable feedstuffs to encourage adequate consumption.”

Producers should offer their cattle commercial mineral mixes containing 10 percent to 15 percent magnesium when the animals are grazing lush forages.

“The good news is that problems with grass tetany generally diminish as summer approaches and forages begin to mature,” Lardy says.

Peggy Anderson
Extension Agent/Burke-Divide
May 3, 2008

I’m still taking registrations for Dining With Diabetes, set to start on Tuesday, May 20 at the Burke County Courthouse, 1:00 - 4:00. Call the Burke County Office for registration information.

May is National High Blood Pressure Month

When we start to feel a cold coming on, most of us are quick to react with some kind of remedy to ward off the impending illness. Unfortunately, we cannot feel other more serious conditions, such as high blood pressure. You even may have heard of high blood pressure being referred to as "the silent killer." But, if we are aware of it, we can defend ourselves against it and the complications that come with it.

May is National High Blood Pressure Month. It kicks off a yearlong campaign to prevent and control this condition.

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Two numbers make up blood pressure: systolic pressure (the pressure when your heart beats) and diastolic pressure (the pressure when your heart is relaxed). Normal blood pressure is systolic pressure of 120 and diastolic pressure of 80, which is expressed as 120/80 or 120 over 80. Levels at or greater than 140/90 are considered high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Hypertension is not uncommon. In fact, American adults have a 90 percent chance of dealing with it at some point in their life. This does not mean it is inevitable, though.

An estimated one in four adults in the U.S. has hypertension. High blood pressure is serious because, through time, it can cause kidney failure, heart disease, blindness and stroke. Heart disease is still the leading cause of death for men and women in America, but it can be prevented, at least to some degree, with lifestyle changes.

Several risk factors are associated with high blood pressure, including excess weight, inactivity, smoking, drinking alcohol in excess, unhealthy diet, increased age and being African American. Some of these are beyond our control, but others can be managed or eliminated.

Smoking damages artery walls and narrows the path that blood travels, increasing blood pressure, health experts say. Quitting will reduce that damage and your risk of developing heart disease.

Drinking alcohol in large amounts also has been shown to increase blood pressure, although the reason for it isn't clear. As with everything, moderation is the key. According to recent recommendations, women should have no more than one drink per day and men no more than two. One drink can be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Your diet is one of the biggest factors you can control to help improve your blood pressure, according to nutritionists. Limiting sodium intake is a major factor in reducing your risk of hypertension. Sodium is an essential nutrient in our bodies; we need it to regulate blood volume and it is important for the proper functioning of our muscles and nerves. However, too much of it can have a negative effect.

Although "salt" and "sodium" often are used interchangeably, they actually are very different. Sodium is an element found in nature. Salt, or sodium chloride, is what we put in those shakers that sit on the table. The current recommendation is to keep your daily sodium intake under 2.3 grams (2,300 milligrams). The average American typically consumes 4 grams each day.

Reading the nutrition labels on foods and remembering the following shopping tips can help you reduce your sodium intake:

• Buy fresh, frozen or canned vegetables with no salt added.
• Use fresh poultry, fish and lean meat rather than canned or processed types.
• Drain and rinse canned meats before using them.
• Use herbs, spices and salt-free seasoning blends in cooking and at the table.
• Cook rice, cereal and pasta without salt.
• Avoid convenience foods, such as canned soups or boxed and frozen dinners, which are usually high in sodium.
• Remember to look at both the sodium content and serving size on food labels.
• Know what the label means.
 Sodium-free: less than 5 milligrams (mg) per serving
 Very low sodium: 35 mg or less per serving
 Low sodium: 140 mg or less per serving
 Unsalted or no salt added: Salt may be in the product naturally but is not added during processing

Increasing your activity level also can be beneficial in lowering your blood pressure. Health experts recommend 60 minutes of physical activity a day for kids and 30 minutes for adults. If you are not active at all, remember to start slowly.

You may not be able to do 30 minutes of exercise right away, but don't get discouraged. Keep at it and gradually increase your workout time and intensity as your body gets used to exercise. Or try breaking up your exercise by taking three 10-minute walks each day and working up from there. Every little bit helps.

Schedule:
Wednesday, May 7 - Minot
Thursday, May 8 - Divide County
Friday, May 9 - Burke County
Monday, May 12 - Burke County
Tuesday, May 13 - Divide County

Pat Tinjum
Burke County JDA Director
April 14, 2008

Third Annual Burke County Birding Festival June 20-21, 2008

Burke County is the center for birders from all over North America to gather for the Third Annual Burke County Birding Festival June 20-21, 2008. The festival will take place at Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) located 16 miles south of Bowbells on ND Hwy 8.

Birders come to Lostwood NWR for the chance to view birds that make their home in the prairie grasslands. There were 91 bird species seen by participants last year including Sprague’s pipit, Baird’s sparrow, piping plover, LeConte’s sparrow and grasshopper sparrow. This free event is a wonderful opportunity for birders and nature enthusiasts to enjoy the outdoors, learn about birds, and gain an understanding of the natural history of the area.

The festival is a day-and-a-half event featuring guided birding tours, fun family events, educational presentations, and the opportunity to experience the native prairie in a wonderful atmosphere. Friday is a full day, and Saturday’s events will begin at 6 a.m. and end at noon. Both days you will have the chance to climb the lookout tower that has been refurbished to accommodate the public and enables a 360 degree view of the refuge from 50 feet in the air! Educational and informational displays will be set up that will interest adults and kids.

Refreshments will be available both days, and on Friday a wonderful complimentary lunch will be served at noon near the refuge headquarters building.

Both days of the festival begin at 6 a.m. with guided birding tours that depart from near the headquarters building. The tours will last approximately three hours. Tour guides knowledgeable on the birds found here will take small groups into Lostwood NWR for the opportunity to view some birds and hear their beautiful songs.

Following the tours Friday morning, there will have presentations and seminars throughout the day including “Birding 101 – How to use bird identification guides” with practical tips and tricks to using various guides.

Later Friday morning “Piping Plover Recovery – How is it done?” will present what is being done annually to aid these birds in fledging a higher number of chicks. Discover if it is working, and what more could be done.

After lunch on Friday, youth can earn the “Junior Birder” patch as they learn about birds and what they need. You will even build your own blue bird box to bring home.

Also featured in the afternoon is the popular guided “Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses Walk”.

On Saturday, June 21, set your alarm to rise before the birds and join us out at Lostwood NWR for the guided birding tours from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Once again guides will take small groups into the Refuge.

Following tours on Saturday morning join the presentation on “Bird Spotting”. This seminar is based on Roger Tory Peterson’s common sense approach to teaching in a few hours things he had learned through years of experience.

Youth on Saturday morning can attend “Youth Wildlife Adventures” starting at 10:00 am. Come take a walk on the wild side as we explore animal furs and do some exploring on the prairie. Make your own set of plaster wildlife tracks and a bird nest to bring home. Come prepared for your safari with a hat and sun screen.

Following an informative summary of the local Avian Influenza Surveillance project as well as a presentation on Seabird Productivity Research in SW Alaska, the festival will close.

The festival is sponsored by the Burke County Job Development Authority (JDA), Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, Lostwood Birding & Nature Association, and many community partners. There is no charge for any of the events at the refuge, but to plan for guides and food, pre-register by June 13. Registration forms can be downloaded from the birding festival page on the Burke County website at www.burkecountynd.com or you can call the JDA office at 701-377-5627 and a registration packet will be sent to you.

For more Burke County news, visit www.cndnews.com