AgSearch by Hale Multimedia

09/04/2026

Harvesting Efforts and Challenges: The discussion with Dillon DeBock highlights the ongoing harvesting efforts in the Powers Lake area of North Dakota, where they are cutting Durham and spring wheat. Despite good yields averaging about 65, the test weight is down due to July's heat, which affects the crop quality. In the region, while straw is typically not essential, some farmers do bale it for practical purposes. Weather conditions fluctuate from extreme colds to mild temperatures due to Chinook winds, affecting farming operations.

Economic Aspects and Crop Quality: Incomes are influenced by crop qualities such as test weight and protein content, but premiums for protein are rare, affecting profit margins negatively. Some Durham, labeled as feed grade due to poor test weight, highlights the problem of inadequate compensation for higher quality. Recent rain impacts the harvesting schedule, with rainfall reports varying from a few tenths to inches across regions.

Harvesting Techniques: The shift to straight cutting, even for canola due to new shatter-resistant varieties, is emphasized for its efficiency over traditional swathing, which can lead to bunching, particularly when cutter bars exceed widths of 35 feet. Rollers are commonly used during swathing to manage the harvest against wind interference.

Personal Anecdotes and Events: The conversation concludes with references to cowboy poetry gatherings and the appreciation for such cultural events shared on platforms like YouTube. Hale Broadcasting extends well wishes for the harvest and appreciation for participation in the interview.

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

Mint Cultivation Process: Tegan Hubbard, a mint farmer from Corrine, Utah discusses the cultivation and management of mint fields, specifically spearmint on their farm. He explains that the initial watering phase occurs before the second cutting of the mint. The farm uses flood irrigation, and the first cutting of mint is typically done in early July. The first cutting of the season yielded slightly below average output due to lower oil content in the leaves.

Mint Varietals and Longevity: The farm grows spearmint and peppermint, with spearmint being more resilient and longer-lived, lasting up to 13 years. Peppermint is rotated every four to five years, involving plowing under old roots and planting new, youthful roots to encourage vigorous growth. The option exists to either purchase certified roots or spread roots from existing young fields.

Irrigation and Equipment: The farm has transitioned from traditional siphon tubes to a more modern flood irrigation system with PVC pipes and risers for improved efficiency, a change supported by state and federal funding. The setup ensures water is well-distributed and minimizes manual labor. The larger PVC pipes are standard in the area and buried underground.

Mint Harvesting Techniques and Equipment: Mint is harvested using specific mint planting equipment, and the roots are managed through specialized conveyors and planters that spread the roots effectively in the fields. The plant rows are closely spaced and spread aggressively, leading to a dense coverage over time.

Economic Aspects of Mint Farming: The financials of mint farming are discussed, with native spearmint being covered by government marketing orders, which help stabilize the supply and pricing. Mint yield is measured by the amount of oil produced per acre, with spearmint typically yielding significant returns per acre. Peppermint, not regulated by the same marketing orders, fluctuates more with market conditions.

Mint Aroma and Market: The interview touches on the aromatic nature of mint plants and the stability of the market for spearmint compared to peppermint, which is more subject to market variation. Hubbard discusses the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between purchasing new roots and spreading their own, to manage costs effectively.

Conclusion with Miscellaneous Details: The conversation concludes with mentions of equipment manufacturers (such as New House Manufacturing) and technology for improving oil extraction from mint fibers. This includes a brief mention of innovation in oil extraction via new equipment developed by neighboring farmers.

09/02/2026

We have a nearly limitless vault of old Howard Hale archived interviews to share with you, and here's another one from Minatare horsewoman Val Baker.

This was years ago, but still good information and a lot of fun. Let's listen in.

Minatare Nebraska horsewoman Val Baker competed in the Art of the Cowgirl event. There was also some breakaway roping down there.

Was it a big breakaway roping, Val?

"And it was a tough breakaway. They used the herd work cattle. So rather than roping 250, 300 pound calves, they were roping 600, 700 pound steers, and they were slow to start, and then they ran like little boogers, and it was a tough competition. There weren't any super short times."

That's becoming a bigger event, isn't it, the breakaway roping?

"The ladies' breakaway is definitely coming into stride. I'm glad to see it. I don't know that it'll ever be to the level of the barrels for the ladies, but when they're winning millions of dollars out there now, and the purses have gotten so much bigger than when you had actual WPRA rodeos. So one of my little gal friends, Riley Smith, her and her partner, Hope Thompson, swapped in down there at the ranch rodeo deal, and they come away with $90,000 a piece. They split $180,000 for an all-girl roping, and that's just respectable as all get out."

Minatare horsewoman Val Baker talking about a huge breakaway roping with some unusually large cattle. That's going to do it for today's Horseman's Corner.

09/02/2026

In this radio interview, Jesper Hansen from Scobey, Montana, discusses the current state of agricultural activities in the area. Harvesting is ongoing, with crops experiencing variability in growth and yield. Some crops, such as lentils and peas, are already harvested, while farmers are currently working on durum wheat, chickpeas, and canola. Recent rains have been beneficial, despite interfering with combining activities. The crops have shown unexpected resilience, with some looking promising but not yielding as expected, highlighting variability because of earlier weather conditions.
A significant windstorm in May affected the crops, moving a lot of dirt and damaging some plants. This event led to exposed seeds and chemical displacement, with some fields requiring reseeding. Post-storm rains helped crop recovery, resulting in better-than-expected outcomes. The general sentiment is that despite initial concerns, things have turned out better than anticipated.
Regarding farming practices, the region is predominantly dryland with minimal irrigation, noted by the scarcity of irrigated circles. Jesper and our co-host David Woodruff reflect on the challenges and unpredictability of farming in such conditions, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability. The conversation also includes a note of gratitude from the broadcaster for Jesper's availability and insights.

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

The text details an interview between Hale Broadcasting and Kyle Shobe of Lewistown Livestock Auction in Montana. The discussion predominantly focuses on the operations of the auction, which mostly deals in cattle with occasional sheep sales. The auction conducts regular sales, emphasizing the robust cattle genetics in the region and investment in livestock marketing. Horses play a role primarily in moving cattle on sale days, whereas modern tools like four-wheelers are more common for efficiency.

09/01/2026

Introduction and Location: Jade Coyle speaks with Hale Broadcasting, discussing their location in Teton, Idaho, associated with Grand Teton Ancient Grains.

Farming Land and Practices: Jade describes farming on both owned and leased land, engaging in regenerative organic farming focused on ancient grains. This practice emphasizes building fertile soil without synthetic fertilizers, instead using cover crops, crop rotation, and recycled farm products to enhance soil quality.

Irrigation and Water Sources: The farm relies on irrigation from the Teton River. Challenges discussed include managing water levels and maintenance of canal systems, overseen by irrigation companies.

Flooding Risks and History: They discuss historical flooding due to the Teton Dam failure in 1976 and its impact. Jade notes that the Teton River has stabilized, reducing flooding risks over time.

Interest in Dam Reconstruction: There is an expressed interest in rebuilding the dam due to drought concerns, although trust is low due to past failures.

Ancient Grains and Regenerative Agriculture: Jade explains their interest in ancient grains like einkorn due to its gluten properties, which appeal to those with gluten sensitivities. They also focus on regenerative farming techniques and building a niche market for ancient grains.