Recognizing Excellence in Conservation
Bruce Albright named 2014 Outstanding Watershed Employee of the Year
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is pleased to announce that Bruce Albright, District Administrator for the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (WD), has been honored as the 2014 Outstanding Watershed District Employee of the Year.
Bruce has served more than thirty years as the WD’s administrator, a role that requires that he be not just the primary staff for the district, but its public face. He supports the Board of Managers, manages the district’s daily operations, budget, outreach efforts, and partnerships with other government agencies, nonprofits, consultants and the public.
In 2014, Bruce managed the successful completion of the multi-year Manston Slough project. This 1,500-plus acre wetland restoration that spanned six square miles brings significant benefits to the district. Better flood control, habitat restoration, increased water clarity to the downstream river, and other associated benefits from a wetland restoration are expected thanks to the project. Albright worked closely with the Department of Natural Resources and US Fish and Wildlife Service, who have significant land ownership within the project’s boundaries, as well as 32 private landowners, to make sure the project was a success. His ability to work with both government agencies and these landowners was key.
Bruce’s commitment to conservation and bringing everyone to the table has been a hallmark of his career. He’s worked with hundreds of landowners, negotiating all kinds of easements and buyouts and managing water problems. A good number of the district’s projects center around flood control or flood damage, which can be especially challenging. Bruce’s honesty and fairness have earned him the respect of landowners, government staff at every level, and other conservation professionals.
“Bruce’s leadership is evident in the work of the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “His careful stewardship of the Manston Slough project is just one example of the great work he’s done in the watershed, work that benefits not just local citizens, but the whole state.”
The Outstanding Watershed District Employee of the Year is awarded at the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts’ convention, held annually in December.
Coyote Catalog available for hunters, landowners
BISMARCK –The Coyote Catalog, a statewide effort connecting coyote hunters and trappers with landowners who want fewer coyotes in their areas, has been reopened by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF).
“I encourage landowners, especially farmers and ranchers who have problems with coyote depredation, to sign up for the Coyote Catalog,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “Hunting and trapping are valuable tools in managing these predators.”
This past season, 74 landowners signed up for the Coyote Catalog, a more than 50 percent increase over the previous year. Nearly 900 hunters and trappers also signed up.
NDDA officials estimate livestock producers in North Dakota lost more than $1 million last year to coyotes. At the same time, coyotes are a popular furbearer species for hunters and trappers.
“This can be a good way for hunters and trappers to locate new places to go,” said NDGF Director Terry Steinwand. “We’ve also had some positive feedback from landowners as well.”
Goehring and Steinwand said the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services should be the first contact for landowners experiencing coyote depredation of livestock.
Landowners can sign up on the NDDA website at www.nd.gov/ndda/coyote-catalog. Required information includes county and contact information.
Hunters and trappers can sign up at the NDGF website at sign up http://gf.nd.gov/hunting/hunter-contact-form.
Throughout the winter, hunters or trappers will receive information on participating landowners, and they can then contact landowners to make arrangements.
Anyone who registered for the Coyote Catalog in the past must register again to activate their names on the database.
The Coyote Catalog will remain active through March 31.
Pride of Dakota Holiday
Showcase attendance passes 36,000
BISMARCK – More than 36,000 shoppers – a new record – participated in the four Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcases in November and December 2014.
“Attendance at the Fargo and Grand Forks Showcases set new records,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “Bismarck was again the largest event with more than 11,900 shoppers.”
Goehring said the numbers reflect the continued and growing popularity of the Pride of Dakota program with both shoppers and members.
“North Dakotans look forward to the annual Holiday Showcases, knowing they will find unique, high quality products while supporting our state’s small businesses,” he said. “At the same time, Pride of Dakota member companies know the showcases draw people who are specifically looking for locally-made products.”
The Fargo Showcase, Nov. 21-23, attracted 10,589 people, almost 900 more than the previous record. Attendance at the Grand Forks Showcase, held Nov. 8-9, was 6,893, compared to 6,331 in 2013. The Minot Showcase drew 6,592 customers.
Many shoppers took advantage of the half-price admission offer by bringing their own reusable shopping bags. As a measure of appreciation for service men and women – all active and retired members of the armed forces and their families – also paid half-price admission.
Jim Ekren and Sheila Renner each won $250 in Pride of Dakota bucks in the Pride of Dakota passport program; Gay Seelig and Diane Urlacher each won Pride of Dakota gift boxes. The North Dakota Ethanol Council and the North Dakota Corn Growers Association sponsored the passport program.
Pesticide, anhydrous dealers
& pesticide applicator honored
FARGO – The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and the North Dakota Agricultural Association (NDAA) honored three pesticide and anhydrous ammonia dealers and applicators during NDAA’s recent annual meeting in Fargo.
“The North Dakota Agricultural Association is proud to sponsor these awards and recognize people who excel in customer service and environmental awareness,” said Gary Knutson, NDAA executive director. “These awards recognize good stewardship of soil, water and air through the safe and proper use of plant nutrient and crop protection products,”
The North Dakota Pesticide Dealer of the Year is Southwest Grain, Dickinson.
“Manager John LeMieux and his staff run a very clean facility with a strong commitment to product stewardship and safety,” said Jim Gray, NDDA pesticide and fertilizer division director, who presented the awards on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “This year, they visited four area elementary schools to discuss agriculture, pesticide safety and pesticide issues with bees. This helps improve understanding of farm issues.”
Evergreen Cooperative, Tower City was named North Dakota Pesticide Applicator of the Year.
“Evergreen’s applicators – Marvin Preston, Lee Marshall and Rob Marshall – provide application records go above and beyond what is required under the law,” Gray said. “Manager Curtis Marshall is committed to helping both clients and staff understand the requirements of pesticide laws, especially the Worker Protection Standard.”
North Dakota has approximately 9,000 commercially certified pesticide applicators
Farmers Union Oil Co., Turtle Lake, managed by Chuck Riser, was named the 2014 North Dakota Anhydrous Ammonia Dealer of the Year.
“The staff at Farmers Union Oil is very knowledgeable about North Dakota’s anhydrous ammonia program, and they work hard to communicate its requirements to the farmers they service,” Gray said. They hold customer workshops, inviting NDDA inspectors to discuss anhydrous safety issues and other requirements, significantly improving awareness and compliance.”
Nominees for the awards were selected and scored by North Dakota Department of Agriculture field staff. Scoring criteria included recordkeeping, storage, use of personal protective equipment, overall appearance, improvements and contributions to product stewardship.