The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

In early November Max and Kirsti Cederberg received Montana State University's prestigious Outstanding Montana Agricultural Leaders award at a dinner and ceremony in Bozeman. When he received word of the award, Max said, "I was working in the shop and happened to hear my cell phone ring. It was MSU's Vice President of Agriculture, Dr. Charles Boyer, telling us of the award and upcoming ceremony." Max added, "It's really a tribute to the farm for its role in providing research plots for agricultural studies. My dad began hosting the plots, according to a signed agreement we recently found, back in 1985." Other documents provided by the Blaine County Extension agent suggest the first use of the Cederberg farm for research began as early as 1982, even before an official agreement was made.

Short history of the test plots

Max Cederberg drove out to the plot to show the location and explain how it is used. The research plot, less than an acre in size, has been in the same field since the early 1980's. It was moved from the original site a few years ago, but still in the same general area. The field is adjacent to Montana State Route 241, on the west side of the highway, a couple of miles north of Turner. Cederberg pointed to the posts where each growing season a sign is erected that identifies the entrance to the test plots. The plots are open during the growing season so farmers can inspect the plants at different stages of maturity.

The original agreement describes the purpose of the plots: "to gain accurate, long term production data and to demonstrate varieties to area producers." Initially the research pertained only to spring wheat and barley but that changed as the types of crops local farmers raised also changed. Barley research went away and Cederberg said the focus now is on spring and winter wheat and durum. He added, "The Big Flat is one of a few areas in Montana that works well for durum. Durum thrives in our combination of soil, weather and geography." Durum, a 'hard' wheat, is mainly used for making pasta.

As area grain farming trends have changed, so have the types of experiments conducted on the plots. Cederberg said over the years barley production dropped in the area, though there is still some. He said, "For a time the researchers worked with peas. I still grow some peas but they never really caught on in a major way in our region." Peas are used for livestock feed and are an ingredient in dog and cat food. Several other experiments involved various grains that were used for oils, most of those new grains never made major gains in popularity with local farmers.

The researchers using the plots are from the Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC), south of Havre. Cederberg said the work with fertilizer applications, conducted by former NARC Director Gregg Carlson, had a big impact on farm practices regarding fertilizer. "Gregg's work," Cederberg added, "was recognized around the country. Prior to his work farmers didn't pay a lot of attention to the specifics of fertilizer and how best to apply it." Cederberg now uses some of Carlson's research results on his farm to create a fertilizer plan and application program.

Peggy Lamb, Research Scientist based at NARC, has been doing research at the Cederberg plots for 13 years. She explained, "We're trying to determine what grows best in certain regions so farmers can chose the best varieties for their farm conditions." She said in a typical year she would have 25 varieties of winter wheat plus spring and durum varieties. Already she has planted winter wheat on next year's plot, spring wheat will be planted at the beginning of the growing season next year.

Work on the plots

Lamb explained, "Our test plots are always on fallow ground (ground that was not planted the prior year). In the plots we plant seeds, from breeders, that are already commercially available. We also plant seeds still in the experimental stages, from MSU researchers, that are not yet released for commercial use. After the plots are harvested I do reports to the breeders and MSU researchers on the performance of the varieties. Eventually some of the varieties of seeds or other research findings will be available to farmers in this area. Some seeds turn out not to be suitable for the conditions on the Big Flat."

Cederberg usually consults with Lamb so she knows what he will be planting around the plots. He plants his field seeds right up to the plots so there is a natural barrier of several feet between his seeding and that of the researchers. He explained, "I sometimes have to be careful with spraying operations to be certain I don't contaminate the plots, the crop barrier helps protect the plots."

Lamb, who supervises the planting, maintaining and harvesting on the plots, said the equipment for planting and harvesting is much like regular farm equipment, only smaller. Each part of the plot, with its similar seeds, is separated by a 'path' cut with a roto-tiller. That makes identifying the small plots, each with their unique seeds, easier both for researchers and visitors. MSU personnel conduct tours of the plots in mid or early July. Cederberg said the tours are well attended by farmers wanting to learn about possible seed varieties that might improve their operation.

The planting and harvesting equipment is transported to the Cederberg farm when needed. Equipment is housed at NARC and moved to other test plots around the area. According to Max Cederberg the researchers take care of the test plots but he explained, "The NARC folks know where they can find tools or parts in my shop if something breaks or they need an available part for their equipment. One time Peggy Lamb was leaving the plots and encountered the Schwann's man whose truck brakes had failed. She came back to my shop, got some brake fluid, crawled under his truck to tighten a fitting and got him on his way. Peggy's very self-sufficient when she's working out here." Recalling the incident, Lamb said, "I didn't even get an ice cream bar for my efforts."

Farmers whose land is used for test plots get no compensation for the land use or lost production. Cederberg said, "For me the payoff is helping generate knowledge that will benefit all farmers in the area. Often the researchers discover something that I can use in my own operation." He added there was no real downside to the plots on his farm. "We work together and coordinate what they are doing on the plots and what I am doing on the adjacent fields. Sometimes we show up at the same time to do work, sometimes there are long stretches of time when I never see the researchers. The plots pose no real inconvenience to my operation."

The Outstanding Montana Agricultural Leaders award

Steve Edwards

In the foreground a homemade "plot seeder" is shown planting test plots on the Cederberg farm north of Turner. Max Cederberg's conventional air seeder is operating in the background.

This year only one other individual and the Cederbergs, representing north central Montana, received the award. The award recognizes individuals, groups or families who have "positively impacted the lives of many in the broader ag community..." Selection of award recipients is based on letters of recommendation from the ag community. Max and Kirsti received several nomination letters. Max described one letter from "an unidentified MSU student." He laughed and said, "I never did figure out who that student was."

Max and Kirsti said the award ceremony was a "big deal" with presentations by many ag and MSU officials, including the President of MSU. There were also awards of scholarships to MSU ag students during the dinner in Bozeman.

It seems for the Cederbergs the award was very much appreciated, but the real reward is providing local farmers with new information that makes their farms more productive and profitable. From the researchers' point of view, Peggy Lamb said, "We couldn't gain this regional information if it weren't for folks like Max and Kirsti allowing us access to their farms. These plots are key to identifying the seed varieties and methods that help farmers."