Honoring Buffalo, Growing Tribal Futures

Sep 25, 2025

Tribal producers, conservationists and community members gathered Sept. 16 for ‘Honoring Buffalo, Building Tribal Agriculture: Turtle Mountain Field Day’, a free, in-person event hosted by the North Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s Great Plains Region.

The event celebrated the sacred role of buffalo in Indigenous traditions while promoting sustainable agriculture, conservation practices and partnership-building. Held at the Sky Dancer Casino & Resort Event Center in Belcourt, the field day began with a light breakfast and continued with presentations in the South Buffalo Pasture.

J.J. Desjarlais Jr., of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Department of Natural Resources, said the department is working with the NRCS tribal liaison to implement cross-fencing through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), supporting rotational grazing. The plan also includes a centralized water unit to serve the buffalo.

Source : usda.gov

Video: Refeeding Syndrome After Weaning - Dr. Theo van Kempen

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Theo van Kempen, an independent consultant with extensive swine nutrition and product development experience, explains how refeeding syndrome can affect newly weaned piglets. He discusses phosphate depletion, edema, intestinal health, oxygen delivery, and high-glycemic nursery diets, and presents nutritional strategies designed to reduce postweaning challenges. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40710...

“Refeeding syndrome develops when feeding resumes after fasting, creating an acute phosphate deficiency as metabolism rapidly accelerates and cellular phosphate requirements increase.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Theo van Kempen / theo-van-kempen-26181b15 holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition from the University of Illinois and has extensive experience in swine nutrition, digestive health, nutrient management, and feed product development. His career includes academic research at North Carolina State University and leadership positions in animal nutrition R&D. He currently works independently in product development, including nutraceutical and nutritional innovation. Listen to Dr. Theo van Kempen on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms!