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MSU Richland County Extension office is hosting a Rancher Roundtable: Nutrition, Toxins, and All of the Above workshop on Wednesday, Nov.13 at 6 p.m. at the Richland County Extension Office, 1499 N Central Ave. MSU Extension Beef Specialist, Megan Van Emon will be present to discuss toxins in feedstuffs, cattle nutrition during gestation, and more. Bring your questions and plan to attend on Nov. 13....
The Richland County Conservation District and the MSU Richland County Extension Office are teaming up to host an agriculture Women’s Night on Monday, Oct. 28 at the Richland County Extension Office. We invite everyone to come and join us. Women’s Night features a great lineup of agriculture speakers and topics: - Pesticide Safety and Wellness for Female Ag Producers -Wendy Becker, MSU Roosevelt County Extension Agent - Biological Control of Noxious Weeds -Melissa Maggio, MT Biological Control Project Coordinator (via zoom) - Common Tox...
The Richland County Conservation District and the MSU Richland County Extension Office are teaming up to host an agriculture Women’s Night on Monday, Oct. 28 at the Richland County Extension Office. We invite everyone to come and join us. Women’s Night features a great lineup of agriculture speakers and topics: - Pesticide Safety and Wellness for Female Ag Producers -Wendy Becker, MSU Roosevelt County Extension Agent - Biological Control of Noxious Weeds -Melissa Maggio, MT Biological Control Project Coordinator (via zoom) - Common Tox...
A question we commonly get here in the Extension Office is, “What is hay worth?” The answer to this question usually is, it depends. The price of hay depends on multiple factors including cost of production and quality. Hay quality varies based on management, storage, and type of hay. Different forage types will be higher in protein or energy, and this greater quality is worth more than other forage that is low in protein or energy. Hay high in nitrates would be worth less than hay that is not. These quality factors can only be determined by...
The Richland County Farmers Market is nearing the end of the season. The markets run from the second week in July through the second week in October. The Thursday Markets, held on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. at the Reynolds Market parking lot, have three markets remaining: Sept. 26, Oct. 3, and Oct. 10. The Saturday Markets have three remaining, as well. The market on Sept. 28 will be moving to the Tractor Supply Company (TSC) sponsored-market from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the TSC parking lot. The Oct. 5 market will be the last regular market at the...
A question we commonly get here in the Extension Office is, “What is hay worth?” The answer to this question usually is, it depends. The price of hay depends on multiple factors including cost of production and quality. Hay quality varies based on management, storage, and type of hay. Different forage types will be higher in protein or energy, and this greater quality is worth more than other forage that is low in protein or energy. Hay high in nitrates would be worth less than hay that is not. These quality factors can only be determined by...
Now is a good time to be on the lookout for any suspicious pigweeds that could potentially be Palmer amaranth or waterhemp. Both species are very difficult to control and have limited management options, making prevention as well as early detection very important. Vectors of potential introduction of Palmer amaranth and waterhemp include contaminated seed, especially millet, farm equipment, sunflower screenings, bird seed, and more. Be sure to scout areas where these vectors could potentially introduce Palmer amaranth or waterhemp. Look for...
Now is a good time to be on the lookout for any suspicious pigweeds that could potentially be Palmer amaranth or waterhemp. Both species are very difficult to control and have limited management options, making prevention as well as early detection very important. Vectors of potential introduction of Palmer amaranth and waterhemp include contaminated seed, especially millet, farm equipment, sunflower screenings, bird seed, and more. Be sure to scout areas where these vectors could potentially introduce Palmer amaranth or waterhemp. Look for...
As temperatures remain high, it is important to consider not only the quantity of water that your livestock have access to, but also the quality of the water source they are on. The amount of water livestock require depends on the animal’s size, production stage, moisture content of their diet, and temperature. For example, a 1,300-lb. mature beef cow requires approximately 9.2 gallons of water when temperatures are at 40°F, and this requirement increases to 14.3 gallons a day when temperatures are 90°F. When cows are lactating, water req...
As temperatures remain high, it is important to consider not only the quantity of water that your livestock have access to, but also the quality of the water source they are on. The amount of water livestock require depends on the animal’s size, production stage, moisture content of their diet, and temperature. For example, a 1,300-lb. mature beef cow requires approximately 9.2 gallons of water when temperatures are at 40°F, and this requirement increases to 14.3 gallons a day when temperatures are 90°F. When cows are lactating, water req...
As the time to harvest your cereal grain crops for forage approaches, it’s time to consider testing them for nitrates prior to cutting. Nitrates can accumulate not only in cereal grains, but also in sorghum, sudangrass, millet, corn, and many weed species. Any forages containing these species should be tested for nitrates. Nitrate is a form of nitrogen which is essential for the growth and development of plants, and it is the form that is taken up by the roots of the plant. When growing conditions are normal, plants convert this nitrate into a...
Blister beetles are here once again, and it is a good idea to scout for them in your fields, particularly alfalfa, prior to cutting. Blister beetle larvae feed on grasshopper eggs, which is why we’ve seen such large populations the last few years. Adult blister beetles contain a cantharidin toxin in their body fluids which is released when the beetle is crushed. This can blister people’s skin and can also be deadly to livestock and horses. There are a few species of blister beetles that are common in this area: ash-gray, black, and gray wit...
Stripe rust has been observed in winter wheat at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center here in Sidney. The cooler weather and moisture recently have been ideal conditions for the disease. This article will review some information on stripe rust disease and management options at this point in the growing season. Stripe rust is a fungal disease that is appropriately named, as the disease forms in a linear pattern of yellow-orange powdery pustules along the leaf blade. This disease is polycyclic, meaning that it will continue to produce spores...
The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center (MSU EARC) is preparing to host their annual Field Day on Thursday, June 27 at the center, located north of Sidney, 1501 N Central Ave. The day will include information on variety selection, cropping systems, fertility, disease management, weed management, and more, all of which will be beneficial for producers in the region. Plan to come from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts before the field day begins at 8:30 a.m. During the field tours, Dr. Chengci Chen, EARC...
Stripe rust has been observed in winter wheat at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center here in Sidney. The cooler weather and moisture recently have been ideal conditions for the disease. This article will review some information on stripe rust disease and management options at this point in the growing season. Stripe rust is a fungal disease that is appropriately named, as the disease forms in a linear pattern of yellow-orange powdery pustules along the leaf blade. This disease is...
Blister beetles are here once again, and it is a good idea to scout for them in your fields, particularly alfalfa, prior to cutting. Blister beetle larvae feed on grasshopper eggs, which is why we've seen such large populations the last few years. Adult blister beetles contain a cantharidin toxin in their body fluids which is released when the beetle is crushed. This can blister people's skin and can also be deadly to livestock and horses. There are a few species of blister beetles that are...
The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center (MSU EARC) is preparing to host their annual Field Day on Thursday, June 27 at the center, located north of Sidney, 1501 N Central Ave. The day will include information on variety selection, cropping systems, fertility, disease management, weed management, and more, all of which will be beneficial for producers in the region. Plan to come from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts before the field day begins at 8:30 a.m....
The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center (MSU EARC) is preparing to host their annual Field Day on Thursday, June 27 at the center, located north of Sidney, 1501 N Central Ave. The day will include information on variety selection, cropping systems, fertility, disease management, weed management, and more, all of which will be beneficial for producers in the region. Plan to come from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts before the field day begins at 8:30 a.m. During the field tours, Dr. Chengci Chen, EARC...
The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center (MSU EARC) is preparing to host their annual Field Day on Thursday, June 27 at the center, located north of Sidney, 1501 N Central Ave. The day will include information on variety selection, cropping systems, fertility, disease management, weed management, and more, all of which will be beneficial for producers in the region. Plan to come from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts before the field day begins at 8:30 a.m....
With the relatively warm spring that we have had, it is important to start scouting for grasshoppers hatching. Typically, scouting begins around Memorial Day, but it may be a good idea to be on the lookout even earlier this year. USDA-APHIS has predicted Richland County and the surrounding area will again be experiencing high grasshopper populations this year. Review of the Life Cycle Grasshoppers deposit eggs in the soil in the fall. These eggs overwinter there and begin to hatch from May through July. Grasshoppers develop through 5 nymphal...
Emergence and establishment of your pulse crops can be negatively affected by dampening off and root rot pathogens. To avoid these issues, consider using a seed treatment. Dampening off occurs when a fungus or oomycete causes banding and restriction of the developing plant. Examples of these fungus and oomycete include Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Dampening off can be worse when the soil is cool and moist around the time the crop is planted. Symptoms of dampening off include a reduced stand, girdling, seedling yellowing, reduced...
MSU Richland County Extension will be hosting an organizational meeting for this year’s Richland County Farmer’s Market on Tuesday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Richland County Extension Office, Sidney. If you are a past vendor or are interested in becoming a vendor, you are encouraged to attend this open meeting. Market vendors can sell a variety of products; ranging from handmade items to produce, baked goods, and more. The organizational details, applications, and safety regulations of food sales at the Richland County Farmer’s Marke...
Montana State University has released their 2023 Montana Spring Wheat Performance Evaluations. These trials are based on wheat variety performance in multiple locations across the state through multiple years. This performance summary compares agronomic characteristics of spring wheat varieties evaluated by Montana Agricultural Experiment Stations and other varieties commonly grown in the state. The trials take place in 11 locations across the state and region, which locally include Sidney (irrigated and dryland) and just across the border in...
Emergence and establishment of your pulse crops can be negatively affected by dampening off and root rot pathogens. To avoid these issues, consider using a seed treatment. Dampening off occurs when a fungus or oomycete causes banding and restriction of the developing plant. Examples of these fungus and oomycete include Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Dampening off can be worse when the soil is cool and moist around the time the crop is planted. Symptoms of dampening off include a reduced stand, girdling, seedling yellowing, reduced...
MSU Richland County Extension will be hosting an organizational meeting for this year’s Richland County Farmer’s Market on Tuesday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Richland County Extension Office, Sidney. If you are a past vendor or are interested in becoming a vendor, you are encouraged to attend this open meeting. Market vendors can sell a variety of products; ranging from handmade items to produce, baked goods, and more. The organizational details, applications, and safety regulations of food sales at the Richland County Farmer’s Marke...
