Sorted by date Results 201 - 221 of 221
Two entomologists who live out of state but want others to benefit from their careers have donated collections to Montana State University. One collection is the professional library of a world expert on a large family of beetles. The 20-cubic-foot collection includes rare books that few entomologists have the opportunity to consult first-hand. The other collection consists of fabric made with the silk produced by wild moths. It also includes cocoons, unspun silk fibers, artifacts, and written m...
An extra dose of certain amino acids can help cows better use dietary protein or the nutrients they consume, according to a new study published by Agricultural Research Service scientists at the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory (LARRL) in Miles City. Amino acids — the building blocks of proteins — are essential; especially those that are “limiting,” to cattle that graze on poor-quality forage, the scientists said in an article they published in the online edition of the international journal “Amino Acids.” Methionine...
With longer and warmer days, wheat seeding and fertilizing has begun across the state. Using the right fertilizer source, rate, timing and placement is important for optimal production. Montana State University Extension offers suggestions to help guide wheat producers in spring nitrogen fertilizing decisions. Dryland winter wheat grown in Montana requires about 2.6 pounds nitrogen per bushel to maximize yield and attain at least 12.5 percent protein. Dryland spring wheat requires about 3.3 pounds available nitrogen per bushel to reach 14 perce...
Researchers at Montana State University have developed a protein that can be expressed in oilseed crops to increase the oil yield by as much as 40%, a development that could have an impact on the biodiesel industry. Patents on this technology have been issued and research is ongoing. Biodiesel is produced from a wide variety of oilseed crops: In Europe, canola is the major biodiesel crop, while in the U.S. soybeans dominate. The MSU technology has been demonstrated in corn and soybeans and is expected to work for a broad range of oilseed...
Climate change through 2013 and its effect on agriculture will be the focus of this year’s keynote address at the Montana Nutrition Conference and Livestock Forum in Bozeman. The annual conference will begin the afternoon of April 17 and run through the morning of April 18 at the GranTree Inn. Simon Atkins, an atmospheric scientist and climate economist who heads a think-tank in planetary risk management, will give the Grieco Beef Cattle Lecture the evening of Wednesday, April 17. Atkins is CEO of Advanced Forecasting Corporation which a...
Montana State University Extension and Montana Small Business Administration (SBA) will sponsor the webinar “Small Business Financing: Financing Your Business in a Booming Economy” on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from noon-1 p.m. Information on financing a start-up or expansion of a business during an oil boom will be included. The webinar will feature Gregg Gluekert, a commercial lender at a community bank in Billings, and the owner of several businesses in Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota. In addition, George Haynes, MSU Extension eco...
Are you a Montanan who is 62 or older as of Dec. 31? If so, then check to see whether you qualify for Montana’s elderly homeowner/renter tax credit for 2011. If you can answer “yes” to all of the following questions, then you may be eligible for the credit: 1. Were you 62 or older as of Dec. 31, 2011? 2. Did you occupy a Montana residence(s) as an owner or renter for 6 months or more during 2011? 3. Did you reside in Montana for nine months or more during 2011? 4. Was your total gross household income less than $45,000 in 2011? Instr...
Montana State University Extension is sponsoring two regional barley update meetings. They will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Pondera Shooting Sports Club in Conrad and on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Northern Plains Ag Research Conference Center in Sidney. Organized by Montana State University Extension and the Institute of Barley and Malt Sciences, the workshops will feature speakers from Montana State University, North Dakota State University, the USDA Risk Management Agency, the National Barley Growers Association, the Northern Broadcast...
Researchers at Montana State University are seeing an increase in the number of samples of pulse crops containing significant amounts of the fungus blight Ascochyta over the past year. The findings represent an increase compared to blight researchers found in the 2010 samples, particularly in the lentil crop. With pulse crops going into the ground soon, there is some confusion about the acceptable level of Ascochyta in a given crop. Ascochyta is a potentially serious fungal disease in pulse crops, including lentils, peas and chickpea. The disea...
The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program has created a new website for homeowners and applicators across the state. The “Pesticide Contamination Around the Home and Garden” website was built in response to the MSU Schutter Diagnostic Laboratory receiving over 112 garden samples which showed symptoms consistent with pesticide exposure from a class of chemicals known as “growth regulator herbicides” in 2009 and 2010. The website links tools from MSU, the University of Arizona, University of Minnesota and Washington State Univers...
Cereal grains such as wheat and barley are viable alternative hay crops and can provide valuable grazing opportunities. Due to drought resistance, good yields and ability to break pest cycles of perennial crops, annual forages can be a good fit in northern Great Plains production systems. An ongoing study provides preliminary nitrogen guidelines for some annual forage crops in Montana. “In the most recent year with collected data (2008), approximately 200,000 acres of cereal forages were grown in Montana, making it the fourth largest acreage cr...
The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program has created a new website for homeowners and applicators across the state. The “Pesticide Contamination Around the Home and Garden” website was built in response to the MSU Schutter Diagnostic Laboratory receiving over 112 garden samples which showed symptoms consistent with pesticide exposure from a class of chemicals known as “growth regulator herbicides” in 2009 and 2010. The website links tools from MSU, the University of Arizona, University of Minnesota and Washington State Univers...
Researchers at Montana State University are seeing an increase in the number of samples of pulse crops containing significant amounts of the fungus blight Ascochyta over the past year. The findings represent an increase compared to blight researchers found in the 2010 samples, particularly in the lentil crop. With pulse crops going into the ground soon, there is some confusion about the acceptable level of Ascochyta in a given crop. Ascochyta is a potentially serious fungal disease in pulse crops, including lentils, peas and chickpea. The disea...
Montana State University will present a beginning beekeeping workshop on Saturday, Feb. 25. New beekeepers, including youth, can learn how to get started, first year management strategies and integrated pest management of honeybee pests and diseases. Participants will also learn about honeybee biology and beekeeping equipment. Presenters are from MSU, Western Bee Supplies, Polson, and the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Apiary Division. The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and takes place at the Plant Bioscience Building room 108 o...
Until recently, sulfur did not often limit crop growth in most Montana soils. However, modern NPK fertilizers contain less sulfur as a manufacturing by-product. Also, higher yielding varieties and more intense cropping are leading to the removal of more sulfur from fields, increasing the chance for sulfur deficiencies. Sulfur deficiency may be confused with nitrogen deficiency. Sulfur deficient plants are often stunted with yellowing upper leaves, in contrast to yellowing lower leaves, which are an indication of nitrogen deficiency....
The Montana Agro-Emergency Preparedness Committee will present the tabletop scenario and exercise “Locally Responding to Foot and Mouth Disease” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Montana State University, Bozeman. The event will take place at the Procrastinator Theatre in the Strand Union Building. Livestock producers, advisers, county Extension agents and veterinarians represent the front line for foreign animal disease detection in animal production systems. The early identification and reporting of potential foreign animal dis...
Noxious weeds are often found growing along roads and trails and vehicles have long been suspected of picking up weed seeds and dispersing them to new locations. A new Montana State University Extension publication describes field studies conducted by the university’s weed ecology and management group that showed the extent to which vehicles pick up and disperse seeds. Three separate field studies quantified the number of seeds gained and lost by vehicles over varying distances. The first study determined how many seeds all-terrain vehicles p...
“Montana Agriculture in Volatile Times” will be the focus of a conference hosted by Montana State University Extension and the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics on Oct. 28 in Bozeman. The conference will feature experts on agricultural policy, livestock and grain markets, and the Montana economy, addressing current issues facing Montana agricultural producers. The conference will run from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Procrastinator Theatre in MSU’s Strand Union Building. Following the conference, at 3:30 p.m. in the Procr...
Pesticide experts will go on tour Oct. 3-7 to help Eastern Montanans renew their private pesticide applicator licenses before the end of the year. Private citizens who wish to purchase, use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides on land they own, rent or lease need a private applicator license. Private applicators in Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Valley and Wibaux counties need to recertify by the end of 2011, said Cecil...
A new, free publication from Montana State University Extension provides information on cultural, mechanical and chemical approaches for weed control in shelterbelts. The new MontGuide addresses weed management in shelterbelts, which is important as undesired plants can compete for moisture, nutrients and light, reducing the growth and survival of desirable species. This is particularly important in Montana, where soil moisture and nutrient availability often limit plant growth. Also, unmanaged shelterbelts can serve as a source of weed...
Now is the time to nominate an outstanding agricultural leader to be honored during the 2011 Agriculture Appreciation Weekend at Montana State University. The College of Agriculture at MSU gives one or more Outstanding Agricultural Leader awards each year to people who have exhibited outstanding leadership in Montana in public service, as an agricultural producer, industry advocate, agri-business leader and dean’s friend of agriculture. Nominations must be submitted by Sept. 15. Nominees not selected one year will be reconsidered the f...
