Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 204
Bozeman - Montana State University Extension, in partnership with the MSU Alumni Foundation, will offer a five-part webinar series on estate and legacy planning. Thoughtful Thursdays will run from 10-11 a.m. beginning April 15-May 15. In the first session, viewers will learn how to pass property without probate while saving more money for their heirs. The Montana Legislature has provided payable-on-death designations, transfer-on-death registrations and transfer-on-death deeds, and according to Emily Standley, MSU Extension Fergus/Petroleum...
Bozeman — Montana State University Extension recently published six new MontGuides covering a variety of topics to provide unbiased information for Montanans. As part of their outreach efforts, MSU Extension specialists and agents write MontGuides with information gathered during their research and outreach work throughout the year. The fact sheets are designed for all Montanans, including agricultural producers, home gardeners, families, landowners and other groups. New and existing MontGuides are located online at store.msuextension.org, w...
Bozeman - A statewide survey conducted by Montana State University researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic determined that food security — or having consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life — has decreased substantially among Montanans. At the same time, anxiety and other feelings of mental distress are on the rise. The survey results, released in December under the title “The Impact of COVID-19 on the Health of Montanans,” include the responses of 1,944 participants between April and September 2020. The research receive...
BOZEMAN – While ranchers were allowed to begin rerecording their Montana brands on Jan. 1, Montana State University Extension recommends they wait until reading its updated MontGuide on the topic. "Livestock Brands in Montana: An Important Component of an Estate Plan" can be found at https://store.msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT201805HR.pdf. Printed copies are available from county or reservation Extension offices. When a brand's owner dies, a key factor in determining...
BOZEMAN – Registration is now open for the 2021 Montana’s Next Generation Conference, which will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning Tuesday, Jan. 12. The event is hosted by Montana State University Extension, Farm Service Agency, NACDC Financial Services, Marias River Livestock Association and the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. The conference will have all sessions broadcast and accessible for free online. Registration for the conference can be completed at mtnextgen.com. This year’s conference will cover crops, lives...
Bozeman — Montana State University Extension has recently published free information about transfer on death deeds, or TODDs, which allow Montanans to give real property to loved ones without going through a probate process. Since Oct. 1, 2019, Montana residents have been able to file a TODD on real property, according to MSU Extension educators. Prior to that date, a beneficiary deed was used for this purpose. Beneficiary deeds filed prior to this date are still effective upon death. “With a TODD you can gift your Montana real property to a de...
Bozeman - Montana State University Extension agents, staff and supporters from across Montana recently received awards during Extension's virtual annual conference. Marc King, MSU Sweet Grass County Extension agent, received the 2020 Silver Buffalo Award in recognition of 26 years of exceptional service. The award, given by Montana's Joint Council of Extension Professionals, is MSU Extension's highest honor. King is known as a well-respected member of the Montana agricultural community and his...
Bozeman - An interdisciplinary Montana State University research team received a $944,000 National Science Foundation grant to study the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers and their impact on soil health and water quality, with a focus on central Montana. The goal of the project is to create a more complete picture of exactly how nitrogen moves through soil and groundwater systems using sensors embedded in the ground at various research sites, according to Stephanie Ewing, MSU's Department of La...
Bozeman — The 2020 Montana and Wyoming Malt Barley and Sugar Beet Symposium has been canceled due to COVID concerns. In its place, educational webinars will be offered at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, and Thursday, Jan. 14. The webinars are hosted by the Mountain States Crop Education Association, or MSCEA, which comprises agriculture industry representatives as well as Montana State University Extension faculty members. The webinar presentations on Jan. 13 will focus on malt barley topics. Howard Neibling, University of Idaho Extension water m...
Bozeman - Montana State University's Steer-A-Year program is seeking financial support as well as donations of steers and feed for the 2020-21 academic year. A student program in the MSU College of Agriculture, Steer-A-Year focuses on teaching students every element of the cattle management industry through hands-on experience feeding and managing cattle during the fall and spring semesters. Students care for the cattle through the winter and spring, collect data including feed efficiency and...
Bozeman - Celebrate Agriculture, an annual weekend-long event held each year by Montana State University’s College of Agriculture, has been scheduled to take place virtually Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14. The weekend, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019, will include many of the same elements as an in-person event, as well as some new virtual programming. Scholarship winners and donors will be honored, as will past recipients of the college’s Outstanding Agricultural Leader award, which has recognized more than 80 people sinc...
Bozeman - Montana State University Extension, in conjunction with Oregon State University, will offer a new agriculture business development course on direct marketing meat. The Western Meat School, Montana Edition, is an online or hybrid learning experience for farmers, ranchers, butchers and others. The six-week course will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning Nov. 4. It will cover key topics in production, processing and marketing to produce high-quality meat and then sell it to diverse market channels. It is not a processing or butchering...
Bozeman - Celebrate Agriculture, an annual weekend-long event held each year by Montana State University’s College of Agriculture, has been scheduled to take place virtually Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14. The weekend, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019, will include many of the same elements as an in-person event, as well as some new virtual programming. Scholarship winners and donors will be honored, as will past recipients of the college’s Outstanding Agricultural Leader award, which has recognized more than 80 people sinc...
Bozeman - Montana State University Extension has published free guidance on Montana Medical Care Savings Accounts, or MSAs. Extension has updated the MontGuide “Montana Medical Care Savings Accounts (MSAs) for the 2020 Tax Year” and is available at http://msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT199817HR. pdf. Paper copies are also available from county Extension or reservation offices. An MSA is an account used to reduce the cost of saving for medical expenses and long-term health care. According to Marsha Goetting, MSU Ext...
Bozeman - A new video from Montana State University Extension shows the impact and causes of soil acidification and offers Montana farmers management options to prevent, adapt to or correct acidic soil, which can lead to heavy yield losses. "Soil acidification is an emerging issue in Montana, where low soil pH has traditionally not been a concern," said Clain Jones, MSU Extension's soil fertility specialist and professor in the MSU College of Agriculture's Department of Land Resources and Enviro...
Bozeman - Family legacies are often more than just property or money left behind in a will. They may include family values, memories or hopes that the dying may wish to pass down for younger generations. According to Montana State University Extension educators, individuals can create what is called an ethical will, in addition to an estate plan, to express those values and pass them on to surviving family members. According to Wendy Wedum, MSU Pondera County Extension agent, and Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist, an...
Bozeman - The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agriculture Experiment Station will host a series of virtual field day events to replace in-person field days for 2020. The usual field days, hosted by MSU’s seven research centers and campus facilities, were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, superintendents and scientists across the state will present both recorded and live content online, available and free to access. “Our field days are always a highlight of our year, and we were disappointed to not be...
BOZEMAN — The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agriculture Experiment Station will host a series of virtual field day events to replace in-person field days for 2020. The usual field days, hosted by MSU’s seven research centers and campus facilities, were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, superintendents and scientists across the state will present both recorded and live content online, available and free to access. “Our field days are always a highlight of our year, and we were disappointed to not b...
Bozeman – Montana State University Extension educators say it is important for people to understand how titling personal property that is owned in joint tenancy with right of survivorship could have unintended consequences. MSU Extension family economics specialist Marsha Goetting and Pondera County Extension agent Wendy Wedum said factors like property title laws and intestacy statutes can impact how property is distributed after a person dies. Joint tenancy with right of survivorship, according to Montana law, takes priority over a written wi...
Bozeman — Montana State University Extension in Yellowstone County will host a free webinar series, “Ripening Eastern Montana: The ABCs of Fruit Production,” at 5:30 p.m. each Thursday in June. The live series is designed for those interested in growing berries, apples, grapes and other fruits in eastern Montana. Webinar series presentation details are as follows: • June 4: “Establishing Fruit Orchards in Montana” with Katrina Mendrey, MSU Western Agricultural Research Center. To join, visit: https://montana.webex.com/montan...
Bozeman — After a person’s death, the matter of dividing up their personal belongings can become a complicated matter. According to Montana State University Extension, the Montana Uniform Probate Code allows a person to create a separate list in his or her will that specifies the distribution of personal belongings such as jewelry, china, firearms, photos and more. “The list cannot include cash, stocks and bonds, mutual funds, other intangible personal property, or real estate, because those items have titles,” said Marsha Goetting, MSU Extensi...
BOZEMAN - The leftovers of the tall industrial hemp plant often languish on Montana farms because they're difficult to till back into fields or otherwise dispose of. But it's because those stalks are so tough and woody that this agricultural byproduct is finding a new purpose in a lab at Montana State University. In a research project funded in part by the Montana Farmers Union, Drew McNally, a junior majoring in civil engineering, combines the plant's chipped-up inner stalk, called hurd, with a...
BOZEMAN - Montana State University Extension is accepting applications and nominations for the annual EcoStar award, which highlights the efforts of small businesses and organizations that embrace and advance pollution prevention as a key component of their business. The deadline for nominations and applications is March 1. Pollution prevention is any practice that reduces or eliminates pollution at its source, according to Jenny Grossenbacher, MSU Extension's Montana Pollution Prevention...
BOZEMAN – The Washington Post recently cited the work of two Montana State University economists in an article on the federal Market Facilitation Program, commonly known as the farm bailout. The article, "With Trump's farm bailout came surprising profits, but little help for the neediest," by Andrew Van Dam and Laris Karklis, was published in the business and analysis section of the Dec. 30 newspaper and cites research by associate professor Eric Belasco and professor Vincent Smith of MSU's D...
Bozeman – Opening a Montana medical care savings account by December 31 to help with medical expenses not covered by a health insurance policy or flexible spending account can help individuals save on their state taxes, according to Marsha Goetting, a family economics specialist with Montana State University Extension. Goetting said that individuals who have had medical expenses during 2019 that won’t be covered by a health insurance policy, a flexible spending account, or a Federal Health Care Savings Account (HSA) can open a Montana med...
