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Bozeman - March 30 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages producers and landowners to enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting next week through May 13. Grassland CRP provides a unique opportunity for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners to keep land in agricultural production and supplement their income while improving their soils and permanent grass cover. The program had its highest enrollment in history in 2021 and is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader effort to equip p...
Helena, MT – On Friday, April 8, The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) announced the confirmation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in two Montana flocks. These are the first cases of HPAI reported in domestic poultry in Montana since 2015. Montana is the 25th state to report cases of HPAI in domestic poultry in 2022. Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease of birds that can cause high mortality rates in domestic flocks. Migratory waterfowl are the primary source for avian influenza (AI). Wild birds can be infected and a...
Bozeman - Montana State University Extension and USDA Agricultural Research Service will host a free, two-hour workshop, "Grasshopper Outbreaks and Management Options in 2022," at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 29. The event will be held in-person at the Richland County MSU Extension conference room in Sidney and will also be viewable online. ]Over the last year, eastern Montana and western North Dakota farmers and ranchers endured the second-largest grasshopper outbreak in the last 35 years. Annual...
Each month, Montana WIC provides healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and a community of support from both experts and peers to more than 16,000 moms and children. Nationwide, WIC serves more than 7 million people. Montana WIC participants say they would recommend WIC to their friends, and when asked what they value most about WIC, more than 75% say they value the nutrition information and appreciate the support from WIC staff. As the nation’s most successful and cost-effective public health nutrition program, WIC is d...
Oh no! Here we go again! After eastern Montana and western North Dakota farmers and ranchers endured the second largest grasshopper outbreak of the last 35 years in 2021, they're naturally nervous about what may be coming next, particularly given persistent drought in the region. And it appears everyone is rightfully on edge. Annual grasshopper surveys taken last fall by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) indicate another bad year for grasshoppers, with more than 20...
Helena – It’s time for landowners with land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program to send in applications for enrollment in the state-sponsored Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters, a voluntary incentive program designed to benefit landowners while also providing habitat for upland game birds and giving bird hunters more places to hunt. Open Fields is offered through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program and is available to private landowners with existing CRP with at least two years remaining on th...
Bozeman, MT - Feb. 16 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is delivering on its promise to expand markets by investing $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. USDA is now accepting project a...
Washington - Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15 to sign a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues. “The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs provide critical financial protections to many American farmers. As producers continue to weather a...
Limited forage quality and quantity due to drought has resulted in many North Dakota livestock producers purchasing hay and other feeds from outside their region that would normally be harvested from their own farms/ranches or purchased locally. Although many ranchers purchased hay early, challenging weather has forced some to look for additional supplies to get them through the remainder of the winter feeding period. "When purchasing feedstuffs, it is important to ask a lot of questions to...
Bozeman, MT - The American Farm Bureau Federation has sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, asking the Department of Justice to provide an update on its investigation into the meatpacking industry. The Department of Justice began an investigation after excessive volatility in the live and fed cattle markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “With over 80% of the fed cattle market controlled by only four major packing companies, we are concerned about the control these firms have,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall wrote. “We...
At 3:30 p.m., Upendra Sainju, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory research scientist will be discussing soil carbon storage under dryland wheat-based cropping systems at the Wheat Show, Feb. 9. Sainju will discuss long-term research in eastern Montana, involving 10-36 years of experiments. He will also touch on the effects of tillage, crop rotation, and nitrogen fertilization on soil organic carbon to a depth of 4 ft. Since 2004, Sainju has been working at the USDA-ARS, researching...
Dr. Adnan Akyuz is the North Dakota State Climatologist and professor of climatological practice at North Dakota State University. He also oversees the activities of the ND State Climate Office. Akyuz served as the American Association of State Climatologists (AASC) president, a professional, scientific organization between 2018 and 2020. He is a member of the Standing Committee on Climate Services Expert Teams with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Jason Cook is an Assistant...
The 2022 North Dakota Reclamation Conference, "Investing in Effective Reclamation," will focus on reclamation practices and technology to improve reclamation success. The conference will be held March 1 at the Astoria Event Center, Dickinson, ND. The conference begins with registration at 7:30 a.m., and the first session beginning at 8 a.m. This event will bring together those working on reclamation in the region to discuss effective reclamation strategies. The conference will include a general...
Helena - The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the 2022 hemp growing season after receiving federal approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its state hemp production plan which took effect Jan. 1. “Montana’s hemp industry continues to advance and present opportunities for growers, especially with regard to fiber and grain,” said Christy Clark, Montana Department of Agriculture acting director. “Our department is proud to operate a hemp program that has been federally compliant...
Washington - Dec. 20 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leveraging its authorities under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to bring in new types of partners and ultimately expand opportunities in voluntary conservation for the Nation’s agricultural producers and private landowners. In direct response to feedback from state agencies, Tribes, non-profits and other groups, USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding matching fund requirements, and invested in additional staff to work directly with partners for str...
Farmers can elect coverage and enroll in crop-by-crop Agricultural Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs within each Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm unit, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm, for the 2022 crop year, says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension farm management specialist. Although election changes for 2022 are optional, enrollment by signed contract is required for each year of the program. This is an annual decision that farmers...
Farmers will have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) election and the decisions the programs entail during a webinar that North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension and the North Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA) are hosting on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 11 a.m. CST. The webinar will also include information on FSA's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The ARC and PLC sign-up period runs through March 15...
Washington - Dec. 20 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leveraging its authorities under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to bring in new types of partners and ultimately expand opportunities in voluntary conservation for the Nation’s agricultural producers and private landowners. In direct response to feedback from state agencies, Tribes, non-profits and other groups, USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding matching fund requirements, and invested in additional staff to work directly with partners for str...
Farmers can elect coverage and enroll in crop-by-crop Agricultural Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs within each Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm unit, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm, for the 2022 crop year, says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension farm management specialist. Although election changes for 2022 are optional, enrollment by signed contract is required for each year of the program. This is an annual decision that farmers...
11 MT Counties Triggered; U.S. Drought Monitor Updated Weekly Livestock producers in 56 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or leased land or fire on federally managed land. County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of...
Enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends is a priority for many Americans, but paying attention to how the meal will impact the budget is also important. Farm Bureau’s 36th annual survey indicates the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $53.31 or less than $6 per person. This is a $6.41 or 14% increase from last year’s average of $46.90. The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – costs more than last year, at $23.99 for a 16-lb. bird. That’s roughly $1.50 per pound, up 24% from last y...
11 MT Counties Triggered; U.S. Drought Monitor Updated Weekly Livestock producers in 56 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or leased land or fire on federally managed land. County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of...
Farming/ranching rank among the top ten most stressful occupations in the United States. Too much stress takes a toll on health, including one’s mental and emotional well-being. Adult Mental Health First Aid, a program that addresses ongoing issues of farm/ranch stress, will be held from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Nov. 10 at NDSU Extension/McKenzie County, Watford City. Pre-registration is requested prior to attending by going to https://myfirstlink.org/events or please call NDSU E...
Farmers and ranchers face tough times, but during the 102nd Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention Nov. 8-11 in Billings, keynote speakers will provide uplifting insights and valuable information to make the road easier. Members of the states’ largest agricultural organization grow a wide range of products, including beef cattle, wheat, sugar beets, chickpeas, barley, sheep, bees, and more. Jay Hill will kick off the convention Tuesday morning, talking about standing behind one’s heritage while pushing for the future. His keynote will lead to...
Family and Community Wellness. The Adult Mental Health First Aid program assists participants to recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health concerns, such as depression, and connect others with available resources. Addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of those working in agriculture or other areas will be focused on in several upcoming seminars sponsored by NDSU Extension and FirstLink. Registration is now open for three scheduled seminars in western North Dakota...
