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Ranchers and rangeland managers fight continual battles with invasive weeds and are always looking for new ways to keep them at bay. USDA Weed Ecologist Matt Rinella has been studying the use of seeding rangeland as a means for managing weeds over the long term. Dr. Rinella will share his findings this coming Friday, Feb. 21 at the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory (NPARL), Sidney. Rinella is the third speaker in that facility’s annual winter BrownBagger Series. His talk runs from noon-1 p.m. at NPARL, 1500 N. Central A...
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 14 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup to enroll by Feb. 28. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling for another 10-15-year term. “This is the first opportunity for general sign up since 2016, and we want producers and private landowners to know that we have just one month remaining,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “It i...
(U.S. Senate) – After a months-long push by U.S. Senator Jon Tester to provide relief for farmers in Eastern Montana, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a disaster declaration for 17 Montana counties, clearing the way for producers to receive critical assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). The counties affected are Cascade, Choteau, Pondera, Glacier, Teton, Dawson, Prairie, Toole, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Wibaux, Daniels, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, and Valley. This disaster d...
Due to recent climate change, increased glacial recession in Arctic climates provides a unique opportunity to study soil formation. The evolution from glacial moraines consists of rocks and other materials deposited by the glacier as it moves. How do soils form and change from this mix as glaciers recede, particularly those developing from volcanic materials such as ash, pumice and dust? What chemical properties are present, and how do they contribute to soil formation, particularly in northern latitudes? These are basic research questions...
A USDA scientist with the Agricultural Research Service’s Mandan, ND lab is studying new ways to harness plant chemicals to improve crop nutrition, soil nutrient cycling, and more. Dr. Andrea Clemensen will be sharing what she’s learned to date as the first speaker in the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab’s winter BrownBagger Speaker Series in Sidney. The 2020 series kicks off this coming Friday from noon-1 p.m. with Dr. Clemensen’s presentation entitled, “Phytochemical links between healthy soil, plants, animals, and human...
Helena, MT – The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) has received a verified petition from 25 Montana oilseed growers to create an advisory committee. MDA will hold a listening session to receive additional grower input regarding the proposal in Glendive on Feb. 14 at the Glendive Agricultural Trade Exposition (GATE). Meeting information details are provided below. Growers will have the opportunity to learn about the process for creating a commodity advisory committee and provide input regarding its composition, crops to be included, and ra...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening signup for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on December 9, 2019. The deadline for agricultural producers to sign up for general CRP is February 28, 2020, while signup for continuous CRP is ongoing. Farmers and ranchers who enroll in CRP receive a yearly rental payment for voluntarily establishing long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as “covers”) to control soil erosion, improve wat...
Producers across northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana who are interested in soil health are invited to participate in a workshop on “Changing Dirt in Soil” on December 18, 2019 at the Williston Research Extension Center. The workshop, which will start at 8:30 a.m. Central time, is being sponsored by the Williams County Soil Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service. One of the featured speakers for the workshop will be Jay Fuhrer, Soil Health Specialist with the Natural Resource Conservation Service. On a S...
(U.S. Senate) – Following two weeks of heavy snow in Northeast Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester urged Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to reconsider his decision not to extend disaster assistance to the region’s wheat farmers who were forced to leave their crop in the ground or were left with unsellable product due to excessive moisture this harvest season. “In the last two weeks, Northeast Montana received more than a foot of heavy, wet snow…The Additional Supplemental Appropriators for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 2157) extends...
Local research results ready to roll out in your fields will be featured at the upcoming third annual MonDak Ag Research Summit in Sidney, Thursday December 12. But that’s not all. Several outside speakers are also planned to address timely questions producers have on our long term erratic weather patterns (10 inches of rain in September!) and what it means for spring planting, as well as feeding weather damaged grain to livestock, and tips on managing irrigation equipment. Addressing the first two issues is Dr. Kevin Hyde, coordinator of t...
As 2019 nears a close, farmers and ranchers have a lot of questions: What's the deal with this weather? What do we need to brace for next? What can be done with all that damaged grain? What about disease....white mold? Fusarium? And what about new crop options to help battle low prices...Kernza, Hemp? Can these crops be adapted here? How do we manage them, and what about markets? These and many other questions will be addressed during the 3rd Annual MonDak Ag Research Summit to be held...
North Dakota State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) are hosting a webinar Thursday, Dec. 5, to provide producers with information on available disaster recovery assistance. The webinar will begin at 2 p.m. Central time. "Because of flooding and the October blizzard which impacted growing and harvesting conditions in the state this year, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue approved a secretarial disaster declaration request for 47 counties...
The 2019 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections began on November 4, when ballots were mailed to eligible voters. The deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices, or to be postmarked, is December 2, 2019. County committee members are an important component of the operations of FSA and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity price support...
As 2019 nears a close, farmers and ranchers have a lot of questions: What’s the deal with this weather? What do we need to brace for next? What can be done with all that damaged grain? What about disease….white mold? Fusarium? And what about new crop options to help battle low prices…Kernza, Hemp? Can these crops be adapted here? How do we manage them, and what about markets? These and many other questions will be addressed during the 3rd Annual MonDak Ag Research Summit to be held Thursday, December 12 at the Richland County Event Cente...
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is hosting a local Farm Bill meeting on November 18, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at the Richland County Extension Office located at 1499 N. Central Avenue in Sidney. The meeting is free and open to the public. Meeting attendees will learn about FSA’s Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs authorized by the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. Learning more about ARC and PLC is important for producers who must make a decision about ARC or PLC election and enrollment options. For more information a...
Helena, Mont. – Montana’s Livestock Loss Board pays livestock owners for verified livestock losses due to wolves, grizzly bears and mountain lions. SB 133 was passed during Montana’s 2019 legislative session and requires a livestock owner to be current on their per-capita fees in order to receive a payment from the State for their loss. A portion of the text of SB133 bill is as follows: (b) Before the board may issue a reimbursement for losses to a livestock producer eligible for coverage for losses, the department of revenue shall certi...
Sidney - The Fox Hills- Hell Creek Aquifer underlies the eastern one third of Montana, over the years this aquifer became an important water supply for livestock, industry, domestic and small communities. This aquifer was desired because the water flowed to surface. In the last 10 years, the aquifers have declined, or wells have completely lost production. The Richland County Conservation District conducted a survey of over 100 wells in 2015. As a result of that survey we were able to identify several issues that if corrected may help with the...
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is hosting a local Farm Bill meeting on November 18, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at the Richland County Extension Office located at 1499 N. Central Avenue in Sidney. The meeting is free and open to the public. Meeting attendees will learn about FSA’s Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs authorized by the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. Learning more about ARC and PLC is important for producers who must make a decision about ARC or PLC election and enrollment options. For more information a...
Sidney, MT - A free workshop on Palmer Amaranth, one of the most dangerous weeds facing American Agriculture, is set for Tuesday, November 5 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Richland County Extension Office Conference Room in Sidney, MT. The goal of the event is to provide producers with the tools needed for early detection and removal of this dangerous weed, including not only what needs to be done but also what to avoid doing. However, the event also has a lighter tone when it comes to refreshments where producers will be able to literally take...
Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said today that producers who currently participate in Federal crop insurance and are experiencing a delay in harvesting their crop should contact their Approved Insurance Provider (AIP) to file a Notice of Loss and request more time to harvest. Producers in several states, including Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming have been affected by extremely wet and snowy conditions early this fall. “Farmers are having a hard time wit...
SIDNEY, MT - What’s scarier than all the ghosts and goblins roaming the countryside on Halloween? Palmer Amaranth lurking in your fields! Palmer Amaranth, a pigweed relative, is one of the most serious weeds facing American agriculture today and it’s coming this way! After traveling across the southern U.S. and moving northward through the Midwestern states into North Dakota, it now sits on our doorstep ready to pounce. Be prepared. Join us for a free half-day workshop, “Palmer Amaranth: It’s Coming! What You Need to Know” on Tuesday,...
Washington – Agricultural producers now can enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs – two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety net programs – for the 2020 crop year. Meanwhile, producers who enrolled farms for the 2018 crop year have started receiving more than $1.5 billion for covered commodities for which payments were triggered under such programs. “These two programs provide income support to help producers manage the ups and downs in revenues and prices,” said Richard Fordyce, Administr...
BOZEMAN, Montana – October 17, 2019 - USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in partnership with Montana State University (MSU) today announced the schedule of 23 informational Farm Bill meetings across Montana in October and early November 2019. USDA and MSU are conducting the meetings to inform Montana agricultural producers about FSA's Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs authorized by the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. Attendees can learn about program changes and ARC or PLC election and enrollment options. The m...
SIDNEY, MT - What’s scarier than all the ghosts and goblins roaming the countryside on Halloween? Palmer Amaranth lurking in your fields! Palmer Amaranth, a pigweed relative, is one of the most serious weeds facing American agriculture today and it’s coming this way! After traveling across the southern U.S. and moving northward through the Midwestern states into North Dakota, it now sits on our doorstep ready to pounce. Be prepared. Join us for a free half-day workshop, “Palmer Amaranth: It’s Coming! What You Need to Know” on Tuesday,...
The anticipation is building for National 4-H Week, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will be celebrating everything 4-H. Richland County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people, and will highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them. The theme of this year’s National 4-H Week is Inspire Kids to Do, which highlights how 4-H encourages kids to take part i...
