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The Richland County Conservation District, in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), invites the public to a Natural Resource Issue - Local Working Group (LWG) meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10 at the Richland County Extension meeting room- 1499 N Central Ave, Sidney, MT. Your local CD is made up of five board members elected by the public and 2 urban supervisors appointed by the incorporated towns. Many members of CD boards are actively engaged in farming and ranching. Residents are encouraged to...
As demand grows for locally and regionally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, buyers are increasingly asking Montana’s produce farmers for assurance that they are using food-safety practices on the farm. Farmers need to be aware that even if they are exempt under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act – if a buyer requires a food safety plan; farmers will need to comply, in order to sell to that buyer. Buyers likely to require farmers to have an on-farm food safety (GAP) plan include grocers, restaurants, farmers markets, CSAs, schools, hos...
The Richland County Conservation District, in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), invites the public to a Natural Resource Issue - Local Working Group (LWG) meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday March 10 at the Richland County Extension meeting room- 1499 N Central Ave, Sidney, MT. Your local CD is made up of five board members elected by the public and 2 urban supervisors appointed by the incorporated towns. Many members of CD boards are actively engaged in farming and ranching. Residents are encouraged to...
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that a one-time extension will be provided to producers for the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres has been extended one additional month, from Feb. 27, 2015 until March 31, 2015. The final day for farm owners and producers to choose ARC or PLC coverage also remains March 31, 2015. “This is an important dec...
Cheetahs, and leopards and lions! Oh my! It may be an unusual topic, but it's one not to be missed in this, the second presentation in the USDA-Agricultural Research Service's Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory (NPARL) 2015 BrownBagger series. This special "scientific safari" begins at noon on Friday, Feb. 27 and takes us to the southern tip of Africa with NPARL Entomologist/Ecologist Dave Branson, who recently completed a month-long trip there. The event is open to the public....
WASHINGTON—U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Aaron Krauter today reminds producers of upcoming important deadlines for the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres is Feb. 27, 2015, and the final day for farm owners and producers to choose coverage is March 31, 2015. “These programs provide financial protection against unexpected changes...
Helena, Mont., As the 64th Legislative Session entered its third day the one thing no one had to worry about was lunch. Legislators were provided lunch by Montana's major agriculture organizations, including the Montana Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, Farmers Union, Stockgrowers and Grain Growers. "This was an opportunity for agriculture to show our elected legislators the unity within our industry and the overall impact agriculture has on the state of Montana. While there certainly was...
The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issued comments this week opposing the proposed importation of beef products from Northern Argentina. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Health and Plant Inspection Services (APHIS) issued a notice on August 29th that would allow regions in Northern Argentina to resume imports of beef products into the U.S. USCA’s comments focused on the ongoing concerns of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the country and surrounding region. USCA President Danni Beer, Keldron, South Dakota, com...
U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today offered farmers new information to update program payment yields that will help them better select protections offered by the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. The new programs, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, are cornerstones of the commodity farm safety, offering farmers protection when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices and revenues. “The Farm Bill provided landowners with the option of u...
There has been great interest in a new variety name Joppa which was developed by the NDSU Durum Breeding Program. It was released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in 2014 but production problems prevented its release in time for the 2014 growing season. As a fresh release for the 2014 planting season there is an above normal amount of Foundation seed available for 2015. Some of the people in-the-know tell me there is approximately 10,000 bushels available statewide to be...
On Friday, January 16, 2015 at 1:15 pm, Sheridan County Extension Agent Sheila Friedrich, will educate you on the importance of proper food preservation methods to prevent food borne illness. Friedrich says, "We are finding that there is a renewed interest in food preservation among a population of young families. The problem that may come with that is they find an old canning book that their mom or grandmother may have used and follow those instructions. Many of those resources are out of date...
Helena, Mont. – In a rare opportunity to participate in Montana’s rapidly expanding beef genetics export market, the Montana Department of Agriculture is seeking two representatives from the Montana beef genetics industry to join in a trade mission to Australia in May. Australia is currently Montana’s second largest customer for beef semen purchases, yet Montana has never been on a trade mission to the country. “This is an exciting opportunity to grow in an important market and build on existing relationships,” said Marty Earnheart, Meats and...
Last week I described two new varieties of American elm which have resistance to Dutch elm disease. This week I will share information about a new white birch and a new columnar spruce which should replace one of my most disliked evergreen, the arborvitae. Parkland Pillar® Asian white birch is a selection of Dakota Pinnacle®, an introduction from NDSU. It is noted for its columnar shape and dense branching. It grows fast and can be used for screening, in boulevards, or as a specimen plant in t...
USDA Rural Development Montana State Director Anthony Preite announced today that USDA is soliciting applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Community Connect Program grants. The program provides grants to establish essential broadband services in rural communities where it is currently not available. “Many rural communities in Montana do not have access to broadband,” said Preite. “USDA’s Community Connect Grant Program ensures that rural residents have the ability to run businesses, get the most from their education, and benefit from the inf...
Recently the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., (CME) took emergency action to unlock the stalled feeder cattle futures market that had been locked the limit down for an unprecedented five consecutive days. In response to the lockdown, cash feeder cattle prices fell approximately $120 per head for an 800 lb. steer, in just two weeks. There are many reasons this could have happened including an increase in corn prices and negative feeding margins. However, because the market is thin and cleared by cash rather than by delivery of the actual...
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced expansion to 2015 county spring crop programs, including several spring crops in the Billings Region. The soybean program was added in Divide, Grant, and Stark counties in North Dakota. The mustard program was added in Choteau, Hill, Liberty, Pondera, and Toole counties in Montana. The dry pea program was added in Laramie County, Wyoming. Additionally, non-irrigated grain corn is now insurable in Adams County in North Dakota, and Perkins and Shannon counties in South Dakota. I...
Brucellosis has been found in a second Montana cattle herd, according to the state Department of Livestock. A culture on a cow from the Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) in Park County performed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the infection late Friday afternoon, according to state veterinarian Dr. Marty Zaluski. The cow was found during a herd test after returning to Carbon County from grazing in the state’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA). Zaluski said the herd has been quarantined and i...
USCA (December 15, 2014) - The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) responded today to the Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2015 spending bill. The bill, which funds the government through September 30, 2015 was passed on a vote of 56-40 late in the evening on December 13th, and is now on track to be sent to the President’s desk for final signature. USCA commends the bi-partisan passage of this bill but remains disappointed that multiple riders remain within the final piece of legislation. In addition to providing $1.1 trillion in fun...
As part of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commitment to strengthening rural economies, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new state-by-state “Made in Rural America” report illustrating the impact of USDA investments in rural communities. Each state factsheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufacturing, energy, water and other infrastructure development. They also outline how USDA is helping rural communities attract businesses and families by investing in housing and broadband. “This report shows what in...
U.S. Department of Agriculture North Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Aaron Krauter, today announced that 82,800 acres in North Dakota are now available for wildlife habitat improvement incentives. “We can accept more applications to enroll more acres in North Dakota for farmers and ranchers interested in protecting local pheasant, prairie chickens and waterfowl,” said Krauter. “In exchange for creating more grasslands and wetlands for these species, USDA will provide participating landowners with rental payments and help...
In a press release dated November 17, 2014, Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, said a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant has helped initiate a partnership that is improving the environment, creating a market for carbon credits generated on working grasslands. Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, recently purchased almost 40,000 carbon dioxide reduction tons generated on working grasslands in the Prairie Pothole region of North Dakota. This announcement...
The Montana Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have selected the recipients of the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grants. Overall, eleven entities involved with specialty crops met the grant qualifications and will receive some $986,000 in grant funds to help advance agriculture in Montana. Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, horticultural, and nursery crops, including floriculture. Plants must be intensively cultivated and used by people for food, medicinal purposes and/or...
Megan Van Emon, a beef specialist and assistant professor in MSU Extension and the College of Agriculture’s Animal and Range Sciences Department, works with beef programs on campus and at the USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City. Van Emon interacts with constituents throughout Montana and serves as a resource for beef producers and Extension agents. Van Emon can be reached at (406) 874-8286, or [email protected]. Emily Glunk, a forage specialist and assistant professor in Extension and the Animal a...
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farm owners and producers that the opportunity to choose between the new 2014 Farm Bill established programs, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), began Nov. 17, 2014, and continues through March 31, 2015. The new programs, designed to help producers better manage risk, usher in one of the most significant reforms to U.S. farm programs in decades. “USDA is committed to keeping farm owners and producers well informed on all steps in this pro...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farm owners and producers that the opportunity to choose between the new 2014 Farm Bill established programs, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), began Nov. 17, 2014, and continues through March 31, 2015. The new programs, designed to help producers better manage risk, usher in one of the most significant reforms to U.S. farm programs in decades. “USDA is committed to keeping farm owners and producers well informed on all steps in this process to ensure that they h...
