Sorted by date Results 1170 - 1194 of 2265
With 4-H sign-ups right around the corner, what better way to inform people about the organization than to talk to someone who has been and continues to be involved? Seth Prevost has been a member of the 3 Buttes 4-H Club for eight years and has taken on projects such as breeding beef, steers, lambs, woodworking, cooking, speech and demonstration, and small grains. Prevost initially decided to join because his brothers and sisters had been involved with 4-H, but also because he’s always liked a...
Montana State University’s College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station will honor the state and university’s agricultural legacy during the annual Celebrate Agriculture weekend, set for Nov. 10-12 on the MSU campus. The annual event is open to the public. MSU Vice President of Agriculture Charles Boyer said the event has a meaningful history that mirrors the state’s cornerstone agricultural industry. “As Montana’s flagship land-grant university, with its roots in agriculture, our successes today wouldn’t be what they a...
FBNews, the online/digital newsletter of the American Farm Bureau Federation, this week began posting responses from the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees on a range of issues that concern farmers and ranchers the most. AFBF asked Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump the same questions. Both candidates explained their positions on biotechnology, trade, immigration reform, regulatory reform, food safety and more. “The fact that the candidates took the time in the middle of this very competitive e...
October 2nd – 8th is National 4-H Week, and this provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the largest out-of-school youth development program in Montana. 4-H is an Extension program that gives kids the chance to learn-by-doing in a positive environment with adult mentors to guide them. It is unique in that members direct their own 4-H path, choosing what projects they become involved in based on interest and skill. While rural involvement is huge, 4-H isn’t just for those fam...
On Sunday, Aug. 21, phones started ringing. David Haverkamp placed a call to Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project (LYIP) stating that they had noticed water bubbling out of the ground partway down the 45' – 50' embankment that served as the main irrigation canal's outside wall. A ditch rider was sent out, who first called Project Manager James Brower, and when he didn't answer, called the watermaster, Pat Micheletto. Micheletto then called Brower to tell him that the canal had breached. The 7...
The 2016 MSU Pest Management Tour is designed as a last chance opportunity for private applicators to obtain recertification credits before the January 1deadline in PAT region 4 (eastern MT). Each program will offer 3 private applicator recertification credits for attending either the morning or afternoon sessions. A private applicator may also wish to attend both sessions to accumulate 6 recertification credits. Commercial/government applicator credits will also be offered. Day 3 – Wednesday October 5th Sidney: Extension Office, 1499 N. C...
A new Montana State University Extension bulletin, Soil Nutrient Management for Canola, offers suggested soil nutrient management practices based on regional research. The key to nutrient management for optimal canola yield is to select the right fertilizer source, the right rate, the right placement and the right timing for an operation, known as the “4R” concept, according to Clain Jones, co-author and Extension soil fertility specialist in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University. “These are u...
Glendive, MT is home to a new pulse crop receiving and transportation facility, established by ITC International Inc. Based out of Canada, ITC International Inc. provides a diverse range of pulse crop products to 20 – 25 markets, and partnered with the Montana Department of Agriculture and Mid-Rivers' Community Resource Specialist Kathy McLane, to establish the pulse crop facility which opened August 8, 2016. Additionally, they worked closely with MSU Extension, BNSF Railway, and local p...
It has been an interesting and challenging year for Sidney Sugars, Inc. and area beet growers. Most recently, a breach in Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project's main canal south of Sidney stopped irrigation water from Intake downstream. Coffer dams installed by Franz Construction and LYIP returned water to the Savage area, with approximately 5400 acres able to receive water. While 13,000 acres of beet crop are affected, the largest area of concern is about 3,000 acres on gravel ridges and sand...
Richland County 4-H held their annual livestock auction at the Richland County Fair in Sidney on August 5th. Tana Kostelecky's Grand Champion market steer was purchased by Border Steel. Marett Schieber's Grand Champion market hog was purchased by Timber Tree Service....
Agriculture Development and Marketing Officers Marty Earnheart, Treston Vermandel, and Steph Hystad with the Montana Department of Agriculture held a round-table discussion in Sidney on Monday, Aug. 22nd. The discussion, which was open to the public, is one of many being held across the state; the officers wanted to hear feedback from those involved in local agriculture to determine area strengths and needs. The purpose of the Agriculture Development and Marketing Bureau is to assist...
BOZEMAN -- Researchers at Montana State University have published an informational paper in a scholarly journal summarizing what's known about the role that viruses play in honey bee health. Co-authored by Michelle Flenniken, assistant professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology in MSU's College of Agriculture, and two MSU graduate students, the article, "The buzz about honey bee viruses" was published Aug. 18 in the journal PLoS Pathogens, which publishes "outstanding...
In February of 2016, it was determined that there would be a 4.05% budget cut impacting state agencies, including the Williston Research and Experiment Center (WREC); it was later determined in August that there would be an additional 2.5% budget cut. This is an approximate $200,000 annual loss for the WREC. The cutbacks are a result of oil and gas prices being down, as well as low commodity grain prices. “My plan is to continue with the research implemented this season to completion because w...
We don’t often think of trees as weeds or “conflict” species, particularly in this part of the country, but Russian olive’s rapid spread along the Yellowstone River and other riparian areas in recent years, has made it a pariah to many. Its dense canopy has displaced many native plants along the river and its long and prolific thorns have regularly impeded access to the water’s edge by wildlife, livestock and recreationalists, alike. For others, the arrival of this cold-hardy, deep-rooted, ornamental tree to the U.S. in the late 1800s, pr...
Horticulture Research Specialist with the Williston Research and Extension Center (WREC), Kyla Splichal has been working with the North Dakota Department of Ag Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The experiment consists of growing specialty crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, delphiniums, snapdragons, lisianthus, and dahlias in a high tunnel structure versus outside. The project was first discussed in late 2014 by Splichal with WREC, and Esther McGinnis, Extension Horticulturist,...
Registration is now open for the 13th Annual Young Ag Leadership Conference (YALC). This exciting, one-of-a-kind conference takes place September 30-October 2 at the Holiday Inn in Great Falls. YALC is a collaborative effort between ten of Montana’s agricultural organizations, offering attendees a chance to discuss current ag issues, take part in various workshops, meet with industry leaders and network with fellow young people who live Montana agriculture. Anyone ages 18-40 who is interested or involved in agriculture is encouraged to a...
With severe and extreme drought expanding throughout the state the Montana Department of Agriculture wants to remind folks that the Hay Hotline is available to producers as an online tool to connect buyers and sellers of hay and pasture. The department maintains the Hay Hotline as a service to the agricultural industry, making it available with the expectation that all buyers and sellers will treat each other in an equitable and lawful manner. Visit the online tool at agr.mt.gov/agr/Producer/HayHotline/. The Montana Department of...
Hikmet Budak, Montana State University’s first Montana Plant Sciences Endowed Chair, is among an international team of scientists that is now one step closer to producing durum wheat that boasts a higher protein content and grain quality. The 14-member team announced in a July 6 press release that it has successfully sequenced and mapped the genome, or complete genetic code of durum wheat. Durum wheat is a close relative of the widely grown bread wheat and is the source of semolina, the key ingredient in pasta. Using a sequencing technology d...
The photos provided in the August 2016 Ag Roundup on the front page (the photo above), page 4, and page 8 were taken by Dr. Clair Keene with the Williston Research and Extension Center....
Seventeen year old Taylor Schepens, daughter of Robert Schepens and Lacey Nevins of Sidney is excited to present her 4-H projects at this year's county fair to be held in Sidney, MT., August 3-6. With a lot of encouragement from her stepdad Matt Nevins and his family, at age 9, Taylor became a member of 4-H. Matt and his family had been previously involved with the group and knew it would be a great opportunity and good experience. Taylor's younger brother Trey also became a member when he was...
The Nesson Valley Irrigated Field Day, held July 15th, began with an interactive presentation given by Brian Jenks in which 10 plots each containing sugar beet, soybean, pea, corn, and wheat were sprayed with different herbicides and attendants were invited to walk around and view the effects of each. Participants enjoyed the chance to see herbicide injury symptoms up-close and evaluate the plots. Tom Scherer emphasized the importance of irrigation maintenance and encouraged people to walk...
Montana State University Extension beef cattle specialists will host summer meetings across Montana to help livestock producers understand a new ruling by the United States Food and Drug Administration concerning feed-grade antibiotics. The veterinary feed directive, or VFD, was developed by the USFDA and will impact how producers feed their livestock. The VFD impacts feed-grade antibiotics that are medically important, which are antibiotics used in both human and animal medicine. The VFD rule will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2017. In...
The weather was beautiful and the turnout was good for the Williston Research and Extension Center Dry Land Field Day, July 14th. Dr. Rich Horsley started off the day, discussing what buyers are looking for when it comes to barley. He noted that there is a lot of interest in two row barley and discussed Americans' interest in craft beers; while craft brewers only make up about 10% of the market, they purchase about 25% of barley yield due to brewing with straight barley rather than mixing with...
Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project started rocking the Yellowstone River Monday, July 25. The almost yearly event begins with mining the huge rock, identifying low spots by boat and then using a trolley system to deliver the rock to where it is needed. Adding rock raises the water level at a crucial time for irrigators and it helps protect against ice floes in the spring....
Montana State University has completed an agreement to license a new variety of hard red spring wheat to Montana-based Northern Seed, LLC. Licensing the variety to Northern Seed means that the the Montana-based research company will lead the market development, data collection and production plans for this new Clearfield line. "Northern Seed is a respected agribusiness that at every turn works to improve commercial seed by benefiting the grower and the environment," said Charles Boyer, MSU vice...
