Sorted by date Results 380 - 404 of 2229
The Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture will be hosting their Ag Appreciation Golf Tournament to celebrate the farming and ranching culture. The golf tournament will be held Monday, July 11 at the Sidney Country Club with breakfast and registration starting at 7:30 a.m. and tee time at 9 a.m. The tournament is a four-man scramble, pairing farmers and ranchers with local business people. Area businesses are encouraged to sponsor a hole, team or cart. The tournament wraps up about 4...
Bozeman - Research conducted at Montana State University's Eastern Agricultural Research Center on how genetic and environmental factors affect lentil crops grown in different parts of the state was recently published in a national journal. "Evaluation of Environment and Cultivar Impact on Lentil Protein, Starch, Mineral Nutrients and Yield" was published in Crop Science, a publication of the Crop Science Society of America, in early May. Chengci Chen is the lead researcher of the study and...
The breeding season may have already begun for some, but it is coming up in the near future for others. Here are a few considerations as you prepare to turn your bulls out. Having a breeding soundness exam (BSE) on your bulls prior to breeding season is critical. To put it into perspective, in one breeding season an individual cow is expected to contribute to one pregnancy, whereas a bull is expected to contribute to 20-50 pregnancies. The BSE that is conducted by your veterinarian includes a physical exam, an exam of the reproductive organs,...
The MonDak Area Stockgrowers announced their scholarship recipients at their spring meeting May 17. Grady Larson, Sidney, MT, is the son of Tim and Kristin Larson. He is graduating from Ignite Christian Academy. He will be attending Miles Community College, Miles City, in the fall and studying Ag Business. He is hoping to be a cattle buyer, rancher and auctioneer. He is receiving a $1,000 scholarship. Lindsey Vachal, White Earth, ND, is the daughter of Colin and Susan Vachal. She is graduating from Tioga High School. She will be attending North...
USDA Farm Service Agency Washington, May 16 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses. “For over two years, farmers and ranchers across the country have been hard hit by an ongoing pandemic coupled with more frequent and catastrophic natur...
Billings, MT - The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the completion of the Lower Yellowstone fish bypass channel project near Glendive water is flowing and the channel is navigable. The success of this, three-year, $44 million construction project was due in part to the joint coordination efforts and contributions of intergovernmental organization resources to help improve the passage structure for the endangered pallid sturgeon and other native species around this Intake...
April blizzards may bring May flowers, but blizzards can also cause newborn calves and other livestock to become smothered, trampled and die due to the conditions created by adverse weather. These death losses can create an emotional and financial burden for livestock producers. North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension specialists encourage ranchers to inquire about the Livestock Indemnity Program provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). "The...
Helena, MT – As dry conditions persist throughout the state, the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) would like to remind farmers and ranchers that they can use the Hay Hotline, an online forum, to list their forage for sale or donation, and/or search listings for a variety of forage or pasture posted by other producers. “Dry conditions seem to be persisting, so the need for hay and pasture will be on everyone’s minds,” said MDA Director Christy Clark. “Our Hay Hotline is a free online listing page to find hay or pasture or list a need fo...
MSU Richland County Extension will be hosting an organization meeting for this year’s Richland County Farmer’s Market at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 19 at the MSU Richland County Extension Office, 1499 N Central Ave. If you are a past vendor or are interested in becoming a vendor, you are encouraged to attend this open meeting. Market vendors can sell a varied of products; ranging from handmade items to produce, baked goods, and more. The organization details and safety regulations of food sales at the Richland County Farmer’s Market will be discu...
The grasshopper outlook for 2022 again looks troubling for much of Montana, and especially Richland County. The USDA-ARS Great Plains Laboratory and MSU Extension Richland County hosted a Grasshopper Workshop. The recording of that workshop is now available at: https://richland.msuextension.org/AG.html Dr. Dave Branson, USDA-ARS in Sidney explained the importance of grasshopper biology and proper identification. The majority of grasshopper species lay their eggs in the soil in late summer and fall, and they hatch in spring and early summer....
Washington - April 27 – The American Farm Bureau Federation joined 119 other agriculture organizations in sending a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asking for an extension of time to comment on its proposed rule, “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate Related Disclosures for Investors.” The SEC - whose primary purpose is to protect investors, maintain efficient markets and facilitate capital formation - now wants to require public companies to report data about their entire supply chain. Nearly every farme...
As producers are preparing to start seeding, there are many factors to consider, and pure live seed (PLS) is one of them. Recommended seeding rates for crops are given in pounds of PLS per acre. Using these seeding rates would assume that every seed is viable and able to establish a plant, when in reality not every seed that is planted will result in a plant. Therefore, you must adjust the seeding rate based on the given germination and purity percentages. On a seed tag, there should be a germination percentage, which is an estimate of how...
Bozeman, MT -- Regenerative farming and ranching pioneer Gabe Brown addressed a packed building April 19 at the fairgrounds in Big Timber regarding the importance of soil health and regenerative agriculture practices. "How do we heal our soils? By practicing regenerative agriculture," the North Dakota farmer told the crowd during the Sweet Grass County Farm Bureau sponsored event, adding, “Even though some people claim regenerative agriculture would never work with their soil, anyone can build resiliency in their soils anywhere because the s...
The combination of snow and high winds from the historic April snowstorms, have made things caused by drifts that made things difficult for livestock and ranchers, burying livestock, causing newborn animals to freeze to death, and making it difficult to get to the barn to feed animals. Thanks to advanced warnings, many ranchers were able to get their livestock into enclosed areas, protecting them from snow drifts, but several ranchers did not have big enough facilities to house the livestock....
Bozeman - A Montana State University researcher is looking into the benefits of planting an uncommon variety of a common crop, winter canola. While spring canola is one of the more popular crops in Montana – 185,000 acres were planted in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture – the winter variety has very few acres planted. However, winter canola has a higher yield than spring canola and can lead to a more lucrative harvest for growers. Clint Beiermann, Northwestern Agr...
As grass begins to grow following the much-needed moisture, there is a potential for grass tetany to occur. Grass tetany is a serious metabolic disorder in cattle that is a result of two issues occurring simultaneously: 1) lactating animals have high magnesium requirements, and 2) lush, green grass is low in magnesium and unable to meet such requirements. Grass tetany is caused by low levels of magnesium in the blood and affects lactating cows grazing lush, green grass. Magnesium requirements are high in lactating animals and increase as their...
Helena, MT - In an effort to provide support for Montana’s agricultural community, Frontier Psychiatry has partnered with the Montana Department of Agriculture to provide free access to counseling. Funded through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this partnership will offer a variety of services, including individual counseling and medication management, at no cost to the participant. Telehealth services ensure broad access to care and maximum privacy to the individuals in the program. Farmers and ranchers in M...
Following a cooler-than-normal spring 2022 and the 2021 drought, ranchers should expect a delay in grass development and growth this spring. "Air temperature is the main environmental factor that determines the rate of grass development," says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. "Each leaf produced on a stem requires a specific amount of accumulated heat, or heat units. The temperature when plants initiate development, or the...
Helena, MT – For over 100 years, the Montana State Hail Insurance program has provided vital hail coverage to producers in every corner of the state. With planting season right around the corner, the Montana Department of Agriculture is reminding folks to contact the program and get covered. “The Montana State Hail Insurance Program was established over 100 years ago at the request of producers to fill coverage gaps in hail insurance. Due to the support of Montana producers, the program remains strong and to this day and is an effective too...
Conflict between Russia and Ukraine has sent wheat prices soaring. "The available supply to be able to trade is much lower than before, causing global wheat prices to explode," said NDSU's Crop Economist/Marketing Specialist, Dr. Frayne Olson. The war is raising significant questions about the ability of Russia and Ukraine to continue exporting. U.S. prices have been supported with quotes for Hard Red Winter wheat and Soft Red Winter wheat, commanding the largest price increases (up more than...
Bozeman - An emerging energy storage technology could soon have an unexpected ally thanks to research at Montana State University: the pulp left over from processing sugar beets into sugar. Backed by a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, a team of scientists will study how the byproduct of the starchy root crop can be refined into cellulose nanocrystals that shows promise for improving how heat is captured and recycled in a variety of industrial settings. The project also...
Helena, MT - On Monday, April 4, the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) implemented an updated policy for recording, transferring, and rerecording of brands. The policy was developed by a committee of state legislators, representatives of industry organizations, members of the Board of Livestock, and MDOL staff in response to the industry’s requests for increased availability of 2-character brands. Major changes include additional acceptable characters, more lenient format guidelines, and the elimination of over 40% of regional character c...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in a wild snow goose in North Dakota on March 24 and in a non-commercial, backyard chicken flock in Kidder County. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department sampled a wild bird mortality in Burleigh County that was confirmed positive by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA. Samples from the North Dakota flock were tested at the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed by the...
Helena, MT – The Department of Livestock (DOL) is asking Montanans to be aware that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been diagnosed in domestic poultry and wild birds in 18 states to date in 2022. HPAI spreads rapidly and is associated with severe disease and high death loss. Migratory waterfowl are the primary source for avian influenza (AI). The virus is shed in the feces, saliva, and other respiratory secretions of infected birds. Wild birds can carry the virus and appear healthy. Domestic poultry become infected through d...
Sarah Rachor, Sidney, is helping advocate for agriculture at both the state and national level. She recently attended the 120th Anniversary National Farmers Union Convention Denver, CO, providing a voice for farmers by serving as a delegate for Montana Farmers Union and serving as Policy Committee chair. As a delegate, Rachor helped approve five special orders of business including Fairness for Farmers, Family Farming and Supply Chains, Family Farming and Agricultural Workforce and Food...
