Sorted by date Results 1141 - 1165 of 1242
A former pet shop manager, zoo keeper and now ARS scientist will share his insights into successful management of crop pests using ecological principles on Friday, Feb. 17, as part of the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory’s (NPARL) 2012 BrownBagger series. Dr. Jon Lundgren, ARS’ North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory entomologist, Brookings, SD, will discuss “Using ecological principles to manage pests: A case study involving the corn rootworm.” The one-hour session begins at noon and is open to the public....
The 50th International Sugarbeet Institute is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, March 14 and 15, at the Alerus Center, Grand Forks. This is North America’s largest sugarbeet trade show, with approximately 125 commercial exhibitors in attendance to visit with producers about their sugarbeet-related products and services. More than 3,200 visitors attended the 2011 show, held in Fargo. Speakers this year include Owen Wagner on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 14, and Leon Osborne on Thursday morning, March 15. Wagner, senior e...
The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is offering two scholarships for MSGA member students. For graduating high school seniors, MSGA is offering the Swede Schlesinger Scholarship worth $2,500. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be graduating from a Montana high school this year, be a member of MSGA, or have at least one parent who is a member, and demonstrate a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Applicants must complete the application form, include a copy of their current high school transcript, include three sealed...
Attention Irrigators on the Missouri River! The Lower Missouri Coordinated Resource Management Council along with Conservation Districts in McCone, Richland, Roosevelt and Valley counties are hosting an informational meeting on Feb. 10 at the Fort Peck College meeting room, Wolf Point. The meeting is set to begin at 1 p.m. Topics to be discussed will be Point of Diversion Changes (POD) by the Water Resources Bureau, Glasgow. Any changes made to a pump site require POD change with the Water Resource Bureau. The process to notify the Water...
This year’s 59th Annual National Hard Spring Wheat Show will once again offer an outstanding informative event that will provide important, timely information to area Ag producers. This year’s educational portion of the show, scheduled for Feb. 7-8 at the Williston Airport International Inn, will offer attendees information and updates on a wide variety of topics, including market information, precision farming, soil health and ecology, cropping practices, and best management practices. Peo...
Montana State University Extension is sponsoring two regional barley update meetings. They will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Pondera Shooting Sports Club in Conrad and on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Northern Plains Ag Research Conference Center in Sidney. Organized by Montana State University Extension and the Institute of Barley and Malt Sciences, the workshops will feature speakers from Montana State University, North Dakota State University, the USDA Risk Management Agency, the National Barley Growers Association, the Northern Broadcast...
On Friday, Jan. 28 the Eastern Agricultural Research Center (EARC) staff held an open house for Dr. Jerry Bergman, who has retired from the Montana State University system to accept the position as NDSU Williston Research and Extension Center director. Bergman served 38 years as agronomist, plant breeder and director of the EARC, Sidney. The EARC staff held a luncheon for staff and former staff, and then opened the doors to the public to come and wish Bergman well in his new venture. During his...
The MonDak Area Stockgrowers Association, in cooperation with the Yellowstone Livestock Company, 720 10th Ave. SE, Sidney, will host a fundraising event for the All American Beef Battalion, an organization dedicated to supporting our troops fighting the global war on terror. The fundraiser, scheduled for noon on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Yellowstone Livestock, will consist of auctioning off a calf to the highest bidder, then auctioning off that calf again and again and again for as many times as...
Montana State University Extension and North Dakota State University are collaborating to present MonDak Pulse Day on Feb. 15 at the Elks Club, Wolf Point. More than 12 years ago, Extension personnel in both Montana and North Dakota saw a need to address agronomic questions related to the rising amount of pulse production (peas, chickpeas and lentils) being done in Western North Dakota and Eastern Montana. Today this area, known as the MonDak area, produces 88% of the peas, 86% of lentils and 18% of chickpeas grown in the United States. The...
Attention cattle ranchers - don’t miss this event! This year’s Winter Grazing Seminar will feature some of the top names in the agriculture industry. Come see Fred Provenza, Marni Thompson, Chris Christens, Marsha Goetting and Patsy Houghton in Conrad. The first day of the seminar will feature Dr. Fred Provenza, Utah State University professor emeritus, with a very interesting presentation on grazing animal behavior. This information can be used to assist and improve grazing management on any ranch. The next speakers will be Marni Tho...
Fairview area rancher, educator and self-defined “grass farmer” Wayne Berry, will share insights into his holistic management approach to ranching on Friday, Feb. 3, as part of the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory’s (NPARL) 2012 BrownBagger seminar series. The one-hour session begins at noon and is open to the public. Wayne’s talk is entitled “What I’ve learned since 1955” and describes the many tools and strategies he’s experimented with over the past five decades to accomplish his and his family’s goals of enjoying...
Governor Brian Schweitzer has appointed John Redman, Sidney, to the Board of Outfitters. Redman is a public representative and a retired rancher who has a bachelor’s degree in general agriculture from Montana State University....
This year’s 59th Annual National Hard Spring Wheat Show will once again offer an outstanding informative event that will provide important, timely information to area Ag producers. This year’s educational portion of the show, scheduled for Feb. 7-8 at the Williston Airport International Inn, will offer attendees information and updates on a wide variety of topics, including market information, precision farming, soil health and ecology, cropping practices, and best management practices. Peo...
The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program has created a new website for homeowners and applicators across the state. The “Pesticide Contamination Around the Home and Garden” website was built in response to the MSU Schutter Diagnostic Laboratory receiving over 112 garden samples which showed symptoms consistent with pesticide exposure from a class of chemicals known as “growth regulator herbicides” in 2009 and 2010. The website links tools from MSU, the University of Arizona, University of Minnesota and Washington State Univers...
In recognition of National Agriculture week (National Agriculture Day March 8, 2012), WIFE (Montana Women Involved in Farm Economics) invites Montana’s school children to express their ideas on farm life by participating in WIFE’s 26th statewide calendar art contest. Winning entries grades K-8 will be awarded a cash prize at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place levels in each grade’s division. Winners whose pictures are used will also receive a calendar. All entries are to be done horizontally on 8 ½ x 11” white paper with dark, black lead pencil o...
Researchers at Montana State University are seeing an increase in the number of samples of pulse crops containing significant amounts of the fungus blight Ascochyta over the past year. The findings represent an increase compared to blight researchers found in the 2010 samples, particularly in the lentil crop. With pulse crops going into the ground soon, there is some confusion about the acceptable level of Ascochyta in a given crop. Ascochyta is a potentially serious fungal disease in pulse crops, including lentils, peas and chickpea. The disea...
Signup for Farm Service Agency’s Direct and Counter Cyclical Program and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program during the 2012 crop year began on Jan. 23. Signup for both programs will continue through June 1. Aaron Krauter, North Dakota state FSA executive director, is encouraging producers to sign up early. “We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to get in and sign up, and doing it before spring field work begins means one less thing a producer needs to worry about,” Krauter said. Producers who choose to participate in ei...
The MonDak Area Stockgrowers Association, in cooperation with the Yellowstone Livestock Company, 720 10th Ave. SE, Sidney, will host a fundraising event for the All American Beef Battalion, an organization dedicated to supporting our troops fighting the global war on terror. The fundraiser, scheduled for noon on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Yellowstone Livestock, will consist of auctioning off a calf to the highest bidder, then auctioning off that calf again and again and again for as many times as...
With cattle prices at record levels, producers question the market’s longevity. Prior to the BSE, (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, commonly known as mad-cow disease), scare in 2003 or even the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, cattlemen could establish their production and marketing decisions based on a 10-year cycle. As prices peaked, cattle inventories increased to levels when supplies exceeded demand. When this occurred, producers then reduced herd inventory and converted land to other u...
In its 2010-2011 Annual Report to Producers, the North Dakota Wheat Commission states that wheat producers can take pride in knowing the wheat industry continues to be one of the largest economic contributors to the North Dakota economy, agricultural or otherwise, accounting for nearly one third of all farm and ranch marketings. The direct cash value of the North Dakota wheat and durum crop is nearly $2.4 billion, which generates an additional $4.8 billion in commercial activity for a total...
The 127th Annual Montana Stockgrowers Association Convention and Trade Show, held at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana in Billings, Dec. 15-17, drew over 740 participants from across the state. Nearly 100 people participated in the Young Stockgrowers events, representing the largest showing of that group at any convention. "It was great to see all the young people at our meeting learning about our association and policy process, and really getting involved," said Watty Taylor, MSGA's president. "Although 2011 hasn't been without its challenges, eve...
“Mend Them Teach Them” The Empty Saddle Memorial Foundation’s motto defines its focus on our youth. In the past three years, the ESMF has worked to honor the lost horsemen of the area by helping out with the education and the medical needs of area youth with donations made to the foundation in memory of its honorees. Honorees for 2010 were Neal Hermanson and Levi Wisness and Richard Bahm, A.J. Franzen and Bud Sperry were honored for 2011. ESMF honorees spent an important part of their lives in the lives of their horses. This time shaped who t...
Livestock producers who suffered losses in 2011 due to natural disasters and filed a notice of loss with their local Farm Service Agency office have until Jan. 30 to apply for payment through the Livestock Indemnity Program. LIP pays eligible producers based on a national payment rate, which is 75% of the average fair market value of the livestock. Eligible livestock include cattle, poultry, swine and other animals including sheep, goats and horses....
Many variables contribute to the successful management of a beef production enterprise. Adverse environmental conditions, fluctuating commodity markets and individual management decisions all have a dramatic impact on profitability. “In order to proactively take advantage of available opportunities or to respond to situations as they develop, producers need pertinent educational materials delivered to them in a timely manner,” says North Dakota State University Extension Service beef cattle specialist Carl Dahlen. Each month, Dahlen and oth...
The Junior Varsity Farm Business Management team for Sidney FFA for Jan. 16 was made up of Ethan Chamberlain, Emily Schaff and Marianne Gartner. This team tested for a 3rd place finish. Only three points separated the top three teams. First place team was Lambert FFA, followed by Plentywood FFA prior to Sidney’s placing of third. Eleven teams from northeastern Montana participated. Individually, Ethan tied for 1st, Emily placed 7th and Marianne placed 17th out of 50 area FFA competitors. The n...
