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Stripe rust has been observed in winter wheat at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center here in Sidney. The cooler weather and moisture recently have been ideal conditions for the disease. This article will review some information on stripe rust disease and management options at this point in the growing season. Stripe rust is a fungal disease that is appropriately named, as the disease forms in a linear pattern of yellow-orange powdery pustules along the leaf blade. This disease is...
Blister beetles are here once again, and it is a good idea to scout for them in your fields, particularly alfalfa, prior to cutting. Blister beetle larvae feed on grasshopper eggs, which is why we've seen such large populations the last few years. Adult blister beetles contain a cantharidin toxin in their body fluids which is released when the beetle is crushed. This can blister people's skin and can also be deadly to livestock and horses. There are a few species of blister beetles that are...
The MonDak Area Stockgrowers held their spring meeting on June 13. The night included updates from both the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and the North Dakota Stockmen's Association (NDSA), scholarship presentations, and the goat roping. Currently, MSGA is working on protecting livestock grazing on federal lands. MSGA is actively opposing proposed solar developments and carbon storage facilities on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, as these developments would adversely impact...
BOZEMAN – Eastern Montana may be typecast for its sparse population and rolling landscape, but its vast expanses make it an optimal region for the state’s largest industry. Along the Yellowstone River near the North Dakota border, Montana State University’s Eastern Agricultural Research Center serves 13 counties that produce nearly three quarters of Montana’s pulse crop acreage, which leads the nation, and almost half its wheat. Serving such a wide area can be a tall order for a facility with less than 200 acres for both dryland and irrigated r...
The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center (MSU EARC) is preparing to host their annual Field Day on Thursday, June 27 at the center, located north of Sidney, 1501 N Central Ave. The day will include information on variety selection, cropping systems, fertility, disease management, weed management, and more, all of which will be beneficial for producers in the region. Plan to come from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts before the field day begins at 8:30 a.m....
Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, MSU-EARC Dr. Frankie Crutcher will discuss how to accurately identify white mold disease in irrigated soybean production fields and will provide management options including variety selection, fungicide application and rotation strategies at from 9:20-9:35 a.m. She said white mold disease has been found in soybean fields in Richland County, raising concern among growers. Producers have been experimenting with new crops since the closure of Sidney Sugars,...
At this year's Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center Field Day in Sidney, MT, Dr. Nisha Patwa will be discussing her ongoing research into the effects of essential oil treatments in combating root rot in peas. Organic growers are ever in search of improving their ability to produce crops with a solution in harmony with their organic status. Widespread root rot due to a buildup of the pathogen in soil led researchers at Montana State University to experiment with...
9-9:15 a.m. Camelina As Bioenergy Crop (Cultivar Selection, Agronomic Practices, & Weed Control) Dr. Chengci Chen, Professor of Agronomy, MSU-EARC Description: This presentation will include variety selection and agronomic practices. The agronomic practices that will be discussed include how to plant camelina and what pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides can be used for controlling grass and broadleaf weeds, and how to apply pre- and post-emergent herbicides. Speaker Bio: Chengci Chen is...
Battling wheat stem sawfly? Interested in forages or CRP native plantings? How about forages potentially resistant to grasshoppers or rotations that help curb disease in peas and lentils? These are just a few of the research projects being featured at a joint Dryland Field Day, presented by Montana State University’s Eastern Ag Research Center (EARC) and the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab (NPARL). The tour is set for Wednesday morning, July 17 and features speakers from both research fac...
Join the MonDak Area Stockgrowers Association for an evening of family fun as it hosts its Spring Meeting on Thursday, June 13 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Sidney Livestock Market Center. Dinner and Goat Roping are on the agenda. Meat will be provided by the Stockgrowers; those whose last name start with A-K, please bring a salad and those whose last name starts with L-Z, please bring dessert. Goat Roping should provide some excitement for contestants and spectators alike. The contest will be divided into two age groups; 10 and under and 11 and...
Recently, I joined other National Farmers Union leaders in meetings with the House Ag and Senate Ag committees about each of their versions of the 2024 Farm Bill. Based on those discussions, a tight timeline, and the need for modifications to both versions, I’m not optimistic for the passage of a 2024 Farm Bill but foresee another extension. The Senate version and the House version of the Farm Bill are strikingly different — and, in the current Congress, “compromise” is a dirty word. Nonetheless, Congress will not allow the Farm Bill to expi...
The North Dakota State University Research Extension Centers’ annual field days are set. The events take place at the Research Extension Center sites across the state and feature speakers, tours and field demonstrations for farmers, ranchers, crop advisors, landowners, horticulturalists and local stakeholders. “The agricultural research conducted at our NDSU Research Extension Centers provides research-based solutions that advance agricultural production systems in a variety of areas, including agronomy and crop production, livestock and ran...
July 10, 2024 residents in the MonDak area may find a way to save a life in a special addition to the Williston Research Extension Center Field Day with STOP THE BLEED® training. The Williston REC is known for its long history of collaborative research as part of NDSU Agriculture. The crop research taking place at the WREC has brough new varieties and cropping system advancements into the MonDak region. The information from the WREC has been used in fields to enhance profitability with pest control and assisted with recommendations for...
Join the MonDak Area Stockgrowers Association for an evening of family fun as it hosts its Spring Meeting on Thursday, June 13 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Sidney Livestock Market Center. Dinner and Goat Roping are on the agenda. Meat will be provided by the Stockgrowers; those whose last name start with A-K, please bring a salad and those whose last name starts with L-Z, please bring dessert. Goat Roping should provide some excitement for contestants and spectators alike. The contest will be divided into two age groups; 10 and under and 11 and...
The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center (MSU EARC) is preparing to host their annual Field Day on Thursday, June 27 at the center, located north of Sidney, 1501 N Central Ave. The day will include information on variety selection, cropping systems, fertility, disease management, weed management, and more, all of which will be beneficial for producers in the region. Plan to come from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts before the field day begins at 8:30 a.m. During the field tours, Dr. Chengci Chen, EARC...
North Dakota State University Extension has developed a spreadsheet to help farmers analyze and make prevented-planting decisions. "Producers in North Dakota are waiting for fields to dry out so they can start field work and crop planting," says Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension farm management specialist. "If wet conditions continue in certain areas of the state, it will prevent some producers from seeding all their acres before the dates that crop insurance coverage starts to decrease. Now may be a...
BOZEMAN — The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station will once again host a series of field days this summer at six of the university’s research centers around the state, plus two additional events at campus farms in Bozeman. “We look forward to our field days every year because of the opportunities they create to interact and share research results with agricultural producers and friends around Montana,” said Sreekala Bajwa, director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and the...
With the relatively warm spring that we have had, it is important to start scouting for grasshoppers hatching. Typically, scouting begins around Memorial Day, but it may be a good idea to be on the lookout even earlier this year. USDA-APHIS has predicted Richland County and the surrounding area will again be experiencing high grasshopper populations this year. Review of the Life Cycle Grasshoppers deposit eggs in the soil in the fall. These eggs overwinter there and begin to hatch from May through July. Grasshoppers develop through 5 nymphal...
The Fairview FFA Chapter awarded five area adults with honorary chapter degrees for their contribution to the program during its awards banquet April 29. Honored were Mark and Sheila Neu, Shaun and Michelle Jensen and Vicky Cayko. Officials said that the Neus have been strong supporters of the Fairview FFA chapter for many years. They have provided a lot of behind-the-scenes help because of their love for FFA. Mark was even an FFA officer himself. The Jensens, parents of 2023-2024 Fairview FFA...
Richland County/MSU Extension agent Josie Evenson was surrounded by some of the youngest individuals interested in 4-H during a day camp at the Extension center on Saturday. In attendance were about 20 Cloverbuds, who are between the ages of 5-8. The youngsters are introduced to 4-H before taking part in competitive projects in future years. Evenson said the day included teaching the children the 4-H pledge through different fun activities. Part of the time featured the kids painting the 4-H...
Emergence and establishment of your pulse crops can be negatively affected by dampening off and root rot pathogens. To avoid these issues, consider using a seed treatment. Dampening off occurs when a fungus or oomycete causes banding and restriction of the developing plant. Examples of these fungus and oomycete include Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Dampening off can be worse when the soil is cool and moist around the time the crop is planted. Symptoms of dampening off include a reduced stand, girdling, seedling yellowing, reduced...
State health officials are raising awareness about the health risks associated with raising backyard birds. Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) epidemiologist Rachel Hinnenkamp said that while raising backyard birds has become an increasingly popular activity in the state, there are health risks to be aware of. She said live poultry can carry germs such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can cause humans to get sick with symptoms including diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, an...
Montana State University has released their 2023 Montana Spring Wheat Performance Evaluations. These trials are based on wheat variety performance in multiple locations across the state through multiple years. This performance summary compares agronomic characteristics of spring wheat varieties evaluated by Montana Agricultural Experiment Stations and other varieties commonly grown in the state. The trials take place in 11 locations across the state and region, which locally include Sidney (irrigated and dryland) and just across the border in...
Although some are finishing up calving and others are still yet to begin, it is always necessary to remember the importance of colostrum. This is the first milk produced by a cow after she has given birth. Colostrum contains immunoglobulins, IgG in particular, as well as white blood cells, milk fat, and vitamins A and E. All of these components are important to the newborn calf. A calf is born without immunoglobulins, because the placenta prevents immunoglobulins from being transferred from the cow to the calf in utero. Immunoglobulins are...