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The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on lawmakers to require increased transparency in America’s cattle markets. AFBF supports the Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2021, sponsored by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The bill focuses on ensuring robust regionally negotiated cash trade and providing producers with more pricing information. The Cattle Market Transparency Act aligns with the goals set forth by the AFBF Cattle Market Working Group in 2020, as well as new cattle marketing policy passed at Farm B...
As we review the official first half of the Montana Legislative session, it’s safe to say the session is looking good for Montana agriculture. Of the 3,357 total bill draft requests, 1,121 have been formally introduced. Montana Farm Bureau has taken a stance and lobbied for or against 60 of those, based on the policy directives of our farming and ranching members. Many of the bills we have supported are already on their way to the Governor’s desk. There are no bills left alive from the first half that we have opposed, unless they have been ame...
North Dakota State University is offering a series of free workshops for gardeners. The Spring Fever Garden Forums will run on Monday evenings, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. CST, March 22-April 12. Topics will include how to grow roses, select maples, grow a no-till garden, lengthen the growing season, landscape with ornamental grasses, select vegetable varieties, identify good bugs, and much more. Gardeners have the option of watching online at home or at a participating NDSU Extension County Office. The McKenzie County Extension Office, 205 6th ST NW,...
MonDak Ag Days is an annual event sponsored by Sidney Chamber Ag Committee. It provides educational opportunities for MonDak area farmers and ranchers and showcases the latest in agriculture related equipment and technology. This event is traditionally held in person, but due to circumstances related to COVID-19, it will be offered in a hybrid virtual/in person format. To attend virtually, attendees can use this link: https://montana.webex.com/montana/j.php?MTID=mde8774804e41...
For the first time ever, the North Dakota State 4-H Livestock Judging will take place in western North Dakota. On Saturday, March 6, the State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest is set to take place in Watford City at McKenzie County Fairgrounds and Rough Rider Center. Following this, on Sunday, March 7, the North Dakota State Livestock Quiz Bowl Contest will be at the Rough Rider Center. Devan Leo, NDSU Extension Ag and Natural Resource Agent explained that she is excited to have the contest take place in Watford City. She said, “This opens up a w...
Bozeman - In an international collaborative effort, researchers at Montana State University co-discovered a virus that infects bees, including both native mining bees and honeybees. The new virus was named Andrena associated bee virus-1, or AnBV-1, since it was most prevalent in mining bees, part of the family Andrena. Michelle Flenniken, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology associate professor in MSU's College of Agriculture, worked with researchers from Israel, who collected more...
Billings - USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming that the final date to purchase or make changes to crop insurance on spring-planted crops in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming is March 15 for the 2021 crop year. Farmers also need to notify their agent if they have planted winter wheat in a county with only spring wheat coverage by this date. Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and s...
This series of sessions to help farm and ranch families pass their businesses on to the next generation will start next week Thursday, March 4, Watford City, and will continue on March 11 and 18. Each of these meetings, of which attendance is highly encouraged, will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. CT at NDSU Extension/McKenzie County Office, 205 6th St. NW, Watford City. “The program will prepare you to envision, communicate, plan, write and shape the legacy of your family farm or ranch business,” said Marcia Hellandsaas, McKenzie County Ext...
Montana legislators have heard more than 400 bills this week, which shows the staggering pace that comes on the eve of transmittal deadline. We’ll cut straight to the chase here in week eight of the Montana Legislative Session, with a focus on meat processing bills and private property rights. House Bill 336: Interstate cooperative meatpacking compact, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Ler (R), HD 35. Montana Farm Bureau member policy opposes. The Interstate Compacting Bill sets up a framework to allow Montana to enter into agreement with other states...
This series of sessions to help farm and ranch families pass their businesses on to the next generation will start next week Thursday, March 4, Watford City, and will continue on March 11 and 18. Each of these meetings, of which attendance is highly encouraged, will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. CT at NDSU Extension/McKenzie County Office, 205 6th St. NW, Watford City. “The program will prepare you to envision, communicate, plan, write and shape the legacy of your family farm or ranch business,” said Marcia Hellandsaas, McKenzie County Ext...
Montanans have just a few more days to report the number of each type of livestock they own in order to pay the per capita fees set yearly by the Montana Board of Livestock. Livestock reports are due March 1. Owners can report online at ReportYourLivestock.mt.gov. Livestock owners must report what they owned as of Feb. 1. If you reported last year but no longer own livestock, you still need to submit a reporting form to let us know your livestock count is zero. Owners preferring a paper reporting form can download one at MTRevenue.gov or call...
Helena -The Montana House of Representatives in partnership with other states has introduced House Bill 336 to create an Interstate Cooperative Meatpacking Compact. The purpose is to streamline interstate livestock commerce by removing state barriers and agreeing to meet federal regulations. “Montana and other ag producing states have a long history of working together to meet the demands of our consumers,” Montana Speaker of the House Wylie Galt (R-Martinsdale) said Wednesday. “As state leaders, it is our job to remove barriers to commerce bet...
As farmers prepare for spring planting, the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee is reminding producers to ensure that wheat shipments destined for export are buckwheat-free. In light of the ongoing global pandemic, food safety has become one of the most important factors for purchasers of ingredients. Montana exports 60-80% of its wheat to countries located in the Pacific Rim. Since Asian countries are large importers of Montana wheat, it is important that producers and handlers understand the serious health risk and potential economic impact po...
Whether herbicide resistant or just aggressive spreaders, weeds are a constant plague in both crops and pastures, which is why management options are a key research subject for university and federal scientists. For Dr. Brian Jenks, North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center weed scientist, Minot, weeds have been at the heart of his research program for more than two decades. That research and its application to local farms and ranches is featured in the fourth webinar of the 2021 MonDak Ag Research Summit Series ...
Montanans have just a few more weeks to report the number of each type of livestock they own in order to pay the per capita fees set yearly by the Montana Board of Livestock. Livestock reports are due March 1. Owners can report online at ReportYourLivestock.mt.gov. Livestock owners must report what they owned as of February 1. If you reported last year but no longer own livestock, you still need to submit a reporting form to let us know your livestock count is zero. Owners preferring a paper reporting form can download one at MTRevenue.gov or...
The 68th Annual National Hard Spring Wheat Show is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10, and the Annual MonDak Pulse Day is set for Thursday, Feb. 11. Both events will be at the Williston Area Recreation Center, 822 18th St. E., Williston. This year, both events are being offered in a hybrid in-person and online format, due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19. Participants will have the opportunity to choose to attend the event at home via Zoom or in-person. The 68th Annual Hard Spring Wheat Show is free admission. Everyone is encouraged to...
Pulses have become a very successful crop in the MonDak following their introduction to the region in the 1990s. Today, North Dakota and Montana have consistently ranked #1 and #2 in pulse production in the US for more than a decade. That success, however, has also brought with it-increased threats from disease. Luckily, that threat, in turn, has attracted the interest of pulse crop researchers who have come together in a large, multistate collaboration focusing on root rot in lentil under the direction of Dr. Mary Burrows, Extension Plant...
Technology's role in agriculture is rising exponentially, but that doesn't mean there aren't other factors of equal importance, particularly in irrigation management. That's the message to be delivered by Dr. Thomas Scherer on Thursday, Jan. 28, in the second webinar of this year's 4th annual MonDak Ag Research Summit online seminar series. "Over the last 15 years there have been many technological developments for more informed irrigation water management," Dr. Scherer, North Dakota State...
Helena, MT - The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for an estimated $3 million in federal funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program. The purpose of the SCBG program is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Montana. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, peas, and lentils, dried fruits, as well as horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. State and/or local organizations, government entities, producer associations, academia, community-based...
The 4th annual MonDak Ag Research Summit has moved online due to COVID-19 and features a series of six webinars, each an hour and a half long, focusing on agricultural issues and research applicable to area farmers and ranchers. The 2021-webinar series kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. MST/11 a.m. CST with a keynote presentation looking at appropriate fertilizer application decisions in the face of our recent fall drought. That presentation will be followed by three short talks by...
While the arrival of new vaccines for COVID-19 should enable a return to in-person events, the sheer mechanics of their mass distribution mean that early 2021 events are still primarily virtual. That’s certainly true for the 4th Annual MonDak Agricultural Research Summit, typically held late in the year, but now moved online and converted to a webinar series, beginning Thursday, Jan. 14. Webinars will be held on Zoom every other Thursday, with one Tuesday thrown in, and all will run from 10-11:30 a.m. MT/11 a.m.-12:30 pm CT. According to organi...
While the arrival of new vaccines for COVID-19 should enable a return to in-person events, the sheer mechanics of their mass distribution mean that early 2021 events are still primarily virtual. That's certainly true for the 4th Annual MonDak Agricultural Research Summit, typically held late in the year, but now moved online and converted to a webinar series, beginning Thursday, Jan. 14. Webinars will be held on Zoom every other Thursday, with one Tuesday thrown in, and all will run from...
Helena, MT - The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding hemp growers and processors to submit their hemp checkoff payments before the end of the year. The Montana Hemp Advisory Committee will decide how to allocate the checkoff funds for research, market development and education to develop and enhance Montana’s hemp industry. Montana hemp growers voted to approve the nation’s first hemp checkoff earlier this year. The checkoff was established at 1% of the value of the crop being sold at the first point of sale. Hemp growers can s...
Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) by Dec. 11. This program provides direct relief to producers facing market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. “With over 300 eligible commodities, from livestock and row crops to specialty crops and aquaculture, most farmers and ranchers are potentially eligible for CFAP 2,” said Richard Fordyce, Farm Service Agency administrator. “FSA offers sever...
Manhattan, MT - Montana Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (MAITCF) and Gallatin County Conservation District are pleased to announce the updated version of the Montana Pollinator Education Project. This project focuses on vital information regarding pollinator species and their crucial role in Montana’s conservation and agriculture sectors. This project showcases species and families of pollinators that make Montana their home. Each species has its own unique biodiversity and role in pollination. Factors such as housing, plant r...
