Sorted by date Results 391 - 415 of 1213
Bozeman - Montana State University Extension, in conjunction with Oregon State University, will offer a new agriculture business development course on direct marketing meat. The Western Meat School, Montana Edition, is an online or hybrid learning experience for farmers, ranchers, butchers and others. The six-week course will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning Nov. 4. It will cover key topics in production, processing and marketing to produce high-quality meat and then sell it to diverse market channels. It is not a processing or butchering...
Bozeman - Celebrate Agriculture, an annual weekend-long event held each year by Montana State University’s College of Agriculture, has been scheduled to take place virtually Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14. The weekend, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019, will include many of the same elements as an in-person event, as well as some new virtual programming. Scholarship winners and donors will be honored, as will past recipients of the college’s Outstanding Agricultural Leader award, which has recognized more than 80 people sinc...
Helena, MT – The Montana Oilseed Advisory Committee will hold a virtual listening session on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. The listening session gives growers and stakeholders the opportunity to provide input regarding a proposed referendum, including the amount of the proposed assessment and method of collection. The committee is proposing a 1% assessment on the following oilseed crops: mustard, soybeans, safflower, sunflower, flax and canola. Assessment funds will be used for research, market development, and education. Following the l...
Bozeman - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is standing up a new team that will lead a department-wide effort focused on serving beginning farmers and ranchers. To institutionalize support for beginning farmers and ranchers and to build upon prior agency work, the 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to create a national coordinator position in the agency and state-level coordinators for four of its agencies – Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and Rural Development (RD). Faith H...
Washington - USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Applications for eligible certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, are due Oct. 31, 2020. “For producers producing food with organic certification, this program helps cover a portion of those certification costs,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “Cont...
Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to Sept. 11, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these...
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock has announced nearly $100,000 has been awarded to 12 applicants through the Montana Farmer Student Loan Assistance Program, which was created to encourage Montana’s college-educated youth to pursue a primary career in farming or ranching. The program also seeks to reduce financial stress on farm and ranch operators and promote succession planning to preserve interest in the state’s agricultural future. “With the average age of producers in Montana at nearly 60 years old, it’s critical we invest in young fol...
Richland County 4-H program held their livestock judging and virtual sale last week at the Richland County Fairgrounds and Sidney Livestock Market....
Fargo, ND – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is standing up a new team that will lead a department-wide effort focused on serving beginning farmers and ranchers. To institutionalize support for beginning farmers and ranchers and to build upon prior agency work, the 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to create a national coordinator position in the agency and state-level coordinators for four of its agencies – Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and Rural Development (RD...
The Watford City FFA Chapter held an awards picnic at the Kent Pelton Nature Park on Tuesday, July 28 to recognize member achievements for the past school year. Members were presented with proficiency awards for their Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) projects and leadership awards. The Watford City FFA Chapter continues to develop its members through premier leadership, personal growth and career success. The STAR Discovery Award went to Dominic-Jordan E. Robertson. As a young member,...
The Watford City FFA Chapter held an awards picnic on Tuesday, July 28 at the Kent Pelton Nature Park. Every year, the chapter honors local people who support the FFA by presenting Honorary FFA degrees. This year's recipients were Samantha Doneen and Marlai Johnston. Members also decided at a chapter meeting this year to recognize the following two individuals with awards of appreciation. The Chapter decided at a meeting this year to recognize two individuals with an Award of Appreciation....
Senior Richland County 4-Her Becca Deming finished her senior season with multiple top honors at the Richland County Fair 4-H livestock judging last week. Deming won grand champion market goat, reserve champion breeding sheep, grand champion sr. hog showman, grand champion sr. sheep showman, reserve champion breeding swine, reserve champion market lamb, reserve champion market hog and reserve champion sr. dog showman and reserve champion dog agility. (Photo submitted)...
Farmers and ranchers feed our state, our nation, and in fact, our world. You work long hours to provide essential resources for us all, and in these challenging times, I want you to know that USDA is here to support you and your operation through our Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP. Whether you farm one acre or many more, grow food for local markets or big supply chains, CFAP can help. We’re accepting applications through Aug. 28 and encouraging producers to apply now. In Montana, we have already approved 7,642 applications and d...
Farm owners have a one-time opportunity to update PLC yields of covered commodities on the farm, regardless of Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program election. The deadline to request a PLC yield update is Sept. 30, 2020. The updated yield will be equal to 90% of the average yield per planted acre in crop years 2013-2017 (excluding any year where the applicable covered commodity was not planted), subject to the ratio obtained by dividing the 2008-2012 average national yield by the 2013-2017 average national yield...
McKenzie County participated in the first-ever virtual State 4-H Consumer Decision Making contest held on July 21. The Junior Team of Kyle Best, son of Vawnita and Pete Best, Watford City, Jaden Murphy, son of Kim and Lee Murphy, Williston and Gracyn Darrington, daughter of Nikki and Patrick Darrington, Arnegard, placed 10th in the contest. 4-H Consumer Decision Making judging activities are designed to help youth develop decision-making skills. Their ability to observe and evaluate written...
Bozeman - The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agriculture Experiment Station will host a series of virtual field day events to replace in-person field days for 2020. The usual field days, hosted by MSU’s seven research centers and campus facilities, were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, superintendents and scientists across the state will present both recorded and live content online, available and free to access. “Our field days are always a highlight of our year, and we were disappointed to not be...
This summer, members of the 4-H community have been working hard with their projects. Within livestock projects there are Jackpots available for 4-H members to exhibit their animals in classes of market and showmanship. A Jackpot was hosted by McCone County, Circle. Four members from the Forever Buds Club in Richland County were in attendance: Ali Merritt, Cooper McNally, Avery Johnson and Brandon Becker. Members competed in the showing of market steers and market pigs. Outstanding members of...
BOZEMAN — The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agriculture Experiment Station will host a series of virtual field day events to replace in-person field days for 2020. The usual field days, hosted by MSU’s seven research centers and campus facilities, were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, superintendents and scientists across the state will present both recorded and live content online, available and free to access. “Our field days are always a highlight of our year, and we were disappointed to not b...
Thanks to the generosity of Tri-County Implement, the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is excited to announce the “Agriculture is Everywhere Promotion” is now underway. The promotion started Monday and runs for five straight weeks at participating stores. When the first shopper finds the matchbox size Case International tractor at a store, that week’s lucky shopper will receive $100 in Chamber Bucks. The store where the tractor will be located changes each week. Tri County Imple...
Thanks to the generosity of Tri County Implement, the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is excited to announce the "Agriculture is Everywhere Promotion." The promotion starts the week of June 29 and runs for five straight weeks at participating stores. When the first shopper finds the matchbox size Case International tractor at a store, that week's lucky shopper will receive $100 in Chamber Bucks. The store where the tractor will be located changes each week. Tri County Implement...
While COVID-19 has prompted the cancellation of the annual onsite Froid Research Farm Field Day typically held in late June, two live webinars are planned to provide interested participants with important information on range and cropland weeds in the MonDak with a special emphasis on identifying and preventing the introduction of Palmer amaranth in Montana, a dangerous herbicide resistant crop weed that has recently made its way into North Dakota. The webinars were originally scheduled for successive Thursdays, but have now been moved to the...
"The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program or CFAP gives producers of certain commodities or livestock assistance for losses caused by the coronavirus. The USDA claims that CFAP includes coverage for malt barley, but the rules indicate differently. While on the list of non-specialty crops that are eligible, it is almost impossible to qualify for the assistance. As a farmer who grows malt barley in the golden triangle I know this first-hand. First, almost all malt barley is contracted with a malt...
There will be a webinar Thursday, June 18, at 2:00 pm MDT. This webinar will discuss financial assistance available to Montana farmers and ranchers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs discussed will include: • USDA Farm Service Agency: Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) & FSA Loan Flexibilities • USDA Rural Development: Business & Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantees for farm & ranch working capital and operating expenses • U.S. Small Business Administration: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) & Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL...
In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, staying active as an organization is difficult, but the McKenzie County Extension Office has implemented ways to keep the 4-H fair time experience alive. By implementing a virtual 4-H market animal sale and hoping for a 4-H Achievement Day at a later date, the McKenzie County Extension staff believe this will help provide a fun 4-H experience for 4-H members while still following CDC guidelines. Due to the 2020 McKenzie County Fair being canceled, there will be a virtual sale of the 4-H market animals...
As is true for so many similar events, the annual Froid Research Farm Field Day typically scheduled for late June has been converted from an on-the-ground event to a new virtual tour due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists and staff with the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory in Sidney made the announcement Monday. In addition, the joint Sidney Dryland Field Day with Sidney ARS and Montana State University’s Eastern Ag Research Center (EARC), also held in June, has been cancelled for this year and will return a...
