Sorted by date Results 416 - 440 of 1213
Bozeman, MT - May 11 - USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in Montana are currently open to phone and virtual appointments only; but can still work with producers on timely filing crop acreage reports. FSA staff can provide assistance over the phone, by email and through virtual meetings via a software program called Microsoft Teams. The deadline for acreage certification is July 15, 2020, and applies to crops such as spring alfalfa seed, CRP, perennial forage not covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, annually spring...
Allyson Young, a recent graduate of Fairview High School, has been selected to serve as the 2020-2021 Montana State FFA Parliamentarian. Young joined FFA as a high school freshman and has been a member of the Fairview FFA Chapter ever since. She comes from a long line of FFA alumni: her grandfather, dad, and brother were all FFA members, which ultimately inspired her to become a member. Over Young's four years of membership, she has participated in many FFA competitions, leadership...
Bozeman — Montana State University Extension in Yellowstone County will host a free webinar series, “Ripening Eastern Montana: The ABCs of Fruit Production,” at 5:30 p.m. each Thursday in June. The live series is designed for those interested in growing berries, apples, grapes and other fruits in eastern Montana. Webinar series presentation details are as follows: • June 4: “Establishing Fruit Orchards in Montana” with Katrina Mendrey, MSU Western Agricultural Research Center. To join, visit: https://montana.webex.com/montan...
The date for the annual dryland field days at the Froid Research Farm is tentatively set for Thursday, June 25. More details will be made available here as plans are finalized. The Sidney dryland field day, typically held jointly with Montana State University’s Eastern Agricultural Research Center in Sidney, MT, has been cancelled for 2020, but will return in 2021....
Washington, DC, May 19 - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food se...
NDSU Extension/McKenzie County is partnering with the North Dakota State University Extension Master Gardener Program and the Fargo Public Library to support food pantries with nutritious, fresh produce. The Extension Master Gardener Program has distributed garden vegetable seeds to 18 NDSU Extension county offices, including McKenzie County. Avid gardeners and 4-H youth are invited to sow the seeds in home gardens, care for the plants and harvest the fresh vegetables for donation to local food...
Bozeman, MT - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers that FSA offers farm ownership and farm operating loans to agricultural producers who may not find success obtaining loans from their traditional financial institutions because of COVID-19. Farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank can apply for FSA direct or guaranteed loans. “Farming and ranching is a capital-intensive business and FSA is committed to helping producers maintain their agricultural operations during t...
Helena, MT – Over the next month, the Montana Department of Agriculture is challenging folks across the state to get out and get growing! In conjunction with the Montana Agricultural Business Association, East Helena High School FFA and Montana State University Extension, the Department is launching an online campaign to help folks start their own home garden. “Spring is in full swing and with many of us working and schooling from home, now is a great time to start a garden,” said Department Director Ben Thomas. “Starting a garden at home is...
Washington – U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza has announced that agricultural businesses are now eligible for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs. SBA’s EIDL portal reopened Monday, May 4 as a result of funding authorized by Congress through the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act. The legislation, signed into law by the President one week ago, provided additional funding for farmers and ranchers and certain other agricultural businesses affected by the C...
The beef supply chain in the United States typically starts on a ranch like Marty Malone’s, in Paradise Valley, with the birth of calves. After a summer of grazing, a cow reaches about 500 - 700 pounds. Then the cow is sold to a feedlot in the Midwest or Great Plains, where it eats feed like corn and barley to fatten up. At about 1,200 pounds and 18 months of age, it’s slaughtered at a nearby packing plant. Then it’s shipped to a wholesaler, who sells the meat to a restaurant or grocery store, where an end customer purchases it. One month...
Montana Pork Producers Council (MPPC) recognizes the importance of evoking the Defense Production Act for Meat and Poultry. Providing federal guidance to packing plants to ensure they can remain open, the Executive Order signed by President Trump on Tuesday is an unprecedented action for unprecedented times in the agricultural industry. MPPC looks forward to seeing additional details of a plan to ensure workers remain in a safe environment while providing these essential food-processing services. “We expect our processors to continue f...
Application forms available online, https://agr.mt.gov/Industrial-Hemp. Helena, MT – The Montana Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline for hemp planting applications for the 2020-growing season to Monday, June 1. In addition to new applicants, all 2019 licensees are required to renew if interested in growing in 2020. A 2020 hemp grower license is not required to market 2019 crop grown under a valid 2019 license. The hemp licensing process is two-fold: upon approval of the initial application, eligible applicants will be issued a...
Helena, MT – Montana hemp growers have voted to establish a 1% checkoff for hemp, making Montana the first state in the nation to establish a hemp checkoff. Checkoff funds are used to fund activities related to research, market development and education. “I believe there is a high ceiling for the future of hemp in Montana, but we won’t be able to get there without investing in research, marketing and education,” said Ben Thomas, MDA Director. “It’s great to see Montana hemp growers’ willingness to look towards the future, and we are excited t...
Congress recently appropriated $310 billon of additional funding to the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and an additional $60 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. RJ Karney, American Farm Bureau Federation congressional relations director, says farmers and ranchers are now eligible for the programs, but must act fast. “What’s most critical right now is for farmers and ranchers to go meet with their tax accountants, to meet with their financial planners, and review these two progr...
The Peterson Farm Brothers entertained Central Elementary students in Sidney March 13. Popular social media stars and farmers Greg & Kendal Peterson performed some of there parodies of pop chart hits....
Even Ler homesteaded in what is now rural Savage in 1910 marking the beginning of more than a century of family farming, carried on now by grandsons, Matt and David Ler. Born and raised in Norway, Even Ler chased adventure to America in 1907, and made his way toward Montana. Enticed by free land to be had under Homestead Act, Even was granted a certificate of register for the south half of Section 10, Township 20, north of Range 57, on June 22, 1910. The deed was later finalized in 1916. Shortly...
Bozeman, MT — A group of individuals and organizations from across Montana, led by Montana State University Extension, are collaborating to provide resources and solutions for farmers and ranchers under stress. “We know from various research that there is a high level of stress in life, specifically among farmers and ranchers in rural areas like Montana,” said Michelle Grocke, MSU Extension Health & Wellness Specialist and MSU Department of Health and Human Development assistant professor. A range of issues can cause stress, she said, from comm...
The Peterson Farm Brothers are set to entertain at this year's MonDak Ag Days and Trade Show. The two-day event will be held at the Richland County Fair Event Center on March 12-13. The trio will make their appearance during the annual banquet on Friday, March 13. Tickets for the banquet include (1) free drink during the pre-banquet social, dinner and the great show from The Peterson Farm Brothers. The brothers are from Kansas where their family lives the farm life. They are known for their...
As weeds, disease and pest insects take a bigger bite out of farmer profits, many are looking for new ways to maintain or increase crop production, while reducing input costs for managing those pests. Among the more novel approaches to address pest and productivity issues is the use of intercropping or the planting of two (or sometimes more) crops together in the same field at the same time. Advantages to intercropping can be found in more efficient use of resources (water, nutrients and sunlight) leading to increased net productivity per...
Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC, will be hosting an informational meeting at Teddy’s Residential Suites, Watford City. At 3 pm on Thursday, March 12, Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about Purina animal nutrition, Bayer animal health, and agronomy updates. The Purina and animal health update will feature Lance Enget and Ron Bernhardt. Enget will be providing an overview of Purina’s fly control mineral, and he will also be discussing Purina’s new product line called RX3, which deals with starter ratio...
Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced additional disaster assistance available to agricultural producers, including producers impacted by drought and excess moisture as well as sugar beet growers. Through WHIP+, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is helping producers recover from losses related to 2018 and 2019 natural disasters. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will open signup on March 23 for producers to apply for eligible losses of drought (D3 or above) and excess moisture. USDA is also ent...
Livingston, MT – The Montana Preservation Alliance has received a sizable grant from the 1772 Foundation based in Providence, RI, to complete a study of possible business models for the Teslow Grain Elevator. After a windstorm caused severe damage to this local landmark back in 2016, the owner did not have funds to repair the building; they ultimately sold to a contractor who purchased with the intent to raze the structure. Undaunted, the grassroots Teslow Preservation Group (TPG) boldly formed overnight and began the “Save the Teslow” campa...
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 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 request one at 406-444-6900 or at...
USDA Richland County Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds agricultural producers of the following FSA dates and deadlines. • Feb. 28: Last day of General CRP Signup • March 2: Deadline for the 2019 Livestock Indemnity Program Application for Payment and all supporting documentation for timely filed 2019 LIP notices of livestock losses. • March 16: Last day of 2019 Agricultural Risk Coverage Price Loss Coverage (ARC-PLC) Enrollment and Program Election Period • March 16: 2020 NAP Coverage Application Closing Date for all Spring Crops except...
