The Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center (MSU-EARC) is holding their annual Field Day, July 11. The day will begin at 9 a.m. with several speakers presenting their research on topics which impact area farmers.
Dr. Frankie Crutcher, who is an associate professor and plant pathologist at MSU-EARC, will discuss pulse crop root disease, and how it can be best prevented.
“The longer you grow pulse crops and the tighter the rotations, the more likely you will develop yield limiting root rot,” Crutcher stated. “A farmer is more likely to get root rot if they have been growing pulse crops for many years, if they neglect to use a seed treatment, and if they are doing two-year rotations between peas and lentils.”
Crutcher has been studying pulse root rot since she began her position at MSU-EARC in 2016. In addition to rotting roots, signs and effects of root rot include poor yield, yellowing, poor nodulation and stunting.
As pulse crops gain popularity with consumers across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom and Japan, they are also an appealing crop for farmers as they fit well into crop rotation, increase soil available nitrogen and increase overall soil health. With pulses making up about 10% of the total protein consumed world-wide, addressing root rot in order to increase yield is a priority for anyone who currently grows or is thinking of incorporating pulses into their rotation.
“In many areas in northeast Montana, root rot is limiting pulse production and at the same time producers want to grow cover crops that contain peas and lentils for their improvement of feed mixes,” Crutcher explained.
The 2023 MSU-EARC Field Day will be held at 1501 N. Central Ave., Sidney. For anyone interested in the plethora of valuable agriculture information that will be discussed that day, please contact MSU-EARC at 406-433-2208.
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