Montana State University Extension will host the annual Cropping Seminar series January 9 – 12, 2017, in Fort Benton, Chester, Shelby, Cut Bank, Choteau, Conrad, Stanford, and Great Falls. Topics will include pest identification, habits of profitable farmers, cereal variety trial updates from the local research centers, and control of ground squirrels, gophers and voles in crop settings.
Dr. Mary Burrows, MSU Extension Plant Pathologist, will present, “Pest Identification: The cornerstone of integrated pest management.” Participants will learn about the plant disease triangle, disease cycles, and how to submit a sample to their county agent or the Schutter Diagnostic Laboratory for diagnosis. Participants will engage in a hands-on activity to identify and manage a disease of wheat or pulse crops that is important in their area. This activity will provide hands-on skills applying Integrated Pest Management.
Cereal variety updates will take place at each location from each region’s researcher. Researchers will cover 2016 data and historic data of cereal grains including yield, protein, wheat stem sawfly resistance, disease resistance and test weight. Peggy Lamb, Agronomy research scientist at Northern Ag Research Center near Havre, will speak in Great Falls, Fort Benton and Chester. Dr. Pat Carr, Superintendent and Associate Professor-Cropping Systems at Central Ag Research Center near Moccasin, will give updates in Fort Benton, Great Falls and Stanford. John Miller, agronomy research associate at Western Triangle Ag Research Center near Conrad, will cover talks in Shelby, Cut Bank, Conrad and Choteau.
Dr. Stephen Vantassel, Montana Department of Agriculture Vertebrate Pest Specialist, will present the biology and identification of gophers, ground squirrels, and voles. Control methods will be discussed, including the use of trapping, fumigants, or bait stations as they apply to large-scale farming operations.
Dr. George Haynes, MSU Extension Ag Economist, will present ten habits of profitable farmers. With currently low commodity prices and steady input costs, this will give insight as to where to cut costs or increase revenue to stay in the black this coming year.
No pre-registration is required, and all producers are encouraged to attend. All morning seminars begin with registration at 8:30 a.m., and presentations start promptly at 9 a.m. The day’s seminar should conclude by 3 p.m. Pesticide points will be available.
Dates, locations, and contact numbers for each Cropping Seminar are listed below.
· January 9: Fort Benton, Ag Center, 1205 20th Street, Tyler Lane, 622-3751
Stanford, City Hall, 102 Central, Katie Hatlelid, 566-2277
· January 10: Shelby, Comfort Inn Conference Room, 455 McKinley Ave., Kim Suta, 424-8350
Chester, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 10 E. Madison Ave., Jesse Fulbright, 759-5625
· January 11: Cut Bank, Voting Center, 913 Railroad St., Kari Lewis, 873-2239
Conrad, Pondera Shooting Sports Complex, 972 Granite Rd., Shaelyn Meyer, 271-4054
· January 12: Chouteau, Stage Stop Inn, 1005 Maine Ave. N., Brent Roeder, 466-2491
Great Falls, Montana ExpoPark’s Gold Buckle Room in the Paddock Club, 400 3rd St NW, Rose Malisani, 454-6980
Source: MSU Cascade County Extension Agent
