The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Managing horticultural landscapes in September is essential to healthy production during the growing season. Below are a few recommendations for Chouteau county gardeners. • The average first frost is September 15 (Carter), September 18...

MSU Agriculture research centers have three test plots for winter wheat in Chouteau County. Research plots are managed by MSU Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center (WTARC) south of the Knees, MSU Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC)...

It is recommended to allow a minimum of 30 days between the last harvest and the first killing frost in the fall to allow alfalfa plants time for sufficient carbohydrate accumulation. It is important to know the average date of the first killing...

• Water trees three times a month in addition to watering your lawn. • Deep watering to a depth of 12” inches below the soil surface is recommended. Saturate the soil around the tree within the “dripline” (the outer edges of the tree’s...

Bobcat is a high yielding solid stem hard red winter wheat with improved yield potential relative to other solid stem varieties. The variety will be available for non-certified seed producers in fall of 2020. The variety was developed by Phil...

The following article was prepared by Kevin Wanner (MSU Extension Entomologist). Alfalfa weevil is the key insect pest of alfalfa, causing variable levels of economic damage across Montana each growing season. Montana weevil populations are a bit...

Below are a few tips which will assist gardeners with summer management of their landscapes. Additional gardening information is available at the Chouteau County Extension Office located in the green building next to the courthouse. • Plants use...

Information for this article comes from Montguide MT 201806AG. Authors include Dr. Prashant Jha from MSU Southern Agricultural Research Center and a group of County Extension Agents from the Golden Triangle. The complete document is available online...

NARC will host their annual field day on Thursday, June 27th at 3:30 p.m. The event will take place at the research center south of Havre. NARC field day is unique from other field days because their research encompasses farming and ranching. A few...

Horticultural Questions and Answers for Upcoming Summer My ash, elm and caragana look dead. Should I cut my tree or shrub down right away and be done with it? On April 19, Fort Benton temperatures were as high as 76 degrees. On April 29, Fort Benton...

MAES-MSU Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center (WTARC) and MSU Extension are hosting a field day in the Knees area on July 9th at 9:00 a.m. The site is located ¾ of a mile west of the intersection of Knees Church Road and Collins Road. John...

MSU Central Agricultural Research Center (CARC) and MSU Extension will be hosting a field day on the Highwood Bench on Wednesday, June 26, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The field day will take place approximately one mile east of the Long farm on 1221...

EPA Orders Measures to Protect Paraquat Applicators and the Public Due to increased human health concerns, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final decision regarding pesticide products containing the herbicide active...

Sudangrass is a viable forage alternative for Chouteau County Sudangrass is a good haying and grazing alternative for Chouteau County livestock producers. Sudangrass can be seeded and harvested with conventional equipment in normal crop rotations....

Cytospora Canker The fungal disease Cytospora canker is common in Montana and is most damaging on Colorado and Norway spruces. The first indications of Cytospora canker are dying lower branches with bluish-white-colored resin flowing from cankered ar...

Cropping Q&A from the Chouteau County Extension Office • Where can I find a good local resource on canola production? The Canola Production Field Pocket Guide from NDSU Extension is a valuable tool for any producer raising canola. The pocket guide...

May Gardening Notes As we begin spring management of our horticultural landscapes, here are a few reminders for the month of May. • Graft fruit trees from mid -April to early May. • Abort crab apple fruit with ethephon or naphthaleneacetic acid....

Keep an eye out for Grass Tetany Grass tetany is a metabolic disease of cattle associated with grazing lush, green pasture. The condition is caused by low blood concentrations of magnesium, which is a required mineral for cattle. When pastures are...

The Chouteau County Soil Moisture Survey was started by Judee Wargo in 1993 to assist farmers with determining recropping potential on cereal grain stubble. After 25 years, the Chouteau County Extension Office continues to compile data for...

Information from this article comes from Dr. Peter Kolb (MSU Extension Forester). Dr. Kolb will be presenting on tree management in Fort Benton at the Memorial Ambulance building at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4th. The public is welcome to attend....

Seventh Annual Chouteau County Agriculture Day for 4th and 5th Graders The seventh annual Chouteau County Ag Days for 4th and 5th graders will take place at the Chouteau County Fairgrounds on April 25, 2019. All 4th and 5th graders in Chouteau...

Peter Kolb (Montana State University Extension Forester) will be teaching gardeners about tree trimming, tree disease management and tree insect pest management on Thursday, April 4th from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Chouteau County Memorial...

Montana State University Entomologist will be presenting to Gardeners in Fort Benton Laurie Kerzicnik (Montana State University Associate Extension Specialist and Insect Diagnostician) will be teaching gardeners about Insect Identification on Thursda... Full story

New Montguide on Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE) The single most important component of a successful breeding program is using fertile bulls that have passed a bull breeding soundness evaluation (BSE). Each bull is expected to contribute to...

Winter Fertilization Facts Fall and winter broadcast application of urea (46-0-0) continues to take place on various winter wheat farms across Chouteau County. The major concern of broadcasting urea is nitrogen loss through ammonia volatilization....