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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 (Kenilworth and Highwood), September 20 (Big Sandy), September 25 (Fort Benton) and September 28 in Geraldine. All fruit and vegetables should be harvested before temperatures drop below 40° to 50°F. • Ripen tomatoes in a paper bag along with an apple, or hang the entire plant upside down in the garage. • Pla...
The 2019 Chouteau County 4-H and FFA livestock carcass contest took place at Pioneer Meats in Big Timber. A total of 63 Chouteau County 4-H animals were evaluated for carcass quality by Mark King (MSU Extension Sweet Grass County). The purpose of the carcass contest is to teach 4-H youth how to correctly select, feed and finish livestock based on carcass data. If carcass criteria are met, youth can be confident they are producing a high quality product that is safe, nutritious and good tasting to the consumer. Out of 36 market swine entered at...
Many Chouteau County producers research their winter wheat varieties in the spring and their spring crop varieties in the Fall. As a result, it is time to let producers know about a new malt barley called Buzz. Malt Barley is generally rejected when seed is not plump and/or protein is too high. Hockett, a malt barley released by MSU, generally has stable plumps and good yield under dryland conditions. However, grain protein can be too high. Hockett is also slow to germinate, complicating the malting process. The malt quality of Hockett is also...
4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA, and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with ind...
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 (Kenilworth and Highwood), September 20 (Big Sandy), September 25 (Fort Benton) and September 28 in Geraldine. All fruit and vegetables should be harvested before temperatures drop below 40° to 50°F. • Ripen tomatoes in a paper bag along with an apple, or hang the entire plant upside down in the garage. • Pla...
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) north of Loma and MSU Central Agricultural Research Center (CARC) west of Geraldine. A special thanks to John Miller (WTARC agronomist), Peggy Lamb (NARC agronomist) and Jed Eberly (CARC agronomist) for establishing and maintaining the Chouteau County test plots. The Extension office would also like...
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 frost in your area when determining the last harvest date. Frost-freeze dates for Chouteau County are estimated with 90% accuracy. Big Sandy is September 21, Fort Benton and Geraldine are September 24, Loma is September 22, and Iliad is September 18. It is equally important that a stand is healthy,...
• 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 branches) to disperse water down toward the roots. • For evergreens, water 3’-5’ beyond the dripline on all sides of the tree. • The objective is to water slowly, dispersing the flow of water to get the water deep down to the trees roots. Watering for short periods of time only encourages shallow rooting whi...
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 Bruckner and Jim Berg from the Montana State University winter wheat breeding program. Bobcat is a selection from a composite cross of two unreleased Montana solid-stemmed experimental lines and an unreleased Montana hollow-stemmed line. Bobcat is awned, white-glumed, semi-dwarf wheat with medium to late...
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 lower this year with some pockets of economically damaging numbers. With the cool spring weather alfalfa has been out growing the weevil. Weevil development is starting to ccelerate but first bloom and harvesting has also begun, so first harvest should take care of most of the weevil larvae this year....
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 in our landscapes is up to 2.5 inches of water per week. • Harvest broccoli while heads are tight. • Pick shell peas when the seeds are fully developed but before ripening. Harvest edible pod peas when the seeds are barely visible inside the pod. Allow snap peas to reach nearly full size, but harve...
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 or at the Chouteau County Extension Office. Our office is located in the green building next to the courthouse. Herbicide-resistant plants often develop from repeated use of a single mode of action herbicide. Plants can develop resistance to additional herbicides, and then require integrated, and...
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 examples of classes offered for ranchers include research studies on feed intake, range management, and supplementation of beef cattle. In addition, ranchers have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Carla Sanford (the new MSU Extension Beef Specialist). Hope to see you there. Blue Green Algae Poisoning...
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 temperatures were as low as 13 degrees. Many buds were destroyed from extreme rise and fall in temperature. Below is a response from Dr. Cheryl Moore Gough (Retired MSU Horticultural Extension Specialist). Severe temperature fluctuations in April have damaged buds of many deciduous trees and...
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 Miller (WTARC Research Scientist) will evaluate winter wheat varieties seeded at the Killion test plot, and share his research on Crystal Green®. According to the website at crystalgreen.com, Crystal Green® optimizes crop performance by providing plants with a more efficient source of nutrients co...
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 Shonkin Road. Dr. Luther Talbert (MSU Spring Wheat Breeder) will cover spring wheat varieties at the test plot, and provide producers with an update of his spring wheat breeding program. Joe Jensen (MSU Graduate Student under Jamie Sherman) will cover barley varieties and share acidic soil research...
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 ingredient, paraquat. In summary, EPA has ordered the following measures to adequately protect applicators and the public: 1. Label changes emphasizing para...
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. Secondly, working with a warm season crop helps distribute the farming workload because seeding takes place in late May or early June. Lastly, later seeding results in effective weed and disease management. Sudangrass must be seeded after soil temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees...
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 areas. Upper branches die in subsequent years. Infected inner bark and the cambium tissue directly below the bark are brown, whereas healthy tissues are light-colored. Removal of outer bark slivers just beyond the resin soaking often exposes black pinhead-sized depressions (spore-producing fungal bodi...
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 addresses issues from hybrid selection, growth and fertilizing, disease, insect and weed control, harvesting and storing. The field guide also has a photo section with pictures of weeds, insects and diseases. The “Canola Production Field Guide” (A-1280) was partially funded by the Northern Canol...
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. • Prune lylacs right after bloom. • Stems cut off clean are a sign of rabbit damage. Stems cut off ragged are a sign of deer damage. • Electric fence smeared with peanut butter and molasses can deter deer. • Keep raspberry walkway clear of suckers. • Destroy tent caterpillars. • Plant peas and lettuc...
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 growing rapidly in the spring, grass may not contain adequate amounts of magnesium to meet requirements. High potassium and crude protein concentrations found in rapidly growing forage complicate the grass tetany issue by interfering with the absorption of magnesium from the rumen. Magnesium...
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 determining recropping potential and providing the state drought committee with soil moisture information. Testing for soil moisture took place in Chouteau County on April 1st-April 2nd. All winter wheat locations exceeded 3.5 feet of stored soil moisture, which is equivalent to approximately 5.25 inches of...
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. During dry and cold winters, evergreen trees growing in windbreaks or other exposed areas are afflicted with a bad case of needle discoloration that ranges from brown to purple followed by needle drop. Often this is most prevalent on the south side or windward side of the tree, and in some cases...
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 County are invited to attend. Home school kids who are interested in participating need to contact the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3751. Participants will learn the importance agriculture, which is Montana’s number one industry. In addition, youth will learn why agriculture is important to t...