Sorted by date Results 426 - 450 of 493
Fifth Annual Chouteau County Agriculture Day The fifth annual Chouteau County Ag day for 4th and 5th graders will take place at the Chouteau County Fairgrounds on April 19, 2017. All 4th and 5th graders in Chouteau County are invited to attend. Home school kids who are interested in participating should contact the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3751. Participants will learn the importance of Montana’s number one industry; agriculture, and why agriculture is important to their health, home and community. For thousands of years, c...
April Horticulture Reminders Below is a list of reminders from the Montana Gardener’s book of days (EB 165), and other writings by Bob Gough, former MSU Extension Horticultural Specialist. • Prune fruit trees, berry bushes, ornamental trees and summer flowering shrubs before bud swell. Always prune to a branch, because a stub will decay and affect the longevity of the tree. • Graft fruit trees just as the first buds on the tree begin to swell. • Apply dormant oil sprays to fruit trees and other plants when the temperature is expected to rema...
Night Feeding or Daytime Calving Information for this article was taken from the February issue of the Cow Sense Chronicle written by Rachel Endecott, MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist. We’ve all experienced that middle-of-the-night calving incident that sure would have been easier to manage if it had happened in the daylight. Some ranchers use an evening feeding strategy to shift more cows to calve during the day. A case study comparing two sets of calving data with different feeding times illustrates this phenomenon well (Jaeger, et al. 2...
Soil Acidity and Soil Health Workshop in Fort Benton The Chouteau County Conservation District and MSU Extension are teaming up for a soil acidity and soil health workshop at the Community Recreation Center in Fort Benton on March 22, 2017. The Community Center is located at 911 16th Street. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the workshop will begin at 10:00 a.m. Most agricultural soils in Montana have near-neutral to basic conditions with surface soil pH 6.5 to 8. However, some areas of Montana have developed acidic soil layers near...
On February 21, the MSU Extension Chouteau County office will be moved to the green steel building located next to the Chouteau County Courthouse. The original Extension office located in the Courthouse basement will be filled by Judge Susan Spencer from Chouteau County Justice of the Peace. Winter Tree Watering Winter watering is next to useless when the soil is frozen or soil temperatures are below 40 to 45 F. Plants can’t absorb much water in winter, and they need less of it. It is better to water in spring, when the buds really begin to s...
Winter Bull Management Protection from inclement weather is a critical factor in winter herd bull management because of the very real concern of frostbite of the scrotum. While mild frostbite generally has a good recovery rate, severe frostbite can leave a bull infertile. Scarring from frostbite can hinder a bull’s ability to raise and lower the testicles for proper temperature regulation. This regulation depends on coordination of three structures: the tunica dartos muscle in the walls of the scrotum, which relaxes when hot and contracts w...
ation and the US Dry Pea and Lentil Council MSU Extension will be hosting a Pulse Production workshop Wednesday, February 15, 2017, in both Conrad and Fort Benton. With decreased commodity prices in cereal grains, there is additional interest in raising pulse crops. However, many production and marketing challenges exist, which this workshop will address for beginning producers. The workshop will cover production, marketing, insurance, disease management, and common mistakes with chemicals and inoculants and conclude with a producer panel. The...
Master Gardener Level 1 Class in Fort Benton (please pre-register) MSU Extension level 1 Master Gardener classes may take place in Fort Benton in February pending pre-registration numbers. We only have four signed up at this time. Now is your chance to participate in an excellent educational opportunity. If fifteen people pre-register, we will have the class, which traditionally begins the third week in February. Please contact the MSU Chouteau County Extension office at 622-3751 to pre-register. The Level 1 Master Gardener course requires 16...
MSU Extension Chouteau County has Hay probe and Nutrition Decision Software Sampling of hay is essential to livestock management. Hay sampling is best accomplished with a hollow core probe consisting of a stainless-steel tube and a sharp cutting end. The Chouteau County Extension office has a hay probe available for check out. One core should be sampled from at least 20 bales from a lot of hay. A lot of hay is defined as hay harvested from a field of uniform maturity within a 48 hour period. Generally a lot should not exceed 200 tons. Poor...
MSU Extension will be hosting a Pulse Production workshop Wednesday, February 15, 2017, in both Conrad and Fort Benton. With decreased commodity prices in cereal grains, there is additional interest in raising pulse crops. However, many production and marketing challenges exist, which this workshop will address for beginning producers. The workshop will cover production, marketing, insurance, disease management, and common mistakes with chemicals and inoculants and conclude with a producer panel. Both locations will begin with registration at...
Montana’s Next Generation Conference to feature Dave Pratt and production workshops Registration is now open for Montana’s Next Generation Conference. The conference, which will take place Friday and Saturday, January 27-28, 2017, in Shelby, MT will focus on business planning for the farm or ranch and production workshops. The conference begins Friday at 11 a.m. at the Shelby Civic Center. Dave Pratt from ‘Ranching for Profit,’ will lead participants through two sessions, ‘The Three Secrets for Increasing Profit,’ and ‘Hard Work and Harmony....
Upcoming Extension Cropping Seminars for January Golden Triangle Cropping Seminar 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, the top ten habits of profitable farmers, cereal variety trial updates from the local research centers, and control of ground squirrels, gophers and voles in crop settings. No pre-registration is required, and all producers are e...
Winter Feeding Tips (Don’t Waste Your Hay) This article was written by Dennis Cash, retired MSU Extension Service forage specialist. The complete article with tables is located on the MSU Extension website under forage and hay. Since your winter feeding program is likely your single largest ranch expense, reducing hay waste can save you money. Hay losses at feeding on most ranches averages about one fourth, but can easily approach half. During good haying conditions and with proper storage, most losses to alfalfa or alfalfa-grass hays can be m...
Master Gardener Level 1 Class in Fort Benton (Pre-Registration Begins Today) MSU Extension level 1 Master Gardener classes will take place in Fort Benton in February pending pre-registration numbers. Now is your chance to participate in an excellent educational opportunity. If fifteen people pre-register, we will have the class, which traditionally begins the third week in February. Please contact the MSU Chouteau County Extension office at 622-3751 to pre-register. The Level 1 Master Gardener course requires 16 hours of class time, and is...
10 Golden Triangle Cropping Seminar Montana State University Extension will host the annual Cropping Seminar series January 9 – 12, 2017, in Fort Benton, Chester, Shelby, Cut Bank, Fairfield, 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 moles in crop settings. Dr. Mary Burrows, MSU Extension Plant Pathologist, will present, “Pest Identification: The cornerstone of int...
Grain storage inspections should begin close to Thanksgiving Inspecting grain bins for pests on or before Thanksgiving is a great rule of thumb for Chouteau County producers. The Lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica is one of the most injurious beetles known to attack stored grain. The Lesser grain borer belongs to the Bostrichidae family of beetles, which are mostly wood boring insects. R. dominica causes major physical and off-odor damage to grain in storage. Identifying Characteristics: Adults are dark reddish-brown to black in color,...
November Horticultural Tips Managing horticultural landscapes and house plants in November is important to healthy production during the growing season. Below are a few recommendations for Chouteau county gardeners. • Apply protective mulches to perennial beds. • Use a humidifier to maintain humidity for houseplants. • Prune out dead limbs of woody ornamentals. • Do not fertilize or transplant anything after Columbus Day. • Continue to water landscape plantings (trees, shrubs, and perennials) until the soil freezes. • Apply winter mulch to st...
Vaccination Tips on Beef Cattle Information for this article was taken from the October issue of the Cow Sense Chronicle written by Rachel Endecott, MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist. Successful vaccination depends on three critical factors: an effective vaccine, a functioning immune system, and administration of the vaccine before exposure to the disease. Some tips for effective vaccination include: • Read and follow label directions. If you are unsure, consult your veterinarian or call the vaccine company directly before using the p...
Fall Cropping Update from MSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist Information for this article came from a MSU Extension Press Release. “Both nitrogen and sulfur needs for next year’s crops should be considered said Clain Jones (MSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist) especially in areas that received well-above or well-below normal rainfall. There are several things that influence the next crop’s nitrogen requirements,” Jones said. “These include yield potential, residual nitrogen in the soil, and this year’s crop residue.” Jones encoura...
Fall is a Great Time to Order Shelterbelt Trees The Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery (MCSN) is already receiving new orders for shelter belt plantings. Rocky Mountain Juniper is the most popular windbreak species, and is sold out quite quickly. If you are interested in ordering Rocky Mountain Juniper for your shelterbelt, please place your order as soon as possible. Shelterbelt plans should be approved by the MSU Extension Chouteau County agent, Chouteau County Conservation District personnel, or MCSN staff. The minimum order for new...
Insects Affecting Livestock Production The Chouteau County Livestock Protective Association meeting will take place on Friday, November 10th at 3:00 p.m.at the Vets Hall in Geraldine. The social will begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30. An educational presentation on insects affecting livestock production will follow dinner. Dr. Greg Johnson, MSU Extension Veterinary Entomologist will discuss fly and lice management in beef cattle. Horn flies are the most common summer pest on mature cattle in Montana. These flies spend 95% of their...
Fundamentals of Farming and Ranching for Families Conference Due to the great success of last year’s workshop, MSU Extension Chouteau County will be hosting another workshop for farm and ranch families from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at the Community Bible Center in Fort Benton. The center is located at 911 16th street in Fort Benton. Daycare will be provided for attendees upon request. Lunch is sponsored by Farm Bureau Federation and Jared Vielleux from Farm Bureau Financial Services. The workshop will include s...
Range Renovation Conference in Fort Benton and Stanford MSU Extension is sponsoring a range renovation conference in Fort Benton and Stanford on Thursday, October 20th. The morning seminar will take place in Fort Benton from 8:00-11:00 at Community Bible Recreation Center located at 911 16th Street. The afternoon seminar will take place in Stanford at City Hall, from 2:00-5:00. Many producers are considering renovating their rangeland to increase grass production. In addition, seeded pastures supply nutritious forage at times during the year...
September Horticulture Questions from Chouteau County Clientele • I didn’t get my pumpkins covered when we had our first frost. Should I throw them away? According to NDSU Extension, the first light freeze usually will take out the canopy foliage and leave the fruit pretty much unharmed. Ideally, the crop should be harvested as soon as possible. If a prompt harvest isn’t possible, then hope for a week to 10 days of balmy weather with no further freezes. Harvest the pumpkins and squash at your earliest convenience. Frost blankets are highl...
Ranching Management Questions and Answers in September What herbicide do you recommend for cheatgrass management in alfalfa or an alfalfa/grass mix? Dr. Jane Mangold MSU Rangeland Weed Specialist, has talked to producers who use a low rate of Roundup (4 ounces per acre) in the early spring, prior to alfalfa and other grasses breaking dormancy. Depending on the severity of the infestation, producers may need to spray a couple years to deplete the seed bank. In addition, producers need to be careful to not stress the alfalfa/grass as a result of...