Max Ag will sponsor Golden Triangle Cropping Seminar on January 11 in Fort Benton

Montana State University Extension will host its annual cropping seminar series in Fort Benton on January 11, 2024. Registration begins at the Ag Center (1205 20th Street) at 8:30 a.m. The first speaker will begin at 9:00 a.m. Speakers will cover topics such as weed resistance, crop rotations, marketing tips, and vertebrate pests. Three pesticide credits will be available for attending the event. A special thanks to Max Ag for sponsoring the lunch.

(9:00-10:00) Dr. Pat Carr, Central Ag Research Center superintendent and associate professor, will give a crop rotation update from MSU. Cropping rotations are an integral part of an Integrated Pest Management Program. Dr. Carr’s research interests include dryland cropping systems and strategies to improve economic and environmental sustainability; organic farming and regenerative agriculture philosophy and practice, alternative cropping practices including intercropping and dual use cover-forage crop systems; and integrated crop-livestock systems. Teaching interests include general crop production; forage management and production; conservation tillage systems; organic farming and regenerative agriculture, and emerging field crop systems.

(10:00-11:00) Dr. Stephen Vantassel, Montana Department of Agriculture, vertebrate pest specialist will cover vertebrate pests related to crop and rangeland situations. Pests to be covered include ground squirrels, pocket gophers, and other vertebrate pests of interest to the audience. Dr. Vantassel develops pest control training for pesticide applicators, creates publications and training materials, and serves as an extensive resource for vertebrate pest control methods for producers and landowners in Montana.

(11:00-12:00) Operating equipment using repetitive motions,

awkward posture, continual whole-body vibration can lead to physical strain on the body. Penny Goldhahn, from Benefis Missouri River Medical Center Physical Therapy, will join us to provide information about prevention of posture-related injuries.

(12:00-1:00) lunch sponsored by Max Ag.

(1:00-2:00) Dr. Tim Seipel will be covering weed resistance issues in Montana, including how these issues developed, how to best manage and prevent them, and what to be aware of in the future regarding Integrated weed management in Montana croplands. Dr. Seipel is the MSU Extension cropland weed extension specialist, Integrated Pest Management program coordinator, and an assistant research professor at Montana State University.

(2:00-3:00) Dr. Eric Belasco, MSU ag economist, will present, “Ten marketing tips for wheat, barley, and pulse crop producers.” Eric’s main research focuses on the areas of agricultural marketing and applied econometrics. His research centers around characterizing variability in profits, production, and marketing.

For further information, please contact Tyler Lane at the Chouteau County Extension office at 406-622-3751.