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The Master Gardener program provides research based information for gardeners. Below are a few notes taken from the turf management portion of the program. • Rough bluegrass is probably the best grass in Montana for shady areas. • Kentucky bluegrass is the best grass for open sunny areas with well-drained soil. • Annual ryegrass can be used as a cover crop following vegetable production. • The standard lawn mix is 60% Kentucky bluegrass, 30% creeping red fescue and 10% annual ryegrass. • Zoysiagrass does not grow well in Montana. Montana s...
Creeping Bellflower is a Persistent Weed in Montana Lawns Creeping bellflower is an herbaceous creeping perennial in the Harebell family. Native to Eurasia, it has become widely naturalized in North America. Initially introduced as an ornamental, this plant has spread aggressively into lawns and gardens where it is difficult to control. Creeping bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) is a perennial plant with unbranched stems that are usually 1 to 3 feet tall. The stems bear five-lobed, blue to purple, bell-shaped flowers that are 0.75 to 1.5 inc...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in states throughout the central and western United States including Montana. Although avian influenza is a highly contagious disease to domestic poultry, there are no apparent risks to human health at this time. It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry products, including meat and eggs. Good biosecurity helps keep birds healthy. Steps you can take include minimizing contact with wild birds and other poultry, sanitizing equipment and clothing used around them, and control...
Insecticide-Resistant Alfalfa Weevils Found in Bighorn County Kevin Wanner (MSU Extension Entomologist) informed Extension that the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) has developed resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in Bighorn County. He also put together an article on the subject. Below are a few segments taken from the article. After years of exposure, insect populations develop resistance to insecticide toxins, making them ineffective. Changing the genetic makeup of insect populations can produce alarming and costly consequences when...
A Few Facts about Dimilin 2L Insecticide for Grasshopper Pest Management If we continue to have drought conditions, grasshopper pest populations will explode this spring. One insecticide available is Dimilin 2L. Below are a few facts about Dimilin 2L. • Dimilin 2L is an insecticide that interferes with molting. This insect growth regulator does not poison the grasshoppers, but it controls immature grasshoppers by interfering with their normal shedding of skin as they grow. As a result, it takes time to see mortality. • Dimilin 2L is an ins...
Notes from Master Gardener Classes in Big Sandy and Fort Benton The Master Gardener class (Level 1) began in Fort Benton and Big Sandy on the first week of March and will finish the last week in April. A total of nine are taking the class in Fort Benton and 17 are taking the class in Big Sandy. Below are a few notes from the class. • Do not work soil when it is wet. If the soil sticks to the shovel, wait a few more days. • The number one thing that kills our plants is TLC. Don’t over fertilize, don’t over trim, don’t over water. • A sandy loa...
Initial Private Applicator Pesticide Training in Stanford MSU Extension Judith Basin County will be offering a Private Pesticide Applicator Initial Training on April 21, 2022 in Stanford. The training will take place at the Stanford City Hall located at 102 Central Ave. Individuals and their employees must be licensed as private applicators prior to purchasing and using restricted use pesticides on land they own, rent, or lease. For applicators to acquire their private applicator license, they must either attend an Initial Private Applicator tr...
Drought Persistence and Cattle Decisions from the MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Unfortunately, the drought continues to persist throughout Montana and relief is not forecasted. The current drought map has 92% of Montana in a drought, with almost half of the state designated as D3 and D4. The seasonal drought outlook map shows through May 31, 2022, the drought will persist for most of Montana and the Western United States. The persistent drought means tough decisions ahead for livestock producers. Since the summer of 2021, many livestock...
Chouteau County Invitational 4-H Archery Shoot Results The 4-H Shooting Sports 2022 Chouteau County Invitational Shoot was held February 26th in Fort Benton with 64 members registered to shoot. Participants were mostly from the Golden Triangle Counties. Other counties participating were Flathead, Lewis and Clark, Treasure and Rosebud. Medals went to the following Chouteau County participants: Also participating from Chouteau County were Elise Hartley, Chavelle Burney, Braxton Crowder, Conner...
Question and Answers on Grasshopper Management in Cropland 1. Why should I be concerned about grasshoppers in 2022? Drought conditions in 2021 and an open fall promoted a high egg lay which will result in large hatches this spring. If a drought continues in Chouteau County, populations will continue to increase. Grasshoppers are a boom and bust species and thrive with arid conditions. 2. Will a wet spring break the cycle? The answer is yes. Prime conditions for decreasing populations begin with warm, early springs followed by a hot period follo...
Rules of Thumb to Help You Prepare for the Gardening Season Believe it or not, the gardening season will be upon us before we know it. Below are a few gardening facts to help you prepare for the upcoming season. • Soil tests should be taken in the garden every three years. • The best time to collect a soil sample is in the spring after soil thaw. • Fall soil sampling is not recommended because nitrogen in the soil is depleted during the fall and winter seasons. • Do not work soil when it is wet. If the soil sticks to the shovel, wait a few mor...
Many Reasons Why Deciduous Trees Should Not Be Topped Topping is the drastic removal or cutting back of large branches in mature trees. The tree is sheared like a hedge and the main branches are cut to stubs. Many homeowners top trees when they reach heights considered unsafe fearing a strong wind might blow large trees over. However, the extensive root system of a healthy tree provides adequate support for the tree. Below are a number of reasons why deciduous trees should not be topped. Starvation: Trees need leaves to manufacture starches...
Master Gardener Level 1 Class in Big Sandy on March 3 (please pre-register) MSU Extension Level 1 Master Gardener classes will take place in Big Sandy on March 3rd from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Big Sandy Library. Now is your chance to participate in an excellent educational opportunity. 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 taught by local Extension agents, plant professionals, and Master Gardener volunteers. For a $50.00 fee,...
The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program is offering a training in Fort Benton to assist farm applicators in safely managing pests with phosphine fumigants. Some common examples of products containing aluminum or magnesium phosphide include Fumi-cel, Fumitoxin, Magtoxin, Phostoxin, and Weevil-cide. The fumigant training session is offered on March 24th in Fort Benton at the Ag Center located at 1205 20th street. Four private or commercial applicator credits will be available. The session begins at 8:00 a.m. with fumigant...
The Golden Triangle Barley Conference will be in Conrad on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The triennial event features some of the industry’s top professionals. The meeting will be held at the Pondera Shooting Sports Complex (972 Granite Rd, Conrad), and will run from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Speakers from Montana State University (MSU) will include Dr. Pat Carr of the Central Ag Research Center in Moccasin, Dr. Jamie Sherman, MSU barley breeder, and Dr. Justin Vetch from the Western Triangle Ag Research Center...
Agricultural Testing Facility in Chinook Many Chouteau County producers are sending samples to the new agricultural testing facility in Chinook. Because of its location, producers can get test results back in a couple of days rather than a week or 10 days. Information below came from an article published in the Blaine County Journal. North Border Analytics opened its facility on the north side of Chinook. The business performs testing and assessment for soil, water, forage and grain samples. Dr. Brian Grebliunas, the owner, says the local lab...
Master Gardener Level 1 Class in Fort Benton or Big Sandy (please pre-register) MSU Extension level 1 Master Gardener classes will take place in Fort Benton or Big Sandy in February pending pre-registration numbers. Now is your chance to participate in an excellent educational opportunity. A minimum of 10 pre-registered participants is required. The class traditionally begins in late 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,...
6 Montana’s Next Generation Conference will be Virtual The 2022 Montana’s Next Generation Conference will provide six evening sessions covering recordkeeping, markets, marketing, crop production, succession planning, and business topics. Sessions will be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning January 11. All sessions will be broadcast and accessible online. Sessions will be free. Registration is required at www.mtnextgen.com. Farm Service Agency (FSA) borrowers can complete their borrower training req...
Utilizing Snow as a Water Source for Wintering Cattle Careful management of snow fed cows is essential in cattle management in Montana. Consider the following points from Manitoba Agriculture. The complete article is located at bit.ly/3mmm88F. • Snow as the only water source is not recommended for lactating cows, those in poor body condition, cows on less than optimum feeding programs, or for those who are sick or unhealthy. • An alternate water source must be in place and immediately available in case snow conditions change and cows can...
Fire Fighting for Farmers Class Offered during the Cropping Seminar in Fort Benton Montana State University Extension will host a free, annual cropping seminar series January 14th in Fort Benton at the Ag Center located at 1205 20th Street. Speakers will cover wheat stem sawfly management and new research, new crop variety trials, fire fighting for farmers, forage management practices during drought, and agricultural law. A special thanks to MaxAg for sponsoring the seminar in Fort Benton. Dr. David Weaver, MSU Professor, Department of Land...
Master Gardener Level 1 Class in Fort Benton or Big Sandy (please pre-register) MSU Extension level 1 Master Gardener classes will take place in Fort Benton or Big Sandy in February pending pre-registration numbers. Now is your chance to participate in an excellent educational opportunity. A minimum of 10 pre-registered participants is required. The class traditionally begins in late 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,...
Front Range Wool Pool Annual Meeting is December 11 in Conrad The Annual meeting of the Front Range Wool Pool will take place on Saturday, December 11 at the Moose Lodge in Conrad. The meeting will start at noon with registration and a potluck lunch. As always, Brent Roeder, MSU Extension Sheep Specialist, will be cooking lamb, which will be served with the potluck lunch. Educational programming will include an update on the MSU Sheep Ration Balancer Program, MSU Wool Lab, Market Update and an MSU Research Update. The annual meeting will...
6 Golden Triangle Cropping Seminar -Thanks in Advance to MaxAg for Sponsoring Lunch at the Seminar in Fort Benton Seminar in Fort Benton will be on Friday, January 14th Montana State University Extension will host a free, annual cropping seminar series January 10-14th in Great Falls, Choteau, Conrad, Cutbank, Shelby, Chester, Havre, Stanford, and Fort Benton. Speakers will cover wheat stem sawfly management and new research, new crop variety trials, forage management practices during drought, and agricultural law (New Neighbors and New...
Christmas Tree Care There are many “tips” to caring for a Christmas tree that propose to make it last longer or stay greener. In truth, all a tree really needs to maintain freshness is adequate water. Longevity is easily achieved by using the proper tree stand and keeping the water level in the stand above the base of the tree. The following tips will help to maintain the freshness and aroma of a live Christmas tree this holiday season. Use a tree stand that holds enough water for the size of the tree. The rule of thumb is one quart of water pe...
Montana State University Extension has a new, free, color booklet (EB0235) is available. The booklet is a great resource for helping identify and manage pests and problems in ornamental trees and shrubs in Montana. The 240-page guide is intended to help MSU Extension agents, arborists and those in nursery and landscape trades identify and diagnose tree and shrub issues and to help with decisions for treatment based on integrated pest management concepts. A section on woody plant identification is included with multiple color photos per...
