Montana Certified Seed potatoes are available in Chouteau County
Planting Montana certified seed potatoes in your garden is an important way to protect Montana seed potato farms from the importation of damaging pests and pathogens. Montana seed potatoes are grown at the highest standards with very stringent tolerances for disease and quality. In addition, Montana growers have an amazing range of varieties that have outstanding and novel culinary qualities. Available varieties include: Russet varieties; fingerlings, including French Fingerling, Rose Finn Apple fingerling and Purple Fiesta (purple skin and flesh); reds, including Dark Red Norland, Pontiac, and Chieftan; yellows, including Yukon Gold and Yukon Gem; and the Purple Viking, which has purple skin with pink blotches and pure white flesh. When purchasing seed potatoes, ask if they are Montana Certified or look for the blue certificate indicating the grower and variety. Contact Janell Barber at Chouteau County Extension for more information. Janell can be reached at 406-622-3036.
Fourth Annual Chouteau County Agriculture Day
The fourth annual Chouteau County Ag days for 4th and 5th graders will take place at the Chouteau County Fairgrounds on April 28, 2016. 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 of Montana’s number one industry; agriculture, and why agriculture is important to their health, home and community. For thousands of years, civilization has been built upon the foundation laid by farmers and ranchers. Today’s American farmers produce an abundance of food and fiber, as well as flowers, fish, forest products, forage and fuel. Farmers and ranchers provide American consumers with products at prices among the lowest in the world. Many agricultural products are exported, helping feed people around the world. Farmers and ranchers are also stewards of the land. Agricultural producers promote clean water, improve wildlife habitat and promote soil health in an effort to sustain their
See Page 3: Green farms and ranches for future generations.
Participants will learn about soil and rainfall, pollination, sheep and wool, horsemanship on the ranch, durum to noodles, and how farm machinery is used on the farm and ranch to produce food. Educators are from the Chouteau County and Big Sandy Conservation District, NRCS, Farmers Union, MSU Extension, 4-H and FFA.
The event was organized by Chouteau County and Big Sandy Conservation District, Chouteau County Principals, Farmers Union and MSU Extension Chouteau County. Highwood, Big Sandy, and homeschoolers will begin at 9:30 a.m., and finish at 11:55 a.m. Fort Benton and Geraldine 4-5th graders, will begin at 12:00 p.m. and finish at 2:25 p.m. Lunch will be provided by Farmers Union. The afternoon group will begin lunch at 11:15 so they can begin at 12:00. The morning group will eat at 12:00 before heading back to school.
Montana State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.
