Montana State University Extension will host a free, annual cropping seminar series January 9-13 in Great Falls, Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Shelby, Chester, Havre, Fort Benton, and Stanford. Speakers will cover cereal grain varieties, pea and lentil management, soil fertility management and estate planning.
Cereal grain varieties update will be presented by Dr. Jed Eberly from MSU Central Agricultural Research Center, Peggy Lamb from MSU Northern Agricultural Research Center and Wyatt Medina from Western Triangle Agriculture Research Center. Presentations will cover local test plot results and Integrated Pest Management of cereal grains. Dr. Eberly is an Assistant Professor in Agronomy and Soil Microbiology. His responsibilities include managing the small grain variety trials and conducting research in soil microbiology for improving plant and soil health. Peggy Lamb is a Research Scientist in charge of the Variety Testing Program. Current collaborative research activities include variety development and testing of small grains and many other crops. She also conducts research on sawfly management, crop fertility, insecticides, fungicides, and crop management. Wyatt Medina is a Research Associate in charge of managing all on and off-station variety trials under the supervision of Dr. Justin Vetch. He is a recent graduate from Oklahoma State University, where he received a degree in plant and soil science, along with a concentration in crop production and management.
Pea and lentil management will be presented by Dr. Kevin McPhee, MSU Pulse Breeder. Dr. McPhee’s research goals include development of high-yielding pulse crop (pea, lentil, and chickpea) varieties using conventional breeding approaches. New varieties are
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targeted with good agronomic characteristics, resistance to disease, and adaptability to environmental stresses present in Montana and regionally.
Soil fertility management be presented by Dr. Clain Jones and Dr. Manbir Rakkar. A variety of topics will be addressed including the 4Rs, acidity and volatilization of foliar applications. Dr. Jones is the MSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist. He teaches a range of nutrient management topics, including cropping systems, economics of fertilizer use, and reducing nutrient losses. Dr. Rakkar is an Assistant Research Professor at Montana State University. Her research program is focused on resolving soil acidification issues. She is investigating various techniques to prevent, mitigate and adapt to soil acidification in Montana.
Estate planning will be presented by Dr. Marsha A. Goetting. Dr. Goetting is a Professor and Extension Family Economics Specialist at Montana State University in Bozeman. Dr. Goetting is well known throughout the state for her authorship of 50 MontGuides (fact sheets) in the estate planning area.
There is no charge for the seminars, and all producers are encouraged to attend. The Great Falls seminar will begin at 9:30 a.m. with registration. The Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Shelby, Chester, Havre, Fort Benton, and Stanford seminars will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration.
Both commercial and private pesticide licensing recertification credits will be available.
Dates, locations, and contact numbers for each cropping seminar are listed below.
Monday, January 9:
• Great Falls at Great Falls College MSU’s Heritage Hall at Great Falls, MT 59401. Contact Rose Malisani at 406-454-6980
Tuesday, January 10:
• Choteau at the Stage Stop Inn located at 1005 Main Avenue North Choteau, MT 59422. Contact Jenn Swanson at 406-466-2491.
• Conrad at the Pondera Shooting Sports Complex at 972 Granite Road Conrad, MT 59425. Contact Dan Severson at 406-271-4054.
Wednesday, January 11:
• Cut Bank at the Glacier County Library basement located at 21 1st Ave SE Cutbank, MT 59427. Contact Kari Lewis at 406-873-2239.
• Shelby at the Comfort Inn Conference Room at 455 McKinley Ave, Shelby, MT 59474 Contact Kim Woodring at 406-424-8350.
Thursday, January 12:
• Havre at the Hill County Fairgrounds 4-H Chuckwagon located at 1676 US Highway 2 West. Contact Colleen Pegar at 406-400-2333.
• Chester at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall located at 10 East Madison Avenue. Contact Jesse Fulbright at 406-759-5625.
Friday, January 13:
• Fort Benton at the Ag Center located at 1205 20th Street Ft. Benton, MT 59442. Contact Tyler Lane at 406-622-3751.
• Stanford at the City Hall located at 102 Central Avenue, Stanford, MT 59479. Contact Katie Hatlelid at 406-566-2277.
MSU Extension is an ADA/EO/AA/veteran’s preference employer and provider of educational outreach. If participants require accommodation for a disability to participate, they are asked to notify the local Extension office prior to the event.
