Anne James

Albertans are headed to the polls today to elect their provincial legislature and premiere, and there's a very good chance that the new premiere will be a woman. Danielle Smith leads the Wild Rose party, the most conservative of the four major parties on the ballot, and Alis

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Anne Britz will be the guest speaker at Monday's (April 23) meeting of the Shelby Area Chamber of Commerce, discussing the Certified Canada program that allows Canadian shoppers to use their debit cards at businesses in Montana. The meeting begins at noon at the Griddle. For more information about the Certified Canada program, click HERE.

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“Everyone talks about the weather” as the old cliche goes, and there’s good reason. According to the National Weather Service, each year, Americans cope with 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, a thousand t

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April 16-20 is Severe Weather Awareness week, and today, the National Weather Service reminds us that we're coming into thunderstorm and lightning season. "When thunder roars, go indoors" is the rule in this lightning safety video

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Integrated Pest Management is a crucial part of farming and ranching, but even if your "spread" consists of a few square feet of yard in town, there are things you need to know. The Montana State University Extension Service issues a regular Urban IPM Newsletter that you can receive

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Montana has more bird-watching enthusiasts per capita than any other state, from casual backyard observers to the truly dedicated who keep "life lists" of the birds they've spotted. The Montana Office of Tourism reminds us that some of the best spots for bird watchers are right here along the Rocky Mountain front. 

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Yes, chalk. It’s not just for blackboards and sidewalks anymore. From the catwalk to Hollywood to the schoolyard, chalked hair is the latest fashion fad.  It’s cheap, for one thing, so even pint-sized fashionistas on an allowance can afford to be stylish.

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April 16-20 is Severe Weather Awareness Week.  As we head into thunderstorm season, the National Weather Service reminds us that it's important to be prepared to deal with storms and their aftermath. Click HERE to link to valuable preparation information.

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On Monday's (April 16) Extension Minute, Toole Co Agent Alice Burchak shared the following information about a beekeeping workshop the MSU Extension Service will be hosting in Cut Bank on Saturday, April 28:

Honey bees pollinate a third of the food that we eat. However, in the past six years the annual die-off of honeybees has become increasingly alarming. The phenomenon is known as colony collapse disorder (CCD). Research has not pinned down the reason for CCD. Many scientists think it is an accumulation of multiple reasons such as disease, pesticides, and harmful mites that have emigrated from Asia. To counteract the effects of CCD more people are encouraged to keep their own bees.

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 It is estimated by one of the chemical companies that approximately 1 million acres in Montana didn’t get sprayed for cheatgrass last fall due to the dry conditions. This poses a significant challenge this spring, disease-wise. Here is some info on Rhizoctonia root rot (bare patch) - t

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Today, April 17th, is National Cheese Ball Day, and I am stumped. I wanted to wow you with a history of this ubiquitous party food staple, but alas, an hour's worth of internet searches came up empty.  It seems Cheese Balls just showed up at a party one day, and they've been showing up ever since. For th

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To anyone who interacted with the plant disease diagnostic lab for plant, insect, or other samples in 2011: please respond to a brief survey. We have been facing major challenges funding this service and our federal funding is currently threatened. We would like

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