MSU Extension cropping seminars slated for January 7-11 in Golden Triangle

Seminar topics will include paraquat safety, herbicide resistance, pulse marketing, and crop rotations.

BOZEMAN -- Montana State University Extension will host a free, annual cropping seminar series January 7-11 in Fort Benton, Stanford, Havre, Chester, Shelby, Cut Bank, Conrad, Choteau, and Great Falls. Speakers will cover paraquat safety, cropping systems, pest management, integrated weed management, herbicide resistance, marketing, and risk management.

Cecil Tharp, MSU Pesticide Education Specialist, will present the history of paraquat poisonings, toxicity of paraquat, symptoms of exposure, adequately protecting individuals using personal protective equipment and new EPA mitigation measures regarding applicators using paraquat.

Patrick Carr and Jed Eberly from the MSU Central Agriculture Research Center will focus on using diverse cropping systems as a way to manage pests (disease, insect, and weeds) and enhance long-term farming sustainability of dryland agriculture in Montana. Discussion will include the diversity of cropping systems and how they can be used to improve soil health which, in turn, improves the resiliency of Montana crop production enterprises.

Tim Seipel, MSU Plant and Agriculture Ecology Research Scientist, presentation will focus on integrated weed management and herbicide resistance. Integrated weed management allows the producer to design their weed management program around what is most effective for the particular weeds, crop, and farm operation. This seminar will cover important aspects of integrated weed management in the semi-arid systems. The evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds in challenging weed management in no-till systems. This seminar review herbicide resistance, herbicide resistance in Montana, and implications for management of agricultural weeds.

Jeff Rumney, USDA Dry Pea and Lentil Council’s Vice President, will speak on marketing and risk management of pulse crops.  He will give an in depth look at marketing, hedging, and looking at futures markets for pulses nationally and worldwide.

There is no charge for the seminars, and all producers are encouraged to attend. The Fort Benton, Stanford, Havre, Chester, Shelby, Cut Bank, Conrad, and Choteau seminars will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration. The Great Falls seminar will begin at 9:30 a.m. with registration. Seminars will finish by 3:30 p.m.

Both commercial and private pesticide licensing recertification credits will be available. Dates, locations, and contact numbers for each cropping seminar are listed below

January 7:

• Fort Benton at the Ag Center located at 1205 20^th Contact Tyler Lane at 406-622-3751.
• Stanford at the City Hall located at 102 Central. Contact Katie Hatlelid at 406-566-2277.

January 8:

• Havre at the Northern Ag Research Center located at 3710 Assiniboine Road. Contact Shylea Wingard at 406-265-5481, Ext. 233.
• Chester at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall located at 10 East Madison Avenue. Contact Jesse Fulbright at 406-759-5625.

January 9:

• Cut Bank at the Glacier County Library basement located at 21 1^st Ave SE. Contact Kari Lewis, 406-873-2239.
• Shelby at the Comfort Inn Conference Room located at 455 McKinley Avenue. Contact Kim Woodring at 406-424-8350.

January 10:

• Choteau at the Stage Stop Inn located at 1005 Main Avenue North. Contact MSU Teton County Extension office at 406-466-2491.
• Conrad at the Pondera Shooting Sports Complex at 972 Granite Road. Contact Adriane Good at 406-271-4053.

January 11:

• Great Falls at the MSU Cascade County Extension office located at 3300 Third Street North, #9. Contact Rose Malisani at 406-454-6980.

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.