BOZEMAN — The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program, with support from MSU Extension, is offering a pest management tour Oct. 3-6 for pesticide applicators in Private Applicator Training District 5.

The tour will visit seven locations across south central Montana with local support from MSU Extension agents. Private (farm) pesticide applicators may attend a morning or afternoon session for three private applicator credits or both sessions for six credits. Commercial applicator credits are also available and can be viewed on the 2022 pest management tour webpage.

Private applicators in the state’s Private Applicator Training District 5 need to earn six private applicator credits before Dec. 31 to avoid losing their certification, according to Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension pesticide education specialist. District 5 includes Big Horn, Carbon, Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Musselshell, Petroleum, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, Wheatland and Yellowstone counties. Applicators can review their credit information at mtplants.mt.gov/ by selecting “pesticide programs” and “pesticide license search” before entering their license number. Applicators can also contact their local MSU Extension office for license information.

Tour presenters include Hayes Goosey, MSU Extension forage specialist, on forage pests; Jane Mangold, MSU Extension rangeland weed specialist, on invasive annual weeds; Tim Seipel, MSU Extension cropland weed specialist, on integrated pest management and herbicide resistance; Uta McKelvy, MSU associate Extension plant pathologist, on crop disease updates; Kevin Wanner, MSU Extension cropland entomologist, on alfalfa and pea leaf weevils; and Stephen Vantassel, Montana Department of Agriculture vertebrate pest specialist, on the management of Richardson’s ground squirrels.

Presentations vary by location. The detailed program agenda is available at pesticides.montana.edu/events/2022pmt.html or by contacting a local MSU Extension office at pesticides.montana.edu/pat/patcolist.html. Participants must register in advance with local contacts, listed below for each location. There is no fee to participate, and lunch is provided at each location.

The tour stops are as follows:

Monday, Oct. 3 

  • Stanford: Stanford City Hall, 102 Central Ave. Contact: Katie Hatlelid, MSU Extension Judith Basin County agricultural agent. Register by Oct. 1 by phone or email: 406-566-2277, ext. 104 or katherine.hatlelid@montana.edu.

Tuesday, Oct. 4 

  • Roundup: Central Commons Facility, 610 Second St. W. Contact: Jennifer Solf, MSU Extension Musselshell-Golden Valley County agriculture agent. Register by Oct. 1 by phone or email: 406-323-2704 or jennifer.solf@montana.edu.
  • Billings: 4-H Building, MetraPark, Fairgrounds, 308 Sixth Ave. N. Contact: Roni Baker, MSU Extension Yellowstone County 4-H agent. Register by Sept. 27 by phone or email: 406-256-2828 or ronibaker@montana.edu.

Wednesday, Oct. 5

  • Joliet: Joliet Community Center, 209 E. Front Ave. Contact: Carbon County MSU Extension. Register by Oct. 2 by phone or email: 406-962-3522 or carbon@montana.edu.
  • Columbus: Stillwater County Fairgrounds, 328 E. Fifth Ave. N. Contact: Lee Schmelzer, MSU Extension Stillwater County agriculture agent. Register by Oct. 2 by phone or email: 406-322-8035 or lees@montana.edu.

Thursday, Oct. 6

  • Big Timber: Sweet Grass County Fairgrounds, 137 Fairgrounds Road. Contact: Marc King, MSU Extension Sweet Grass County agriculture agent. Register by Sept. 30 by phone or email: 406-580-2556 or mking@montana.edu.
  • Harlowton: IAGT (Formerly the Federated Church), 15 First St. N.W. Contact: Mandie Reed, MSU Extension Wheatland County agent. Register by Oct. 3 by phone or email: 406-632-4728 or reed@montana.edu.

For other questions, contact Cecil Tharp, pesticide education specialist at the MSU Pesticide Education Program office, at 406-994-5067 or ctharp@montana.edu.

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