Montana State University Extension to host Golden Triangle cropping seminars

BOZEMAN - Montana State University Extension will host its annual cropping seminar series Jan. 6-10 in the Golden Triangle area of north-central Montana. Speakers will cover topics such as noxious weeds, pulse insect management, pesticide updates and winter barley.

Interested individuals can attend in Chester, Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Fort Benton, Great Falls, Havre, Shelby or Stanford.

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

Both commercial and private pesticide licensing recertification credits will be available.

Speakers will include:

Jane Mangold, MSU Extension invasive plant management specialist, will discuss growing threats Montana's croplands face from invasive species like rush skeletonweed and ventenata, which could significantly impact grain production if they become widely established. Mangold will cover identification, biology, distribution and integrated management strategies for these priority species. Attendees will also receive updates on palmer amaranth in Montana and an overview of the Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage program.

Tiziana Oppedisano, assistant professor of entomology and insect ecology at the MSU Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, will discuss strategies for managing pulse crop pests such as pea leaf weevil, army and pale western cutworms, and lygus bugs using integrated pest management.

Tom Allen, Montana field representative for Northern Pulse Growers Association, will highlight the association's role in supporting producers and how checkoff funds are utilized to enhance pulse crop production.

Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension pesticide education specialist, will explore common reasons for ineffective pesticide applications and provide updates on new regulations, including certification and training requirements, paraquat training and potential changes to the Environmental Protection Agency's endangered species plan.

Joseph Jensen, assistant professor and cropping systems agronomist at the MSU Northwestern Agricultural Research Center, will share updates on MSU's winter barley breeding program and plans for the release of the first winter barley line. He will also discuss current research on agronomic performance and pest management in the Golden Triangle, followed by a Q&A session to address growers' concerns and future research needs.

Dates, locations and contact information for the seminars are listed below:

Monday, Jan. 6:

• Stanford: Stanford City Hall, 102 Central Ave. RSVP to 406-566-2277, option 3, or [email protected].

• Fort Benton: Ag Center, 1205 20th St. RSVP to Tyler Lane at 406-622-3751 or [email protected].

Tuesday, Jan. 7:

• Chester: Our Savior's Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 10 E. Madison Ave. RSVP to Jesse Fulbright at 406-759-5625 or [email protected].

• Havre: 4-H Chuckwagon at the Great Northern Fairgrounds, 1676 U.S. Highway 2 W. RSVP to Colleen Pegar at 406-400-2333 or [email protected].

Wednesday, Jan. 8:

• Cut Bank: Glacier County Library basement, 21 First Ave. SE. RSVP to Kari Lewis at 406-873-2239 or [email protected].

• Shelby: Comfort Inn, 455 McKinley Ave. RSVP to Kim Woodring at 406-424-8350 or [email protected].

Thursday, Jan. 9:

• Conrad: Conrad Moose Lodge, 617 S. Main St. RSVP to Pondera County at 406-271-4054 or [email protected].

• Choteau: Stage Stop Inn, 1005 Main Ave. N. RSVP to Jenn Swanson at 406-868-4570 or [email protected].

Friday, Jan. 10:

• Great Falls: Great Falls College MSU, room B101, 2100 16th Ave. S. RSVP to Rose Malisani at 406-454-6980 or [email protected].

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