MSU to host agriculture celebration Nov. 5-7

By Jenny Lavey

MSU News Service

BOZEMAN — Montana State University’s College of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station will host the 16th annual Celebrate Agriculture event on campus Nov. 5-7. 

The event marks a long tradition in the college to honor the state and college’s agricultural legacy in keeping production agriculture as Montana’s highest-grossing industry. Last year, production agriculture generated more than $4 billion in all agriculture products and services, according to the Montana Department of Agriculture. Celebrate Agriculture also offers participants and attendees opportunities to learn about MSU’s agricultural heritage, current programs and research from the college and experiment station faculty.

“Celebrate Agriculture is our college’s chance to extend our gratitude for the support we are fortunate to have from stakeholders across the state,” said Charles Boyer, MSU vice president of agriculture and dean and director of the College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. “The weekend is also an opportunity for our students to connect with current agricultural professionals and appreciate our university’s legacy in agriculture research. We will celebrate and honor current and future leaders during the weekend.”

Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m., a newly remodeled 1950s soil teaching laboratory featuring more than 40 Montana soil monoliths will be re-dedicated in honor of Hayden Ferguson, professor emeritus. Last year, Tony Hartshorn, assistant professor of soil sciences in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, led the remodeling project. 2015 is also the United Nations’ International Year of the Soils, and the 63rd Montana State Legislature formally approved the Scobey soil series — the soil most commonly found in northcentral Montana and known for its productivity in farming wheat — as Montana’s official state soil. 

“The new soil lab features LED lighting on the monoliths and we replaced a 24-foot-wall with a window,” Hartshorn said. “Our idea of using an existing space and giving it a facelift for 21st century soil students, teaching and lab work is something we feel greatly increases our ability to give students the best learning opportunities we can.”

Friday, Nov. 6, the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics will host its annual Agricultural Economics Outlook Conference, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Procrastinator Theater in the Strand Union Building. This year’s conference, “Montana Agriculture: Global Trade to Local Foods,” will feature faculty presentations on agricultural policy, risk management, livestock and grain markets. Colin Carter, professor of agricultural and resource economics and director of the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics at the University of California, will deliver a keynote address on agricultural trade and the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement. For a full list of conference of activities and registration, visit http://www.ampc.montana/edu/fallconference.html.

The Celebrate Agriculture weekend continues Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to noon with a Montana-made harvest breakfast in the South Gym of the Marga Hoseaus Fitness Center with MSU President Waded Cruzado. The college’s Outstanding Agricultural Leaders — the annual awards given to dedicated supporters and friends of the college — will be announced during breakfast. The Outstanding Agricultural Leaders will again be recognized at the MSU football game versus Southern Utah University. Kickoff is set for 1:40 p.m. in Bobcat Stadium.

For a full list of events and activities, visit http://ag.montana.edu/celebrateag/.