Extension providing farm and ranch management workshop on Fort Belknap

Joel Schumacher and Kate Fuller from Montana State University Extension Office will present a free farm and ranch management workshop March 27-28 at Aaniiih Nakoda College in Fort Belknap.

The first session begins at 9:30 a.m. March 27.

The workshop is aimed at aiding and advising those on the aspect of managing risk for farm and ranch operations. Schumacher said the workshop also satisfies the borrower training requirement that the Farm Service Agency imposes as part of some loan programs.

Fort Belknap is one of four reservations that have extension offices in Montana. However, Schumacher said, all of the tribal colleges offer some extension programing as well.

Fort Belknap Extension Agent Liz Werk said the goal of the workshop is “to provide community members, and communities as a whole, opportunities to build healthy and sustainable food systems and lifestyles.”

The two-day workshop provides landowners and land managers the opportunity to learn more about livestock and crop insurance and cattle production. It runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Registration is required by contacting Keri Hayes at 406-994-3511 or email at [email protected].

Agenda:

Day 1: Morning Session

9:30-9:40 a.m. — Introduction to Sample Farm/Ranch Operations; George Haynes, MSU Extension

9:40-10:30 a.m. — Bridging the Gap: Financial Reports to Enterprise Crop Budgets; George Haynes, MSU Extension

10:30-1:15 a.m. — Mineral Nutrition Impact for Beef Cattle Production (video); Megan Von Emon, MSU Extension

11:15-11:30 a.m. — Break

11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Agricultural Policy Update; George Haynes, MSU Extension

12:15-1:15 p.m. — Lunch on your own

Day 1: Afternoon Session

1:15-2 p.m. — Insurance Roadmap: Getting Started with Crop and Livestock Insurance

Options; Kate Fuller, MSU Extension

2-3 p.m. — Family Business Issues; George Haynes, MSU Extension

3-3:15 p.m. — Break

3:15-4 p.m. — Hay Production 101 (video); Emily Meccage, MSU Extension

4-5 p.m. — Agricultural Outlook; Kate Fuller, MSU Extension

Day 2: Morning Session

9-9:45 a.m. — Pasture Leases with Sample Lease Calculation Examples; Kate Fuller, MSU Extension

9:45-10:30 a.m. — Integrated Weed Management (video); Jane Mangold, MSU Extension

10:45-11:30 a.m. — Managing Non-Ag Risk for Families: Life and Health Insurance; Joel Schumacher, MSU Extension

11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Beef to School; Joel Schumacher, MSU Extension

12:15-1:15 p.m. — Lunch on your own

Day 2: Afternoon Session

1:15-2 p.m. — Homegrown by Heroes Program; Ryan Lankford, R & L Lankford Farms

2-2:45 p.m. — Introduction to Risk Management (Video); Eric Belasco, MSU Department of Agricultural Economics & Economics

2:45-3 p.m. — Break

3-4:45 p.m. — Tips for Successful Farm Transition: Retirement and Succession Planning; Joel Schumacher, MSU Extension

4:45-5 p.m. — Wrap-up