MSU to offer pest management tour across north-central Montana in October

MSU News Service

BOZEMAN — The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program is offering a pest management tour for pesticide applicators at eight locations across north-central Montana on Oct. 6, 8 and 9.

Those in the state’s Private Applicator Training District 3 need to earn six private applicator credits before Jan to avoid losing their certification, said Cecil Tharp, MSU pesticide education specialist. District 3 includes Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Glacier, Hill, Liberty, Pondera, Teton and Toole counties. Applicators can check their credits at https://mtplants.mt.gov/PesticideApplicator/ApplicationExternalSearch.aspx or contact their county MSU Extension office for license information.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, events will look slightly different this year. Participants may choose to meet at various in-person locations to watch speakers deliver webinars. County agents will be on site to facilitate the events and answer questions regarding credits, assist with sign in and more. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, and in line with the state executive order, attendees should be prepared to socially distance and wear masks if there are more than four active COVID-19 cases in the county, unless claiming an exemption.

There will be seven onsite programs Tuesday, Oct. 6, two Thursday, Oct. 8, and a designated webinar to watch at home Friday, Oct. 9. Those who wish to attend the at-home webinar must preregister. Tharp urged people who feel uncomfortable with state guidelines or with attending an on-site event to attend the online webinar.

Speakers will present on a variety of topics, including managing rodents; alfalfa weevil management; managing leafy spurge; plant disease; diagnosing non-target herbicide injury; managing weeds with pulses in rotations; and identifying drift and mitigation strategies. Presentations vary by location.

Representatives speaking on the tour include Tharp; Tim Seipel, MSU cropland weed specialist; Jane Mangold, MSU invasive plant specialist; Stephen Vantassel, MDA vertebrate pest specialist; and Amy Bowser, MSU pesticide education technician.

Private applicators can attend morning or afternoon sessions for three credits or both sessions for six credits. Commercial applicator credits can be viewed on the last page of the 2020 Pest Management Tour agenda at https://www.pesticides.montana.edu/events/2020PMT.html . 

The tour stops are as follows. Unless otherwise noted, there is no fee for these events, and lunch is not provided:

Tuesday, Oct. 6

• MT Expo Park, Family Living Center in Great Falls. Register by contacting Rose Malisani, Cascade County Extension Agent, at 406-454-6980 or [email protected].

• Ag Center, 1205 20th St., in Fort Benton. Register by contacting Tyler Lane, Chouteau County Extension agent, at 406-622-3751 or [email protected].

• Savior’s Lutheran Church, 10 E. Madison Ave., in Chester. Register by contacting Jesse Fulbright, Liberty County Extension agent, at 406-759-5625 or [email protected].

• Harlem VFW, 530 Central Ave. W., in Harlem. Register by contacting Juli Snedigar, Blaine County Extension agent, at 406-357-3200 or [email protected]. There is a $10 fee and lunch will be provided.

• Hill County Fairgrounds, 4-H Chuckwagon Building in Havre. Register by contacting Tom Allen, Hill County Extension agent, at 406-265-5481 or [email protected].

• Conrad Moose Lodge, 617 S. Main St., in Conrad. Register by contacting Adriane Good, Pondera County Extension agent, at 406-271-4053 or [email protected]. Lunch will be provided.

• Stage Stop Inn, 1005 Main Ave. N., in Choteau. Register by contacting the Teton County Extension office at 406-466-2492 or [email protected].

Thursday, Oct. 8

• Conrad Moose Lodge, 617 S. Main St., in Conrad. Register by contacting Adriane Good, Pondera County Extension agent, at 406-271-4053 or [email protected]. Lunch will be provided.

• Glacier County Extension office, 1210 E. Main St., Cut Bank. Register by contacting Kari Lewis, Glacier County Extension agent, at 406-873-2239 or [email protected]. Lunch will be provided.

Friday, Oct. 9

• Webinar via Webex. Register online at https://www.montana.edu/cope/rsvp/front-end/rsvp.php?unique_id=5f0c833c20d035f0c833c20d42 or by contacting Amy Bowser at 406-994-5718. There is no fee. To learn how to join a Webex meeting, visit https://help.webex.com/en-us/nrbgeodb/Join-a-Webex-Meeting . Participants must ensure they have a good internet connection and post attendance via the chat-box every 30 minutes.

Registration should be completed by Oct. 4 for in-person events or Oct. 6 for the webinar. To register, contact the county Extension office where the event will occur — see detail above — or online at https://www.pesticides.montana.edu/events/2020PMT.html .

A detailed program agenda is available online at https://www.pesticides.montana.edu/events/2020PMT.html . Information is also available from local Extension agents. For other questions, contact Tharp at 406-994-5067 or [email protected].

The MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program is an educational program promoting the proper use of pesticides to protect public health and the environment. The program supports all applicators, businesses and homeowners by combining educational resources and knowledge from scientists, governmental agencies and the public.