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News you can use
Montana State University Extension will host a free, annual cropping seminar series Jan. 9-13 in Great Falls, Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Shelby, Chester, Havre, Fort Benton, and Stanford. Speakers will cover cereal grain varieties, pea and lentil management, fertilizer management and estate planning.
Cereal grain varieties update will be presented by Jed Eberly from MSU’s Central Agricultural Research Center and Peggy Lamb from MSU’s Northern Agricultural Research Center. Presentations will cover local test plot results and Integrated Pest Management of cereal grains.
Eberly is an assistant professor in agronomy and soil microbiology. His responsibilities include managing the small grain variety trials and conducting research in soil microbiology for improving plant and soil health.
Lamb is a research scientist in charge of the Variety Testing Program. Current collaborative research activities include variety development and testing of small grains and many other crops. She also conducts research on sawfly management, crop fertility, insecticides, fungicides and crop management.
Pea and lentil management will be presented by Kevin McPhee, MSU pulse breeder. McPhee’s research goals include development of high-yielding pulse crop — pea, lentil and chickpea — varieties using conventional breeding approaches. New varieties are targeted with good agronomic characteristics, resistance to disease, and adaptability to environmental stresses present in Montana and regionally.
Fertilizer management will be presented by Clain Jones and Manbir Rakkar. A variety of topics will be addressed including the 4Rs, acidity and volatilization of foliar applications.
Jones is the MSU Extension soil fertility specialist. He teaches a range of nutrient management topics, including cropping systems, economics of fertilizer use and reducing nutrient losses.
Rakkar is an assistant research professor at Montana State University. Her research program is focused on resolving soil acidification issues. She is investigating various techniques to prevent, mitigate and adapt to soil acidification in Montana.
Estate planning will be presented by Marsha A. Goetting. Goetting is a professor and Extension family economics specialist at Montana State University in Bozeman. Goetting is well-known throughout the state for her authorship of 50 MontGuides — fact sheets — in the estate planning area.
The seminars are free of charge, and all producers are encouraged to attend. The Great Falls seminar will begin at 9:30 a.m. with registration. The Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Shelby, Havre, Chester, Fort Benton and Stanford seminars will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration.
Both commercial and private pesticide licensing recertification credits will be available.
Dates, locations and contact numbers for each cropping seminar are listed below.
Monday, Jan. 9:
• Great Falls at Great Falls College MSU’s Heritage Hall, Great Falls, MT 59401. Contact Rose Malisani at 406-454-6980.
Tuesday, Jan. 10:
• Choteau at the Stage Stop Inn located at 1005 Main Ave. North, Choteau, MT 59422. Contact Jenn Swanson at 406-466-2491.
• Conrad at the Pondera Shooting Sports Complex at 972 Granite Road, Conrad, MT 59425. Contact Dan Severson at 406-271-4054.
Wednesday, Jan. 11:
• Cut Bank at the Glacier County Library basement located at 21 1st Ave. SE, Cutbank, MT 59427. Contact Kari Lewis at 406-873-2239.
• Shelby at the Comfort Inn Conference Room, 455 McKinley Ave., Shelby, MT 59474 Contact Kim Woodring at 406-424-8350.
Thursday, Jan. 12:
• Havre at the Hill County Fairgrounds 4-H Chuckwagon located at 1676 U.S. Highway 2 West. Contact Colleen Pegar at 406-400-2333. Lunch will be provided, so please register with the office by Jan. 10.
• Chester at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall located at 10 East Madison Ave. Contact Jesse Fulbright at 406-759-5625.
Friday, Jan. 13:
• Fort Benton at the Ag Center located at 1205 20th St. Fort Benton, MT 59442. Contact Tyler Lane at 406-622-3751.
• Stanford at the City Hall located at 102 Central Ave. Stanford, MT 59479. Contact Katie Hatlelid at 406-566-2277.
MSU Extension is an ADA/EO/AA/veteran’s preference employer and provider of educational outreach. If participants require accommodation for a disability to participate, they are asked to notify the local Extension office prior to the event.
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