Cropping seminar draws crowd despite cold

Despite the cold, almost 70 agriculture producers from across the area attended this year's Golden Triangle Cropping Seminar at the 4-H Chuckwagon Friday where they got up to date on a number of subjects from vertebrate pest control to crop rotation.

Producers heard from a number of experts including Tim Seipel, a Montana State University Extension Cropland Weed Specialist who talked about the emergence of pesticide-resistant cropland weeds and the work being done to combat them, as well as what producers should do to avoid encouraging the development of pesticide resistance.

The group also heard from Hill County Weed and Mosquito Control District Supervisor Terry Turner, who talked about noxious weeds and spraying drones, as well as the biggest problems he and his colleagues are facing this year.

Central Ag Research Center Superintendent Pat Carr also talked to the group about dryland crop rotation and MSU Ag Economist Eric Belasco gave a presentation on marketing techniques for wheat, barley and pulse crops.

The event lasted from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and drew a sizable crowd considering the cold.

MSU Hill County Extension Agent Colleen Pegar said they had almost 100 people signed up, and the fact that so many showed up despite the weather was a good sign.

"I'm pretty pleased with the turnout," Pegar said.

She said this seminar series has been going on for many years, starting in Great Falls and touring through towns across Montana including on the Hi-Line.