The banner is broken into four images: image one is a field of wheat, image two is a man and a woman inspecting a crop, image three is a flock of wool covered sheep, and image four is a group of people in a field discussing.

Addressing critical agriculture and natural resource issues

MSU Extension partners with the College of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station to serve Montanans. We provide support for farmers, ranchers, homeowners and small acreage landowners on topics including: ranching systems, livestock and the environment, forages, urban and agricultural Integrated Pest Management (IPM), ag-economics, potatoes, sheep, pesticides, forestry, cropping systems, water quality and soil fertility.

DATA TOOLS HELP MANAGE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT AND EXTREME WEATHER

To ease concerns about weather uncertainty in agriculture, MSU and the National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supported a specialist to deliver tools and ideas to manage the effects of extreme weather.

MSU Extension provided climate data from Montana Mesonet weather stations and more information to manage growing risks for 800 farmers and ranchers in 20 counties with more than 35,000 cattle. Increased education and use of the data supported site selection for additional weather stations.

A field of wheat in the foreground leads to an enclosed data tool. There are brown mountains rolling in the background.

300 out of 650 producers recently surveyed said uncertain weather is a primary concern

PESTICIDE EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS

Proper pesticide use protects from overuse and waste, revenue loss, poor sprayer calibration, or damage to the environment or human health. The MSU Pesticide Education Program provides support to more than 3,000 pesticide applicators in partnership with the Montana Department of Agriculture. Ninety-two percent of attendees said training was of economic value to their operation, reflecting significant cost savings.

“ The training helped me focus on correct pesticides to utilize and safety measures to consider before treating any pest.”

– Ravalli County landowner and participant

MULTI-AGENCY EDUCATION ON INVASIVE HOGS

Participants have begun monitoring for feral hog activity and know how to report sightings, which are important to limit the establishment of this destructive pest that could have negative agriculture and financial impacts.

Seven northern locations hosted more than 350 people to learn about emerging concerns of feral hogs

SHUTTER DIAGNOSTIC LAB IDENTIFIES NEW SPECIES TO SUPPORT MANAGEMENT

The Schutter Diagnostic Lab (SDL) serves integrated pest management efforts in plant, insect, and disease identification to help safeguard Montana agriculture and landscapes. This important resource documents new pests and species:

A tall, skinny, green plant in a field of green crops.

Confirmed the first two known detections of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in Montana with Extension field faculty in 2023, allowing personnel to contain the new populations of the invasive weed.

A tick, with an orange lower body and a black upper body and legs, rests on a green leaf.

Confirmed the first case in Montana of the tick responsible for Lyme disease (Ixodes scapularis) with the SDL in 2023. The SDL and the National Institutes of Health confirmed diagnosis.

A green skinny leaf with a bunch of large yellow spots.

Extension field faculty consulted the SDL to confirm Physiological Leaf Spot, which saved five producers from spraying fungicide on Bobcat winter wheat. At 1,000 acres and $6 per acre savings, producers saved a total of $30,000.

A collection of reeds, they have a green stem and a light brown fluffy top, flowing in the wind.

Confirmed identification and first report in 2023 of the common reed (Phragmites australis spp. australis) in Gallatin County. This priority 1A noxious weed has very limited state presence and management goals are eradication and prevention of spread.

PRECISION AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIP INCREASES BENEFICIAL RESEARCH

MSU Extension partners with the MSU College of Agriculture to provide education and research in precision agriculture technology. Projects include the use of activity sensors and thermal monitoring to evaluate cattle response to winter weather conditions, 3D cameras to evaluate cattle soundness, and the combined use of drones and ground sensors to measure grazing impacts.

MASTER GARDENERS SHARE HORTICULTURE KNOWLEDGE IN COMMUNITIES

As Montana’s population grows, Master Gardeners are sharing vital gardening information with newcomers and introducing them to MSU Extension. With more than 4,300 hours of volunteer service and 900 pounds of fresh food donated to local food banks this year, Master Gardeners are meeting local needs through community volunteerism and continuing education.

In 2024, Master Gardener

volunteers donated more than 4,300 volunteer hours,

valued at approximately $110,000 and more than 900 pounds of food

A collection of vegetables fill the image. There are cherry tomatoes, regular tomatoes, egg plant, squash, cucumber, and lettuce.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSU EXTENSION CATTLE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WITH STONE CHILD EXTENSION

For the past three years, MSU Extension partnered with Stone Child College to offer workshops on cattle production with Extension specialists at Stone Child College, the Northern Agricultural Research Center, and a Cattlemen’s College Series in Hill County and on the Rocky Boy Reservation.

Red and black cattle stand together around a small black calf.