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Fort Peck Reservation

The Tribal Agriculture Series

Published: 2019
By Wendy Becker
The Tribal Agriculture Series Responding to current and ongoing needs is essential to our work as Extension agents. The need can come on quickly such as with wildfire, or slowly like drought, both of which the Fort Peck Reservation experienced during the previous year. The Fort Peck Tribes Natural Resources Department, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the MSU Extension Office on the Fort Peck Reservation, and Fort Peck Community College gathered together to rapidly adjust programming to fit the specific topics. Events that developed came from topics that were seen encompassing the reservation lands. Fire, drought, soil health, animal nutrition, forages, nitrate testing, farm business management, bull buying decision making, and weather were centered around four different program times. Workshops were presented with knowledgeable speakers and some hands-on demonstrations. To enhance the major topics, other local subject matter was introduced that directly affected ranchers' bottom lines, such as discussing the beef check-off, storing forages, and programs at the Farm Service Agency/NRCS. The sessions were attended by 75 farmers and ranchers. Response to the topics and seminars ranged from participants never even knowing these programs existed or how they worked, to examining their inputs more closely because of what was learned. A local rancher brought in a hay sample within 30 minutes following the program to have it tested for nitrates. Others immediately got signed up with FSA programs for support. Another person stated that they will be changing their cut sheet at the butcher to include cuts they want and not just what is offered.