Blaine County MSU Extension focuses on delivering research-based knowledge

Published: 2019
By Julianne Snedigar

This year, Blaine County MSU Extension focused on delivering research-based information to our many agriculture producers. An agriculture newsletter covering topics about our area was sent to over 300 producers, once in spring and once in fall. Blaine County MSU Extension organized two days of producer workshops in conjunction with the 70th Annual Montana Seed Show. Speakers included one NRCS specialist, three MSU Extension specialists, one MSU Ag Research Center Assistant Professor and one representative from the Montana Department of Agriculture. The first day focused on beef cattle topics, while the second day focused on crop-related topics. The 'Hemp production in Montana' session was well attended. Attendees learned more about state licensing regulations and growing hemp in our area. Blaine County saw an increase from two licensed producers in 2018 to more than 20 in 2019, and an increase in planted acres from 200 in 2018 to more than 3,200 in 2019. Blaine County MSU Extension Agent Juli Snedigar also invited three MSU Extension faculty to present topics at a fall crop workshop and held a winter beef workshop. Ten percent of the producers who attended the crop workshop reported they investigated their current cropping systems and plan to implement changes based on what they learned. In addition, several producers reported investigating different ranching systems. Producers report they appreciate being able to learn from university experts and like that topics they requested have been covered during the year.