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Chouteau County

Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources

Published: 2019
By Tyler Lane
• Agricultural education and outreach for farmers was achieved through the Golden Triangle Cropping Seminar. A total of 48 producers learned about risk management in cropping systems, Paraquat history, safety and laws, cropping systems for pest management, mental health awareness for farmers and ranchers, integrated weed management and herbicide resistance. Twelve producers wrote that they would add more crops into their rotations. Switching from winter wheat to chickpeas would yield a $40 increase in net income per acre. Those 12 producers at 500 acres could produce an economic increase of $240,000. Seven producers reported they would increase their safety using Paraquat. Enhanced pesticide safety helps individuals and families promote farm health and sustainability. One producer will try different spring or winter wheat varieties ($50,000 estimated economic impact on one 2,000 acre farm). The potential economic benefit of this Cropping Seminar is $290,000, along with benefits of knowledge gained for time-saving, limiting risk, and managing pests and weeds. • The Golden Triangle MSU Extension agents hosted two herbicide-resistance meetings. Due to the increase of herbicide resistance in the Golden Triangle over the past five years, there has been additional interest in finding ways to manage resistant weeds. The workshop addressed current status and future directions of herbicide-resistant weeds, management, perspectives from industry, Palmer Amaranth monitoring and management, and improving herbicide efficacy. A total of 87 producers plan to make changes to their operation in herbicide-resistant weed management. If they did not make changes in management, they could see a yield reduction of 50%, or potential lost revenue to herbicide resistance of more than $4 million. • Updated 90 producers and Extension agents on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Wheat Stem Sawfly, Wheat Midge, Ascochyta Blight and other regional agricultural pests. • A total of 18 adults learned about tree management from Peter Kolb, PhD (Montana State University Extension Forester). Eight gardeners attended the level two Master Gardener program. Volunteer hours in the Master Gardener program totaled 240 hours within the Chouteau County community. • Provided a Soil Acidity update for crop adjusters from Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. In addition, Tyler Lane presented on the subject at the Northern Agricultural Research Center Field day, where 250 people attended the presentations. • MSU Ag Research Center field days near The Knees and Highwood educated 68 producers on management of cereal grains and soil acidity. • Agricultural education and outreach for ranchers was achieved through a collaborative effort between the Chouteau County Livestock Protective Association and Chouteau County MSU Extension. Carla Sanford, MSU Extension Beef Specialist, gave a presentation on Heifer Management in Montana.