Pest Management Series Brings Change

Published: 2019
By Kimberly D Richardson

On October 8, 2019, the Pest Management Series was held at Donivan’s Restaurant in Anaconda. This marked the first recent time that education related to agricultural pest management was showcased in the county. The series invited six expert speakers: Jane Mangold, PhD, MSU Extension Invasive Plant Specialist; Tim Seipel, PhD, MSU Extension Cropland Weed Specialist; Mary Burrows, PhD, MSU Extension Plant Pathologist; Stephen Vantassel, PhD, Montana Department of Ag Vertebrate Pest Specialist; Kevin Wanner, PhD, MSU Extension Crop Insect Specialist; and Tonda Moon, Montana Department of Ag District Officer. Speakers addressed specific topics of weeds and wildfire, management of Canada thistle, plant disease management, fumigation and vertebrate pests, management of alfalfa weevil, and reading pesticide labels. The Pest Management Series was provided by the Pesticide Education program, which is operated and managed by Montana State University under the direction of Cecil Tharp, PhD, MSU Extension Pesticide Education Specialist, and the Montana Department of Agriculture. Nine attendees were present for the entire workshop series and each earned six pesticide credits, enabling them to maintain their private applicator licenses. Deer Lodge County has 17 producers holding private applicator licenses for pesticide usage. One participant commented with excitement that Deer Lodge County had an agricultural agent willing to help educate local producers about integrated pest management and what methods may be most beneficial at individual operations.