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Fort Peck Reservation

The Tribal Agriculture Series

Published: 2020
By Wendy Becker
Extension focuses on deciphering what the current agriculture needs of our region are and responding to those needs. Local agriculture producers require timely and well-thought out programs that can be preventative and responsive. The MSU Extension Fort Peck Reservation Office, along with the Fort Peck Tribes Natural Resources Department and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, collaborate to provide agriculture awareness and bring agriculture programming to fit those needs. The Tribal Agriculture Series was developed to support needs around the Farm Bill, livestock practices, the Master Gardener Program, and beekeeping workshops. After learning information at the seminars, producers came into Extension to work on Farm Service Agency (FSA) program details, test forages for nitrate, use sampling equipment for soil and hay testing, see area maps of orange blossom wheat midge monitoring, work on budgets for loan applications, and many details related to farm business management. The Tribal Agriculture Series allows an avenue to learn about other Extension professionals and programs that can assist producers. During 2020, COVID-19 forced other areas of learning as well, many virtual seminars were offered via Webex or Zoom to share information regarding farm program subsidies. There were over 70 individuals who attended trainings in-person, and 110 digital packets (usb jump drives) were sent out with farm business topics and timely economic information.
Extrating honey from frames.