Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 190
Courtesy PR Extension Service What if the first person in Powder River County that had a leafy spurge plant back in the 1950's knew what it was, recognized its ability to invade and sprayed/pulled/dug and destroyed it? And, then warned all the surrounding landowners about it? We have received such a warning, regarding the grassy weed Ventenata, according to Mary Rumph, Powder River Extension Agent. In the last two weeks, Ventenata has been discovered south of Ekalaka. The size of the infestation...
Courtesy PR Extension Green grass throughout the summer and into Fall is unusual for our area, commented Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. The regrowth on alfalfa fields have tempted some into a second or third cutting and will provide fall and winter grazing if it wasn’t cut (or hayed or harvested). With that in mind, some different fall grazing strategies might need to be considered, said Rumph. According to Megan Van Emon, Extension Beef Specialist located at Ft. Keogh, the issue we are facing this year is that there isn’t a forecaste...
Courtesy PR Extension Service A few of the late summer and early fall weeds are very prickly, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “Field sandbur seeds stick to everything…shoe laces, socks, wool, and fur,” commented Rumph, “and it hurts your fingers when you detach them unless wearing gloves,” she added. The plant is a warm season, grassy annual weed, reproducing by seed. The plant grows 8 inches to 3 feet tall, occasionally erect, but usually spreading horizontally and forming dense mats. A native of Europe, longspine s...
Signup opened July 29, 2019 for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program to assist farmers who continue to suffer from damages because of unjustified trade retaliation from foreign nations. Through MFP, USDA will provide up to $14.5 billion in direct payments to impacted producers, part of a broader trade relief package announced in late July. The sign-up period runs through Dec. 6. MFP payments will be made to producers of certain non-specialty and specialty crops as well as dairy and hog...
Producers are encourage to attend the in-depth control workshops for prairie dogs and pocket gophers on Wednesday, July 24th. Mary Rumph, Powder River Extension Agent, has teamed up with the Montana Department of Agriculture Vertebrate Pest Specialist Stephen Vantassel to provide pest control programs. A total of four private and commercial applicator credits are available by attending both workshops, according to Rumph, each individual workshop is worth two credits. The first program will begin at 1:00 p.m. and feature prairie dog control. It...
Sweet clover is in abundance this year in response to excellent moisture conditions early in the growing season. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. As a grazing resource, sweet clover can be excellent feed. Research from North Dakota State University has documented yearlings gaining over 2 pounds per head per day grazing sweet clover pasture. However, sweet clover is a legume so it can cause bloat. Most of the time in this region, s...
By PR Extension How exciting to see the lush, tall and dense forage in abundance throughout the county! How devastating to see it hammered by hail, reduced to sticks in the field; blown down, drowning in the field; windrows blown or washed away, or floating on water…all of which have been witnessed in the last ten days, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. Haying the last few weeks has been a “darned if you do and darned if you don’t” scenario, said Rumph. “Bragging rights are going to the producer with the greatest nu...
In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers, including livestock producers, are encouraged to visit the Powder River FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline. Producers are required to complete and submit their FSA maps as part of the crop certification process. The 2019 Acreage Reporting/Crop Certification Deadline is July 15, 2019 for Spring Seeded Alfalfa Seed, Forage Seeding, CRP, Perennial Forage not covered under NAP, and all other crops not required to be...
Thistle caterpillar is widespread across many states this year, including Montana, according to Extension Agent Mary Rumph. The caterpillars eating thistle are the painted butterfly, also known as the thistle caterpillar. It has been common this June in several states and has been reported from other areas of Montana this month. The adult butterflies migrate from southern US and Mexico north all the way into Canada, stopping and laying eggs as they go. Thistle is a preferred host but they can...
In-depth control programs for vertebrate pests identified by producers in Powder River County earlier this spring are planned for late July, according to Mary Rumph, Powder River Extension Agent. Extension has teamed up with the Montana Department of Agriculture Vertebrate Pest Specialist Stephen Vantassel to provide pest control programs on Wednesday, July 24th. “These two trainings will be hands-on, pack your shovels, gloves and get dirty programs,” promised Rumph. Two private applicator and commercial applicator credits have been applied for...
Alfalfa weevil are the key insect pest of alfalfa, causing variable levels of economic damage across Montana each growing season according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “The weevil had a slower start this spring,” reported Rumph. Field monitoring on May 26th resulted in just a few adults; a week later, ten larva per sweep were detected, said Rumph. The alfalfa was 22” tall on June 2nd. On the 9th of June, the alfalfa was 28” tall and had a multitude of tiny larva per sweep, however, there was no evident damage to the forage....
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) would like to remind water right owners that the deadline for filing a claim on exempt water rights is June 30, 2019 – just four weeks away. The 2017 Montana Legislature created the opportunity for owners of exempt water rights to file claims when it passed HB 110. Since the filing period began on May 7, 2017, DNRC Director John Tubbs said the Department has received more than 7,000 exempt claim filings. An exempt water right is defined as a water right tha...
Courtesy PR Extension “The bulbous bluegrass is taking full advantage of the moisture this spring” stated Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. Rumph described the invader as a thin stemmed, wiry grass that cures early and is often found in areas vegetated by downy brome. “Bulbous bluegrass infestations seem to be exploding with the spring moisture,” said Rumph. Identification Bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa) is a relatively small, shallow-rooted, cool season perennial bunchgrass native to Eurasia and northern Africa. Because it grows new...
Courtesy PR Extension Just in the last week, the black grass bug hammered crested wheatgrass hard, according to Mary Rumph, Powder River Extension Agent. People will first notice an “anemic” look to the grass in some areas, where it should be a healthy green color. The black grass bug literally “sucks the juices” out of the leaves, leaving a whitened, tough and stringy leaf. The black grass bug (labops hesperius) is one of the earliest pests to emerge in the spring and is able to feed in very cold weather. The young nymphs hatch from eggs that...
Courtesy PR Extension Early annual weeds are impacting the range, according to Extension Agent Mary Rumph. Yellow alyssum (Alyssum alyssoides) and desert alyssum (Alyssum desertorum) are non-native, annual, weedy forbs (i.e., herbs) that are becoming more prevalent and problematic, especially in western, central, and southeastern Montana. Though plentiful, the alyssum is fine stemmed, flowers and then dies, and is often not noticed later in the growing season, said Rumph. Yellow alyssum and desert alyssum are native to northern Africa, E...
HELENA, MT -- A prestigious award that celebrates voluntary conservation by farmers, ranchers and other landowners is coming to Montana. Montana is the latest state where Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award®. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between peopl...
Helena, Mont. - The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) is conducting cattle testing related to the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in animals during routine inspection conducted at out-of-state slaughter establishments. These investigations, involving several states, stem from the detection of TB in a steer at slaughter in June of 2018, a second unrelated steer found in December of 2018, and a cow in March of 2019 (Editor’s note: According to the Dept. of Livestock, positive tests came from Treasure County – Hysham). The purpose of...
BOZEMAN, Mont., April 11, 2019–The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering additional funding through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to target honey bee pollinator resource concerns in Montana in 2019. While NRCS accepts EQIP applications on a continuous basis, NRCS has set a deadline of May 10, 2019, to apply for this 2019 initiative funding. Honey Bee Pollinators: NRCS will work with agricultural producers to combat future declines by helping them to implement conservation practices that provide f...
Report shows demographic changes, loss of farm income Helena, Mont. – USDA’s National Agricultural Statistic Service recently released the 2017 Census of Agriculture, highlighting several key data points important to Montana’s agriculture industry. “The Census of Agriculture is an important tool for both producers and policy makers,” said Montana Department of Agriculture Director Ben Thomas. “While the report shows that Montana farmers have taken a big hit in farm income over the last 5 years, it also shows that our producers aren’t taki...
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) would like to remind water right owners that the deadline for filing a claim on their exempt water rights is June 30, 2019. The 2017 Montana Legislature created the opportunity for owners of exempt water rights to file claims when it passed HB 110. Since the filing period began on May 7, 2017, DNRC Director John Tubbs said the Department has received more than 7,000 exempt claim filings. An exempt water right is defined as a water right that was in existence b...
BOZEMAN, Mont., March 14, 2019–The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering additional funding through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to target specific resource concerns in Montana in 2019: Sage Grouse Initiative Cropland Seeding and Organic Initiative. While NRCS accepts EQIP applications on a continuous basis, NRCS has set a deadline of April 12, 2019, to apply for 2019 initiatives funding. Below is an overview of the two initiatives: Sage Grouse Initiative Cropland Seeding: Loss and f...
A story which has played out around the countryside due to the cold temps and deep snow is told in pictures. A calf, hypothermic and near death, is plucked from the snow and brought inside the house. A hot bath, drying out by the fireplace, and colostrum infusion help to bring the calf back around. The calf is then returned to his mother, who hopefully will take him back without too much fuss. This calf survived; his mom was thrilled for his return....
BOZEMAN, Montana, March 11, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Mike Foster reminds producers to review available USDA crop risk protection options, including federal crop insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage, before the spring-seeded crop deadline of March 15, 2019. Federal crop insurance covers crop losses from natural adversities, such as drought, hail and excessive moisture. NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no p...
Powder River County is now sending out new predator control forms. The new forms are a combined setup with the Dept of Livestock and Powder River County Predator Control, and encompass, fixed wing, helicopter and ground control. These forms are required to be filled out as soon as possible if you wish to continue predator control and returned to the Clerk & Recorders office. The forms supercede all previous permission forms. Powder River County Commissioners and Predator Control Board emphasize the importance of the Department of Revenue...
Montanans have just a few more weeks to report the livestock they own in order to pay the per capita fees set yearly by the Montana Board of Livestock. Livestock reports are due March 1. Owners can report online at Report YourLivestock.mt.gov. Owners must report the number of each type of livestock they owned as of February 1. If you reported last year, but no longer own livestock, you still need to report to let us know your livestock count is zero. Owners preferring a paper reporting form can call (406) 444-6900 or get one at any Montana...
