Sorted by date Results 176 - 190 of 190
(Washington, D.C., January 22, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that all Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices nationwide will soon reopen to provide additional administrative services to farmers and ranchers during the lapse in federal funding. Certain FSA offices have been providing limited services for existing loans and tax documents since January 17, and will continue to do so through January 23. Beginning January 24, however, all FSA offices will open and offer a longer list of transactions they will a...
Helena – The Montana Department of Revenue is reminding all livestock owners that they need to report their livestock to the department by March 1, 2019. Livestock owners can report the number of livestock they own as of February 1 online at ReportYour Livestock. mt.gov. About 16,500 livestock owners who reported last year have already received notification to report. Livestock per capita fees, set by the Montana Department of Livestock, are due May 31, 2019. All livestock owners may pay these when they report; otherwise, they will receive t...
Helena, Mont. - The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for an estimated $1.5 million in federal funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program. This competitive grant program is designed to expand markets for Montana specialty crops. Montana’s SCBG program is available for projects enhancing the competitiveness of Montana specialty crops. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, peas, and lentils, as well as horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. “These gra...
Interesting topics and great speakers are slated for the Extension Ag Winter Series scheduled for the afternoon of January 8th, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. The program will kick off at 12:30 p.m. at the Broadus Community Center. A description of the topics includes: Making Alternative Forages Work for You – Dr. Emily Glunk Meccage, MSU Extension Forage Specialist and Assistant Professor at Montana State University in Bozeman, coordinates and conducts research on best forage management practices, from fertilizing and g...
The second week of Annie’s Project featured two topics of interest to women in agriculture, understanding agriculture loans and marketing, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “The purpose of Annie’s Project, a six-week series, is to empower women in agriculture through education,” explained Rumph. Two representatives from 1st Bank, Loan Officer Phoebe Amsden and Assistant Loan Officer Heather Desatoff shared information with the participants about applying for an agriculture loan. They discussed the 5 “C’s” – Character, Capa...
The American Quarter Horse Association, Amarillo – The American Quarter Horse Association honored this year's 50-year breeders at a ceremony October 22 at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo. William and Anne McKinney of Broadus, Montana, were honored as cumulative breeders. "The heart of our program was continuing time-honored traditions of cattle and land stewardship," Bill says. "Our horses contributed greatly to continuing those traditions." Through the years, B...
Upcoming USDA Farm Service Agency Deadlines for Farmers and Ranchers • Nov. 12: All Hay Bales Must be Removed from Managed Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) • Nov. 15: 2019 Acreage Reporting Deadline for Apiculture, Perennial Forage, Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) including Native Grass, Fall Wheat (Hard Red Winter), and all other Fall-Seeded Small Grains. Please note that this is the final date that FSA can accept late-filed 2018 reports for these crops. • Nov. 16: Last day of 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP)...
Helena, Mont. – The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) has adopted changes to rules affecting vaccination requirements and the boundary of the Designated Surveillance Area (DSA). The newly adopted brucellosis vaccination rule (ARM 32.3.433) mandates that eligible animals in 10 Montana counties must be vaccinated against brucellosis. The change requires that all sexually intact female cattle and domestic bison 12 months of age or older in Beaverhead, Big Horn, Broadwater, Carbon, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, Park, Stillwater, and Sweet G...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Powder River County Farm Service Agency reminds producers that Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) are available to help producers through periods of low market prices. The 2014 Farm Bill authorized MALs and LDPs for the 2014 to 2018 crop years. MALs provide interim financing and allow producers to delay the sale of the commodity at harvest-time lows and wait until more favorable market more favorable market conditions emerge. A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, bu...
“Real Colors” will kick off the first Annie’s Project on Monday, November 5th, according to Extension Agent Mary Rumph. Custer County Extension Agent Tara Andrews will lead the first workshop at the 6-week series designed to empower women in agriculture. The Real Colors workshop is a tool commonly used to identify your own personal temperament or “color” and to learn how to distinguish the colors of those around you. Understanding those you work with leads to better communication and more successful relationships. Imagine working cows in t...
Helena, Mont. – The Montana Department of Livestock has received the first reported cases of equine West Nile Virus in Montana for 2018 in Musselshell and Lake Counties. This follows detection of the virus in mosquito surveillance pools from Cascade, Hill, and Lewis and Clark Counties. Montana typically sees cases of West Nile Virus through late summer and into fall. West Nile Virus affects humans, equines, and birds. It is spread through the bites of infected mosquitos; horses cannot transmit the virus directly to people. Detections of the d...
"One would think that if there was ever a year that nitrate levels would not be a concern, this would be it," stated Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. "However," she added, "we are seeing some high levels of nitrate in samples of small grains being cut for forage." High levels of nitrates in cereal grain are usually present under drought conditions. The roots of growing plants will continue to take in nitrate nitrogen; however, normal plant metabolism which convert nitrate to protein is...
"Now that the alyssum has dried up and is no longer prevalent, a couple new plants have taken over the range," according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. Primarily found in introduced pastures, Woolly Plantain, aka "Indianwheat", is a short fuzzy looking grey-ish forb about 3-5" in height. It has linear leaves and sends up a spike like seed head. It is an annual, native plant most abundant in the year following a wet fall. It is not a serious weed. Abundance may be an indicator of...
In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers, including livestock producers, are encouraged to visit their local FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline. The 2018 Acreage Reporting/Crop Certification Deadline is Mon., July 16, 2018 for Spring Seeded Alfalfa Seed, Forage Seeding, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Fruit (except cherries), Vegetables, Christmas Trees, and all Spring-Seeded Crops and any other crops not...
The Powderville Hall will be the convening site for the annual Noxious Weed and Range Tour sponsored by Powder River Extension, according to Extension Agent Mary Rumph. The tour will take place on Wednesday, July 18th, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Private and commercial recertification applicator points have been applied for, according to Rumph. The tour will include The Role of Biocontrol in Noxious Weed Control by Melissa Maggio, MT Biocontrol Project Coordinator. Maggio will be discussing releasing, monitoring, and collecting biological weed...
