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Helena, Mont. - The Montana Department of Agriculture and Frontier Psychiatry have partnered to provide free access to counseling for Montanans involved in agriculture. Funded through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), this partnership provides a variety of services, including individual counseling, tele-health, and medication management, at no cost to the participant. The Counseling Access for Montana Ag (CAMA) program was created to address challenges facing those working in...
By Tammy Vantine The Powder River County Weed District (PRCOWD) would like to share the following information. Chemical prices are going up again this year and availability of some products are becoming scarce. PRCOWD will be selling chemical at the wholesale price plus 10%. Payment will be due at the time of pick up. Chemical prices will be available soon. The Weed District has sprayers to loan out a week at a time. There are three 200-gallon sprayers and a UTV 75-gallon sprayer. No charge for the use of sprayers, we ask that you maintain the...
By PR Extension Office Seemingly unaffected by drought, bur buttercup is growing and blooming. This small yellow flowering annual is one of the earliest weeds to appear in the spring according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. It is a winter annual that emerges, flowers and sets fruit when the temperatures climb into the 45-50 degree range. Plants only grow to be 2 or 3 inches tall. They often occur in dense mats which cover large areas of the ground. Each blossom usually has 5 bright yellow petals. The flowers are tiny, measuring les...
By MT Dept of Livestock On April 1, 2022, any brand that was not re-recorded during the 2021 Montana Livestock Brand Re-record event can be applied for. If you are planning to apply for or plan to hand deliver an application to Helena for a Montana Livestock Brand, here are a few things to keep in mind: 1. The Helena Brand Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 2. We are located at 301 N. Roberts in Helena. 3. When visiting our office, please enter through the main doors located on the corner of N Roberts Street and E 6th Aven...
By The Agricultural Research Service On rangelands of the Western U.S., calving in late winter instead of spring maximizes calf growth (weight) by supplying high-quality forage when its most needed, according to a study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS). There is high value in utilizing rangelands to lower the cost of beef production. Selecting the right calving time, when calves are born, is one factor ranchers can adjust to affect the efficiency of beef production. However, with...
By PR Extension Office The annual Extension Ag Winter Series will cover a variety of topics including the use of low-quality feeds, landscaping and plant identification, according to MSU Extension Powder River County Agent Mary Rumph. “Even though producers are deep into their stackyards, there will be an opportunity to learn more about the low-quality forages many are using this winter,” said Rumph. “Timing is important as most cows haven’t entered the third trimester of gestation, but will soon, during which nutritional needs will be higher...
Courtesy Miles City BLM (MILES CITY, Mont.) – Bureau of Land Management Miles City Field Office range managers are concerned about the ongoing drought conditions which worsened through the 2021 growing season, resulting in varying degrees of impact. Public lands across the entire portion of Montana managed by the Miles City Field Office are currently in severe to exceptional drought. According to data from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, some areas of the field office received only 40 to 60 percent of the normal a...
Courtesy PR Extension Office By Megan Van Emon, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Montana State University This year is a difficult year for livestock producers throughout Montana. The entire state is afflicted by drought, with the majority of the state designated as extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4). This has led to a lack of resources available for feeding cattle. Due to the extensive drought in the Western United States, harvested forage has been a limited commodity. This is a year where we need to think outside the box when feeding the c...
By PR Extension Office Private applicator renewal letters were sent to all private applicators in our county recently, according to MSU Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. The letters, sent from the Montana Department of Agriculture, should have reflected private applicator program attendance up to approximately October 15th. Applicators with 6 or more private CEU’s should return their signed renewal letter to the MDA with the $60 license fee. This will begin the next recertification cycle which will last for 5 years. If you have any que...
By PR Extension Office “No one can take care of your livestock better than you,” is a comment I have heard repeatedly throughout a lifetime of ranching. However, sometimes, conditions arise in which you don’t have the resources to achieve the level of care your cattle need, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. Drought and grasshoppers have created challenges that might involve moving cattle to locations with feed to keep the herd intact. “Many ranchers have spent decades selecting their top replacement heifers and buying bu...
WASHINGTON, September 8, 2021 — In response to the severe drought conditions in the West and Great Plains, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today its plans to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA is updating the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to immediately cover feed transportation costs for drought impacted ranchers. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide more details and tools to help ranchers get ready to apply at the...
Courtesy PR Extension Office Private applicators in need of additional credits for recertification prior to December 31, 2021, have an opportunity to attend the 2021 Pest Management Tour in early October, according to MSU Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. The Montana State University (MSU) Pesticide Education Program with assistance from the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering the Pest Management Tour for pesticide applicators in southeastern Montana, Private Applicator Training (PAT) District 4, from October 6th – 8th...
Helena, Mont. – As Montana agricultural producers strive to find adequate feed for livestock during severe drought conditions and a damaging wildfire season, the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is issuing guidance for out-of-county or state shipments of hay to prevent the spread of noxious weeds and other invasive pests. “The need for hay far outweighs our supply right now in Montana,” said Acting Director Christy Clark. “We recognize the need to find hay for our producers, but there can be some very serious consequences if we don’t d...
From MSU News Service BOZEMAN – Due to the extended drought in Montana, water availability in many areas has become severely limited. Reservoirs have dried up and are becoming covered in weeds. Montana State University Extension [msuextension.org] educators are cautioning livestock managers to evaluate weed feed and grazing land for nitrate toxicity during drought. “Due to the severe drought, weeds have become prevalent across pastures and many producers are limited in their cattle movement this year,” said Custer County Extension Agent Mike Sc...
Courtesy Mike Riley, Broadus FSA It’s important for agricultural producers to report losses immediately as all disaster programs are dependent on the timely reporting of the loss. A notice of loss can be filed with the Powder River Farm Service Agency via phone, email, fax or scheduled office visit. ELAP – Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program: Starting in 2020, producers will have 15 days from when the loss is first apparent, to file a honeybee notice of loss instead of 30 days. This change provides con...
By PR Extension Office That seems to be the million dollar question this summer, according to MSU Extension Powder River County agent Mary Rumph. “I contacted MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Megan Van Emon for insight,” said Rumph. She painted the following scenario: “A 1,400-pound cow needs about 30-35 lbs. of feed each day. This year gut fill will be extremely important. If you can find high quality hay, it can be limit fed, but we need to fill the cows with other feeds so they remain full, which can be done with low-quality feeds,...
ECP Signup Period: July 22, 2021 to August 20, 2021 Courtesy Mike Riley, PR FSA Drought has caused severe damage in Powder River County. Farms and ranches suffering severe damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Powder River County Office if the damage: • will be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use • is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same...
Helena, Mont. – As severe drought conditions and wildfires persist across the state, the Montana Department of Agriculture is reminding agricultural producers of the availability of the Hay Hotline, an online tool that connects those interested in buying, selling, or donating hay or pasture. The Hay Hotline allows producers to enter new listings with descriptions of the forage they have available to sell or donate. It also provides users with an option to search for available hay or pasture. The online tool is maintained by the Montana Departme...
By PR Extension Office Water quality (and quantity) for livestock has been a concern this summer, according to Mary Rumph, MSU Extension Powder River County Agent. Water is the most important nutrient for livestock. A quality and safe water supply is essential to the production of healthy livestock. If water is not suitable for consumption, it can adversely affect the growth, reproduction and productivity of livestock, and, in some cases, cause death. “Producers in different areas of the county have experienced sudden livestock losses last wee...
By PR Extension Office The best way to prevent invasive weeds from overtaking the range or cropland is early detection and control, according to Montana State University (MSU) Extension Powder River Agent Mary Rumph. “The problem with grassy noxious weeds is identification,” said Rumph. “Too often, the invading grass isn’t very obvious until it has gained a foothold. Once detected, control can also be extremely challenging.” A workshop to help landowners identify invasive grassy weeds will be held on Wednesday, July 21st, beginning at 1 pm at...
Courtesy PR Extension Office An Extension researcher and forage specialist have developed recommendations to salvage drought stricken cereal grain fields. These recommendations are from Northern Ag Research Center, Havre, Supervisor Darrin Boss and Montana State University (MSU) Extension Forage Specialist Hayes Goosey for utilization of grain fields that have tested high in nitrate, are too short to hay and producers would like to graze. Experience indicates that animals grazing fields that test positive for nitrate have less risk of d...
By Mary Rumph, MSU Extension Powder River Agent Planes in the Air: When asked the first of June what I thought the chances were of the APHIS grasshopper treatment program happening, my response was "10%." On Tuesday, June 22nd, I heard the first plane flying west of Biddle. The next day, I saw a plane returning to the airport at Broadus which I followed in to take a closer look. In speaking with Taelor Anderson and Hannah Lewis, our local Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection...
By PR Extension Office In a year where forage is short in supply and vitally important, nitrate levels have tested very high in samples of spring grains, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “Many producers are trying to make hay before the crop either burns up or is eaten up by grasshoppers,” commented Rumph. “Right now, the crops are testing too high to even graze safely,” added Rumph. High levels of nitrates in cereal grain are often present under drought conditions. The roots of growing plants will continue to take in n...
By PR Extension Office “As if drought and grasshoppers aren’t enough, I’m now receiving reports of blister beetles swarming and defoliating deciduous trees, along with other plants”, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “High numbers of blister beetles are often present with grasshopper outbreaks,” said Rumph. “Blister beetles feed on grasshopper eggs, which is helpful, however, they also eat desirable vegetation. In addition, the beetle produces a toxin called cantharidin, a blister-causing substance,” added Rumph. Blister be...
By PR Extension Office This year there is a double threat for alfalfa growers, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. In addition to alfalfa weevil, which are a chronic problem for many producers, is the threat of grasshoppers. "I monitored fields earlier this week" reported Rumph, "and swept 30 larvae per ten sweeps, six adults and a dozen small grasshoppers," said Rumph. "The was some shotgun damage to the leaves by the larvae," she added. "I encourage producers to monitor t...
