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1-5 pm Broadus Community Center By Powder River Extension Office The most recent update to the rangeland grasshopper suppression program through APHIS is discouraging news with no increase in federal funding, according to Gary Adams, Director of Montana APHIS in an email shared Tuesday with Mary Rumph, MSU Extension, Powder River County Agent. “I sincerely regret to inform you that funding for the USDA, APHIS, PPQ Grasshopper funding is much less than the projected need for the 17 western grasshopper states. As a result, I will need to make s...
By PR Extension Office A nuisance weed, Catchweed (Boraginaceae), has recently been cussed and discussed in the last few weeks, according to Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “Reports are that the catchweed is about 4” tall,” said Rumph. “It is often unnoticed until it becomes tall enough to trip you! It loves to climb up corral, garden and lawn fences, between buildings, anywhere that the mower doesn’t get to.” The weed has small blue to violet flowers. The leaves and stems are covered with bristly hairs that cling to clothing and animals. The...
By PR Extension Office An update to the Grasshopper Suppression program in the works for Powder River County landowners was provided by Gary Adams, Director of Montana APHIS, in Broadus last week reported Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. "More than sixty interested people attended the program detailing the next steps and challenges of a widespread aerial treatment program," stated Rumph. The unknowns include #1) Grasshopper populations – preliminary scouting last week resulted in finding...
Grasshopper Suppression Workshop will be held Tuesday, May 18th, 3:00 p.m. Broadus Community Center. By PR Extension Office As limited moisture has initiated the growth of grass, the possibility of another devastating summer of grasshoppers is becoming a greater concern. “I’m receiving reports of new grasshopper hatches,” said Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “The good news is that many of species that hatch early are not necessarily the destructive grasshoppers we experienced later in the summer last year,” said Rumph. Gary Adams,...
By PR Extension Office “The little moisture received in the area has resulted in crested wheatgrass growing, which is good; but unfortunately, the black grass bug population has also exploded”, according to Mary Rumph, MSU Powder River Extension Agent. “Most crested wheatgrass is being consumed by livestock as quickly as it appears, so the black grass bugs are competing with cattle or sheep”, stated Rumph. “In fact, one of the control recommendations is intensive grazing, so the pest may not be as prevalent this spring compared to some years...
Courtesy PR Extension Office Encouraged by the recent moisture and at least the possibility of grass to protect this summer, there is a request for additional information from cooperators interested in participating in the APHIS Grasshopper Suppression Program. “Over the last few months, we have eighty-seven landowners representing over 520,000 acres in Powder River County interested in participating in a treatment program,” according to MSU Powder River County Extension Agent Mary Rumph. Specific information from each landowner will be neede...
Courtesy PR Extension Office One of the earliest weeds to appear in the spring, as early as the mustards, is a small yellow flowering annual known as bur buttercup, 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 less than a q...
Helena, Mont. – Applications for the State Hail Insurance Program are now available through the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA). Producers can insure crops against hail damage at the maximum coverage rate of $75 per acre for dryland and $114 per acre for irrigated land. Rates charged are a percentage of the insured amount and vary by county. A detailed list of rates by county and crop can be found online by visiting the MDA website. State policies are available for purchase until August 15, 2021. Producers who previously purchased s...
Courtesy PR Extension Office The Montana State University (MSU) Extension Ranching Systems Team has scheduled a series of drought management programs across the state in late April. The series is in response to the April 6th Drought Monitor map for Montana which paints a grim picture, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “The good news,” according to MSU Extension Range Specialist Jeff Mosely, “is that plenty of time remains for Montana’s rangeland to receive effective moisture in April, May, and June this year. With any luck...
By Megan Van Emon, MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Courtesy PR Extension Office Much of the state has been experiencing Spring-like weather for the past few weeks, which has made for a pleasant calving season. However, based on snowfall and precipitation through the winter months, drought may be an issue to start considering. The current U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook was just released on March 18, 2021 and it appears drought is forecasted to continue for much of the Eastern side of Montana through June 2021. This map shows that most of t...
Courtesy PR Extension Office With warm temperatures and moisture, the grass is greening up and cattle and sheep are chasing the new growth, noted MSU/Powder River County Extension Agent Mary Rumph. Producers are encouraged to take precautions to avoid losses due to grass tetany. "If and when we receive moisture, the grass will grow fast," said Rumph. "There is so little 'old grass' left from last year due to grasshoppers and drought that livestock will consume the new growth as quickly as it c...
Courtesy PR Extension Office The window for using one of the most effective tools for controlling prairie dogs is quickly disappearing, according to MSU Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “Two products are available for use until March 15th, Rozol (chlorophacione) and Kaput (diphacinone). Both products are much more effective prior to grass green-up, which is happening by the hour these last few days,” said Rumph. Both are restricted use products, requiring purchase by licensed private applicators and applied by or under the direc...
By PR Extension Office “We can only hope that -25 degrees will freeze grasshopper eggs,” stated Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph, “since everything else seems to freeze at that temperature!” Unfortunately, Gary Adams, Entomologist and Director of the Montana APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) division, said snow cover tends to insulate the grasshopper pods containing the eggs. “I wanted to share a progress report with producers,” said Rumph. “The next step was to map the acres we were asking to have assistance from...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates were reduced resulting in an enrollment shortfall of over 4 million acres. The program, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), pro...
BOZEMAN, Montana, Jan. 27, 2021 – Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice. USDA will w...
Jan. 21, 2021 - Livestock producers in seven Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2020 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, and/or improved pasture due to qualifying drought. Livestock producers in Powder River County, as well as those in Carrter, Rosebud, Custer, Big Horn, Roosevelt, and Sheridan counties are eligible. The deadline to apply for 2020 LFP benefits is Feb. 1, 2021....
By PR Extension Office The annual Extension Ag Winter Series will be held on Wednesday, January 27th, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. The program will be held at the Broadus Community Center beginning at 1:00 p.m. Three pesticide applicator credits are available for attending the program, said Rumph. COVID-19 safety guidelines will apply. “The order of the topics has been changed,” said Rumph. The program on Grasshopper Management will be the last topic covered and begin at approximately 3:00 p.m. The first speaker, Dr. M...
Loans up to $8,500 available to young Montana farmers and ranchers Helena, Mont. – Montana youth ages 21 and under may be eligible for up to $8,500 in loan financing through the Montana Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Junior Agriculture Loan Program. “With the average age of farmers and ranchers being nearly 60 years old, supporting the next generation is vital to Montana’s livelihood,” said MDA Director Mike Foster. “The Junior Ag Loan Program plays an important role in connecting young people who are passionate about pursuing projects in...
By PR Extension Office Mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 27th for the annual Extension Winter Ag Series, encourages MSU Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. In addition to parasite control in cattle, grasshoppers and forage production challenges, three pesticide recertification credits will also be available by attending either in person or virtually. The program will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Broadus Community Center. COVID-19 safety guidelines will apply. Contact the Powder River Extension Office at 436-2424 or check out the E...
BOZEMAN, Mont., January 4, 2021 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Montana is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). While NRCS accepts easement applications on a continuous basis, applications for the next funding consideration must be submitted by February 5, 2021. “Easements are sometimes a perfect fit for a landowner who is looking to protect his or her land from future development or to protect and improve wetlands or provide critical habitat for wildlife,” said Allen Persi...
By PR Extension Office More than eighty producers in Powder River County have indicated an interest in assistance through APHIS (Animal, Plant Health Inspection Service), for help suppressing grasshoppers in the summer of 2021, according to MSU Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. “The number of acres reported to date includes 496,000 Private, 60,000 State and 267,000 Federal for a total of 823,000 acres,” said Rumph. Currently, 1.5 million dollars has been allocated for the entire state of Montana by the USDA, accordingly to Gary Adams...
By Liz Riter The Powder River Conservation District will be hosting a Ranch Profitability Workshop on January 12, 19, and 26th at the VFW Hall in Broadus. There will be three workshops, each building on the previous one, where participants work through a series of exercises to calculate production costs for each of their ranch’s enterprises. Instructors will work with individuals to isolate and understand how costs and depreciation impact the ranch’s cash flow and balance sheet. The sessions will be from 1 – 4 pm each Tuesday. Plank Stewa...
Bozeman, Mont., December 15, 2020—The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering technical and financial assistance to agricultural landowners impacted by 2020 wildfires across Montana. NRCS is accepting applications for its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist with practices related to grazingland recovery. NRCS accepts conservation program applications year-round; however, applications for 2020 wildfire recovery funding must be submitted by January 15, 2021. “NRCS in Montana is prepared to assist lan...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is increasing incentive payments for practices installed on land enrolled in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is upping the Practice Incentive Payment for installing practices, from 5 percent to 20 percent. Additionally, producers will receive a 10 percent incentive payment for water quality practices on land enrolled in CRP’s continuous signup. FSA administers CRP on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation....
By PR Extension Office Producers in Powder River County and adjacent areas concerned about potential damage from grasshoppers next summer are encouraged to contact the Powder River Extension Office at 436-2424 by December 10th. “The number of acres and producers interested in an APHIS grasshopper suppression program next summer will be conveyed to Gary Adams, director of the grasshopper suppression program for Montana,” said Mary Rumph, MSU Powder River Extension Agent. “At this point, the number of acres and the number of producers interes...