Master Gardener Level One Course Being Offered this Fall in Twin Bridges

Debra McNeill — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:53:04 +0100

By Andrea Sarchet

Madison-Jefferson County Extension Agent

As a result of the success of the first Master Gardener class which was held in Whitehall earlier this spring, I have determined that there is enough interest to offer the same course in Twin Bridges. This is where I need your input. I plan to start the class the week of October 26th. I would like to know if students who plan to take the class would prefer:

What's Wrong with my Trees?

Debra McNeill — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:22:25 +0100

Andrea Sarchet

Madison-Jefferson County Agent

MSU Extension

If you’re wondering why your ash, cottonwood, willow or other deciduous tree has not leafed out this year, there may be a fairly simple answer. While there could be a number of different things affecting tree health, this year I have seen an uncommonly large number of trees that suffered from severe winter damage. It is mostly due to the extrem...

Signs of Potato Blight

Debra McNeill — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:21:53 +0100

BOZEMAN - Montana State University plant pathology specialists say weather conditions in Montana are ideal for late blight, the disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, and they urge home gardeners to watch for signs of the disease on tomatoes and potatoes in home gardens to inhibit its spread to commercial crops.

"Gardeners should be aware that conditions have been ideal for the late blight disease over much of Montana the past few weeks," said Barry Jaco...

Keeping nitrogen in the soil and out of the water

Debra McNeill — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:53:42 +0100

From MSU News Service

Nitrogen is important for optimal crop production, but it can be lost to leaching as nitrate. High amounts of nitrate in drinking water can be harmful to people, especially infants and pregnant women. While most groundwater in Montana has nitrate levels below the drinking water standard, the Montana Department of Agriculture has found high nitrate levels in certain areas of the state including parts of northeastern and central Montana.

The Montana Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage Program

Debra McNeill — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:42:27 +0100

By Andrea Sarchet
Madison-Jefferson County Extension Agent

The economic and ecological impact of noxious weeds in Montana is tremendous and can reduce forage production significantly. In an effort to help hay producers and hay consumers mitigate expanding noxious weed infestation; the Montana Department of Agriculture initiated the Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage (NWSFF) Program.

Anyone who has purchased hay contaminated ...

New guide to identify ticks available from Montana State University Extension

Debra McNeill — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:28:16 +0100

MSU News Service

A new publication to identify many tick varieties is available from Montana State University Extension. "Ticks of Veterinary and Public Health Importance in Montana" gives an introduction to ticks and helps readers identify six species common to Montana, and learn about tick transmitted diseases and tick management and control.

Proposal Deadline for the Grasshopper Suppression Program is May 27, 2010

Debra McNeill — Sun, 30 May 2010 07:00:00 +0100

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine

Funding appears to be imminent for 2010 USDA APHIS PPQ Rangeland Grasshopper Suppression Program Cost Share Treatments.

In order to best serve the ranchers throughout Montana, PPQ needs to know about possible requests for PPQ Grasshopper Suppression Programs ASAP. Large-scale treatments will require PPQ to utilize staffing from other states, resulting in early planning to fulfill all requests. The p...

National animal composting webinar features MSU Extension specialist

Debra McNeill — Tue, 11 May 2010 07:00:00 +0100

MSU News Service

On May 14, a free webinar "Livestock and Poultry Mortality Composting: A Natural Rendering Process" will be presented at 12:30 p.m. The webinar will feature four of the top national experts in livestock and poultry composting including MSU Extension livestock environment associate specialist Tommy Bass. This webcast is part of the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center webcast series.

The webinar topics will include: routine and emergency carc...

Magnesium, Moisture and Grass Tetany in Cattle

Debra McNeill — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Adapted by Andrea Sarchet, Madison-Jefferson County Extension Agent
From Dr. Rachel L. Endecott, MSU Extension Beef Specialist

It appears that spring might finally be arriving in Montana! While we are still behind on moisture in much of the state, it looks like we may eventually grow some grass, and grass tetany is likely to be a timely topic within the next several weeks.

Grass tetany is a metabolic disease of cattle that is usually associated with grazing lush, green ...

A Beautiful Lawn Doesn't Just Happen

Debra McNeill — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0100

By Cheryl Moore-Gough, former MSU Extension Horticulturist

A tree can be a lawn's best friend, or not. Most people with home lawns also have trees and shrubs in the landscape. Sometimes trees and lawns get along well together and sometimes they don't. The shade produced by trees can present some problems for grass growth, as can shallow roots and the dry conditions beneath the trees. Conifers present the biggest problems.

Normal light intensity favors photosynthesis and a...

4-H Fashion Revue and Presentation Day

Debra McNeill — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0100

The Madison-Jefferson County 4-H Fashion Revue and Presentation Day was held Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Whitehall. Approximately 15 4-H members from the two counties participated in the event.

Erin & Lane Brush

Debra McNeill — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

MSU News Service

BOZEMAN -- This year's Montana Livestock Forum and Nutrition Conference will address misinformation, innuendo and anti-meat agendas that have plagued the agriculture industry in the past year, said organizer and Extension Beef Specialist John Paterson at Montana State University.

The conference, titled "Challenge for Agriculture: Reclaiming the High Ground," will be held April 6 and 7 in the ballrooms of the Strand Union Building on the MSU campus. That is a diffe...

4-H Scholarship Applications Due April 1

Debra McNeill — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

The Montana 4-H Foundation supports 4-H initiatives that focus on healthy living, citizenship, leadership, science, engineering and technology, to name a few. The mission of the Montana 4-H Foundation is to "help 4-H youth by raising private funds, managing financial resources and partnering with the MSU Extension Service to fund educational opportunities for Montana 4-H youth, volunteer leaders and staff."

Scholarships and grants provide opportunities for youth and adults to strengthen...

Updated Archery Rules for the State Shoot

Debra McNeill — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

The 4-H program has released updated archery rules for the upcoming State Shoot. The rules have been revised and made more clear. While the basic rules have not changed, they are written more clearly for emphasis and to avoid confusion. Please click here for a copy of the updated rules.

Watch for Hypothermia, Frostbite in Livestock

Debra McNeill — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

NDSU, Extension Veterinarian

Hypothermia and frostbite can be harmful to livestock, but particularly harmful to newborns.

Hypothermia is a profound drop in body temperature. Animals less than 48 hours old or animals with a pre-existing condition or disease are at the greatest risk for developing hypothermia.

Newborns often are hypoglycemic, which means they have low energy reserves and electrolyte imbalances. Animals with pre-existing conditions (pneumonia, old age) have i...

Blog entries

Master Gardener Level One Course Being Offered this Fall in Twin Bridges

What's Wrong with my Trees?

Signs of Potato Blight

Keeping nitrogen in the soil and out of the water

The Montana Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage Program

New guide to identify ticks available from Montana State University Extension

Proposal Deadline for the Grasshopper Suppression Program is May 27, 2010

National animal composting webinar features MSU Extension specialist

Magnesium, Moisture and Grass Tetany in Cattle

A Beautiful Lawn Doesn't Just Happen

4-H Fashion Revue and Presentation Day

4-H Scholarship Applications Due April 1

Updated Archery Rules for the State Shoot

Watch for Hypothermia, Frostbite in Livestock