Agriculture, Horticulture, and Natural Resources

The Great Falls Golden Triangle Cropping Seminar will be on Friday, January 10, 2025 at Great Falls College MSU, 2100 16th Avenue S, Great Falls, MT 59405 in room B101.

The seminar will begin at 9:30 am with registration and officially start at 10:00 am with Dr. Jane Mangold, Montana State University Professor of Invasive and Noxious Weed Management. Most species on the state noxious weed list are less problematic in croplands than they are in rangelands, but some species pose a great threat to croplands should they become widely established across Montana. This includes rush skeletonweed and ventenata, which currently are limited in their distribution in the grain-producing parts of our state. This presentation will cover identification, biology, current distribution, potential impacts, and Integrated weed management of these two high priority species. The presentation will also give an update on Palmer amaranth in Montana and a brief description of the Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage program.

The second speaker is Dr. Cecil Tharp, Montana State University Extension Pesticide Education Specialist. Tharp will cover some common reasons why perhaps a pesticide may not have provided the desired results of the application.  In addition, he’ll provide an update on pesticides including new Certification and Training regulations, Paraquat training, and EPA endangered species plan potential changes. 

There will be a FREE LUNCH from 12:00-12:30 pm.

Dr. Tiziana Oppedisano, Western Triangle Ag Research Center’s Assistant Professor of Entomology and Insect Ecology and Tom Allen, Montana Field Representative of the Northern Pulse Growers Association. Oppedisano will be covering Integrated Pest Management of pulse insect pests. Including the pea leaf weevil, army and pale western cutworm and Lygus bug. Allen will be talking about The Northern Pulse Growers Association, what they do for producers and how their checkoff money is used.

The last speaker is Dr. Joseph Jensen, Northwestern Ag Research Center Cropping Systems Agronomist. Jensen’s presentation will discuss where the winter barley breeding pipeline is and an expected winter barley release. Current research on agronomic performance and Integrated Pest management across the Golden Triangle will also be discussed related to winter barley, with a Q and A focusing on growers' concerns and possible research that is needed before the official release of MSU’s first winter barley line.

Seminar and lunch are both FREE! RSVP by January 8, 2025 to MSU Extension-Cascade County Extension at (406) 454-6980.

The following points have been rewarded for the seminar:

Category	Credits
10 - Dealer	3
30 - Agricultural Plant Pest Control	3
37 - Right of Way Pest Control	2
39 - Demonstration & Research Pest Control	3
44 - Special Utility	2

 

Barley producers are encouraged to mark Thursday, February 13, 2025, on their calendar for the Golden Triangle Barley Update.  This event happens only once every three years, and features some of the industry’s top professionals.  The meeting will be held at the Pondera Shooting Sports Complex (972 Granite Rd, Conrad), with registration beginning at 8 a.m. and the meeting running from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  There is no fee to attend, and the day will be worth one private/commercial pesticide applicator credit as well.

The seminar will include updates on a variety of production, marketing, and industry topics.  Dr. Jamie Sherman, Montana State University (MSU) Barley breeder will give an update on the barley varieties and barley breeding program at MSU.  Industry representatives from Malteurop, Coors and Anheuser-Busch InBev will cover industry barley varieties.  Hannah Uhlmann from the MSU barley, malt and brewing lab will present malt specifications and how they are utilized. Jim Beusekom from Market place Commodities in Lethbridge, Alberta, will discuss the marketing of off grade barley. Ashley McFarland from American Malting Barley Association will share, “Thinking Critically about the Future of Barley.” 

Mitch Konen, Vice President of National Barley Growers Association will update producers on the status of the Farm Bill and Kera Birkland, Montana Grain Growers Association Director of Policy will share pertinent policy updates as well.  Katelin Standley from Anheuser Busch, Cody Shick from Molson Coors, Mark Black from Malteurop, Jeff Farkell from Centroll Corp Consulting LLC, Sam Anderson from Malteurop, and Dave Tweet from Tweet Consulting will conclude the meeting with a Malting Barley Industry Panel. Producers will have the opportunity to get their questions answered relative to the barley industry.

Lunch will be provided courtesy of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee.  An RSVP by February 6 to the Pondera County Extension Office at (406) 271-4054 or pondera@montana.edu is required for the meeting.

Thank you to local representatives from Centroll Crop Consulting, Malteurop, Coors, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Molson Coors, American Malting Barley Association, MSU Extension, and Montana Wheat and Barley Committee for their contributions and sponsorships.