Montana State to offer pest management tour Sept. 28-Oct. 2 across eastern Montana

BOZEMAN - The Montana State University Extension Pesticide Education Program is offering a pest management tour for pesticide applicators at nine locations across eastern Montana from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2.

In order, the tour will visit Scobey, Plentywood, Glasgow, Malta, Glendive, Sidney, Miles City, Broadus and Forsyth. At each stop, speakers will present on a variety of topics, including fire, drought and weed management, invasive grasses, nozzle selection, managing drift and carryover, water quality and pesticide performance, Richardson's ground squirrel management, prairie dog management, grasshopper management, aphid management, managing insects in alfalfa, herbicide fate in pulse crops, managing herbicide resistant weeds, managing grassy weeds, managing seedborne diseases on pulses, managing root and crown rot disease, and managing diseases in alfalfa. Presentations will vary by location.

Tour speakers include:

• Raissa Debacker Moura, MSU Extension plant pathologist
• Jane Mangold, MSU Extension rangeland weed specialist
• Tim Seipel, MSU Extension cropland weed specialist
• Stephen Vantassel, Montana Department of Agriculture vertebrate pest specialist
• Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension pesticide education specialist
• Tiziana Oppedisano, MSU Extension agronomic entomologist

Private applicators can attend morning or afternoon sessions for three credits or both sessions for six credits. Commercial applicator credits are also available and can be viewed on the Pest Management Tour website.

Individuals licensed as private applicators in Private Applicator Training District 4, which includes the tour locations, need to earn six private applicator credits before Dec. 31 to avoid losing their private applicator certification, according to Tharp. Applicators can check their credits on the MSU Pesticide Education Program website by selecting "license and credit search" and entering their license number. Applicators can also contact their local MSU Extension office for license information.

Details for the tour stops are:

• Sept. 28, Scobey. Daniels County Museum, 720 Second Ave. W. Free. Lunch is provided. Register by Sept. 23 by contacting Inga Hawbaker, Daniels County MSU Extension agent, at 406-487-2861 or [email protected].
• Sept. 28, Plentywood. Sheridan County Courthouse, Jubilee Room, 100 W. Laurel Ave. Free. Lunch on your own. Register by Sept. 23 by contacting Sheridan County MSU Extension at 406-765-3406 or [email protected].
• Sept. 29, Glasgow. Elks Lodge, 309 Second Ave. S. Free. Lunch on your own. Register by Sept. 28 by contacting Shelley Mills, Valley County MSU Extension agent, at 406-628-6241 or [email protected].

• Sept. 29, Malta. Great Northern Hotel, Lodge Room, 2 S. First St. E. Free. Lunch on your own. Register by Sept. 18 by contacting Christina Murphy, Phillips County MSU Extension agent, at 406-654-2543 or [email protected].
• Sept. 30, Glendive. Yellowstone River Inn, 1903 N. Merrill Ave. Free. Lunch is provided. Register by Sept. 21 by contacting Gabby Sexton, Dawson County MSU Extension agent, at 406-377-4277 or [email protected].

• Sept. 30, Sidney. Richland County MSU Extension meeting room, 1499 N. Central Ave. Cost is $10. Lunch is provided. Register by Sept. 23 by contacting Christy Finck, Richland County MSU Extension agent, at 406-433-1206 or [email protected].

• Oct. 1, Miles City. Custer County Event Center, Eastern Montana Fairgrounds, 42 Garryowen Road. Cost is $20. Lunch is provided. Register by Sept. 23 by contacting Mike Schuldt, Custer County MSU Extension agent, at 406-874-3370 or [email protected].

• Oct. 1, Broadus. Powder River County Community Center, 221 Wilbur Ave. Free. Lunch is provided. Register by Sept. 24 by contacting Powder River County MSU Extension at 406-436-2424 or [email protected].

• Oct. 2, Forsyth. Rosebud County Fairgrounds, 513 N. 16th Ave. Free. Lunch is provided. Register by Sept. 25 by contacting Rosebud/Treasure County MSU Extension at 406-346-7320 or [email protected].

A detailed program agenda with starting times is available online at montana.edu/extension/pesticides/events/pmt.html. Information is also available from local MSU Extension offices. For other questions, contact Tharp at 406-994-5067 or [email protected].

The MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program promotes the proper use of pesticides to protect public health and the environment. The program supports all applicators, businesses and homeowners by combining educational resources and knowledge from scientists, governmental agencies and the public.