Montana Report

SARE Professional Development Program Annual Report for Montana 
January 1 - December 31, 2012

State SARE Coordinator:

Summary of 2012 PDP Activities and Results

The Montana PDP's main goal in 2012 was to support training opportunities for educators and agricultural professionals. Main priorities during the year included: 1) economics and estate planning in rural communities, 2) energy education, 3) crop diversification, and 4) integrated pest management. These programs were sponsored through mini-grants and scholarships to attend or organize workshops, conferences, field days and professional meetings. Together, these programs reached 331 agricultural professionals (farmers, crops consultants and industry representatives) and 43 County Extension agents. Also, in 2012 the Montana PDP program transitioned from Steven Siegelin to Fabian Menalled.

The highlighted program of the year was the participation of seven Extension professionals in the Exploring Research in Sustainable Agronomy Practices Tour of NDSU Extension Research Centers. Participants indicated that they increased their understanding of the crop rotation, irrigation, alternative crops and tillage management options. Several Extension Faculty indicated they discovered resources and information that will help them assist producers increase sustainability and profitability.

Context and Overview

Agriculture dominates Montana’s economy and there are increasing professional development needs in many areas such as alternative and horticultural crops, cropping systems, identity-preserved food products, ecologically-based pest management, novice and small acreage land management, and economically sustainable generational transfer. The main goal of the Montana SARE PDP includes improved communication among the sustainable agriculture community. To do that, we support in-depth training opportunities and farm tours that promote the health of Montana's people, land and communities. In the past years, numerous research projects in sustainable agriculture have been completed in Montana, and support provided by SARE PDP has bridged the gap between research and its application.

Activities and Methods

In 2012, funds were allocated to support the following programs: 

• MSU Crop Pest Management School. The school was conducted January 2-4, 2013, and presenters discussed issues related to integrated weed, insect and disease management, nutrient management and cropping systems. MSU Extension agents who were awarded travel funding.
• Spring Extension Agriculture Agent update. Held in April 2012 in conjunction with the Livestock Forum and Nutrition Conference. The two-day program had over 35 participants; agents with need received some travel assistance from PDP funds.
• Exploring Research in Sustainable Agronomy Practices Tour of NDSU Extension Research Centers. Seven county agents from Eastern Montana and the Extension Eastern Region Department Head toured the Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) on July 26, 2012 and the Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC) on July 27, 2012. A Montana SARE Professional Development Program Mini-Grant funded travel costs associated with the tour. Participants reviewed research that evaluated 25 crops in dryland and irrigated settings; crop cultural practices, cropping systems; soil and water conservation practices that will support more intensive cropping practices; organic production; integrated crop and livestock production; and ways to simultaneously meet economic, social and environmental needs through agriculture. Western SARE PDP provided $1,485 in support of this tour.
• Western SARE Agricultural Renewable Energy Training Seminar. This project provided travel funds for Montana Extension faculty to attend Extension Programming for Adult Learners Seminar held October 2-3, 2012 in Bozeman, MT. The project was developed in collaboration with Western SARE, University of Wyoming Extension, the Montana Weatherization Center, MSU College of Agricultural Education, Western Risk Management Education and Dave Phillips (MSU Extension Programming Evaluation). The seminar provided field personnel from Extension training in program of work development, with emphasis on energy education. The training addressed key principles of adult learning, discussed alternatives for programming based on constituent needs, and focused on methods for assessing and measuring impact. Participants left the training with a planned program of work in energy that they can implement for several years. Participants also discussed how to collaborate and report impacts with the statewide energy education effort. Western SARE PDP provided $1,580 in travel funding, materials and food for Montana field faculty to participate in the two-day training.
• 5th Annual Pulse Plot Tour– Western SARE PDP provided $409 in support of this tour. During the tour Tim Eyrich discussed micronutrient fertilization in pulse crops; Michael Wunsch of NDSU discussed Ascochyta diseases; Dean Brocke, George F. Brocke & Sons discussed pulse harvest handling and global markets; Mary Burrows, MSU Extension, discussed diseases; Kevin McPhee, Kurt Braunwart and Rebecca McGee reviewed current research efforts; and Chengci Chen, CARC agronomic researcher discussed the NE MT Pulse Trials. Ninety people participated at the tour and nearly half of the participants indicated that they will make changes to their operations as a result of attending this training.
• Family Estate Planning Program. Generational transfer of agricultural operations can have a detrimental impact on all three facets of sustainability. Five counties participated in a Southeast Montana Family Estate Planning Program the week of November 26th, 2012. A Montana SARE Professional Development Program Mini-Grant funded travel cost for Dr. Marsha Goetting, Professor and Extension Family Economics Specialist at Montana State University in Bozeman. The six Estate Planning Programs brought in a diverse audience based on age, estate planning knowledge and status of estate planning among their own families. Prior to attending, the over 40% of participants did not have a will. During the two- to four-hour programs, participants gained a greater understanding of Montana Law, payable on death designations (PODs), transfer on death registrations (TODs) and other beneficiary designations, Wills, trustee, federal estate taxes, gifts, life insurance and more. Participants had access to handouts, one-on-one discussions with Dr. Goetting and online resources. Western SARE provided $1,200 in support of this project 

Support was also provided for the following individual professional development opportunities:

• Participation in the 2012 Land Grant and Sea Grant National Water Conference.  Western SARE provided $950 to allow Crystal Beckman, Natural Resources Agent in Gallatin County, to attend the conference. As the only locally based faculty member focused exclusively on natural resource issues, the conference was a significant benefit in her professional development. Crystal received great help in learning better strategies for working with watershed councils and learning through the networking with peers from across the nation.

PDP-funded Publications/ Educational Materials and Products

Jesse Fulbright, MSU Liberty County Extension Agent, was awarded $466 to support his trip to participate Western Region NACAA AM/PIC. During the meeting Jesse presented a poster entitled “Monitoring Dingy Cutworm Using Pheromone Traps in Montana.” 

Changes in Ag Professionals’ Knowledge, Skills and Action

1)Acquisition of new knowledge and skills

• The six Estate Planning Programs brought in a diverse audience based on age, estate planning knowledge and status of estate planning among their own families. Prior to attending the workshop, 71% of the participants that responded did not have a payable on death designations (PODs) or transfer on death registrations (TODs) established on their checking and saving account or did they know what they were. After learning more about PODs and TODs, 90% of those who responded were going utilize PODs and TODs as an estate planning tool.
• At these Estate Planning Programs, 75% of participants that responded did not have a separate listing of tangible personal property. After learning more about having a separate list for personal property, all participants agreed it was important and would explore the idea of adding it to their wills. Also, 76% of participants that responded did not have a Montana Medical Care Savings Account (MSAs), but after learning more about MSAs, participants agreed that it was something to look into and many requests for the MontGuides on Montana Medical Care Saving Accounts were received.
• Participants at the Northeast Montana Pulse Plot Tour gained firsthand experience on management practices to grow 10 pea and 10 lentil varieties in 2008 to 46 pea, 24 lentil and 11 chickpea varieties.
• At the Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) Dickinson Research Extension Center tours, seven County Agents from Eastern Montana visited more than 25 crops that are evaluated on dryland and irrigated, including wheat, durum, barley, oat, pea, lentil, chickpea, safflower, dry bean, flax, soybean, canola, crambe, sunflower, potatoes, sugar beets and others.

2)Changes in attitudes or understanding

Participants at the Estate Planning Programs provided the following responses to a “clicker” survey that was given at the conclusions of the presentation in five program locations:

Knowledge you gained from the estate planning program (136 responses):

• Gained a lot (65.44%), Gained some (24.26%), Neutral (0.74%), Gained a little (6.62%), Didn’t learn anything new (2.94%).

Information that was provided in the Webinar (32 responses):

• Gained a lot (53.12%), Gained some (15.62%), Neutral (3.12%), Gained a little (18.75%), Didn’t learn anything new (9.38%).

The level of motivation to take action toward estate planning (139 responses):

• Lots of Motivation (56.12%), Some motivation (35.97%), Neutral (3.60%), Little Motivation (3.60%), No Motivation (0.72%)

The most important action you plan to take (130 response):

• Write a Will (14.62%), Review a Will (16.15%), See an attorney (17.69%), Discuss estate planning with a spouse (30.00%), Review property ownership (21.54%).

• Extension Agents participating at the Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) Dickinson Research Extension Center tours improved their understanding on, organic production, crop rotation, horticulture, and no-tillage practices.
• For his participation at the Western Region NACAA AM/PIC meeting, Mr. Fulbright brought back ideas that he and his advisory council are utilizing to determine how to better communicate information for farmers in Liberty County.

3)Changes in behavior and action

• Extension Agents participating at the Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) Dickinson Research Extension Center tours indicated they plan to 1) use NDSU-Williston web site for information to make a grape production recommendation, 2) consider bringing North Dakota State University professionals as speakers for educational meetings, and 3) consider promoting grapes as alternative crops in Montana.

Participants at the Estate Planning Programs provided the following responses to a “clicker” survey that was given at the conclusions of the presentation in five program locations:

Motivation to take action toward estate planning (139 responses):

• Lots of Motivation (56.12%), Some motivation (35.97%), Neutral (3.60%), Little Motivation (3.60%), No Motivation (0.72%)

Unintended Outcomes

We estimate that the Montana Western SARE PDP directly reached 331 agricultural professionals (farmers, crops consultants and industry representatives) and 43 County Extension agents. The mini-grant and scholarship program fostered new interest in faculty-led professional development efforts.  

Involvement of Others in State PDP Planning and Implementation

In 2013, the new PDP advisory committee is composed by Dr. Fabian Menalled, MSU Cropland Weed Specialist, Dr. Mary Burrows, MSU Extension Plant Pathologist, and Dr. Jane Mangold, MSU Rangeland Invasive Plant Specialist. Additionally, we will request inputs from stakeholders, including MSU faculty and Extension agents, NRCS, tribal officers, other agencies, NGOs, producer groups and individual producers who are interested in sustainable agriculture.