Articles written by Marko Manoukian
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 94
St. Mary-Milk River Irrigation Project Gets $53 Million Appropriation in State Legislature
Senator Mike Lang submitted a recommended $53 million change to House Bill 6 secured a 5-1 vote from the appropriations subcommittee focused on infrastructure. It is nonbinding and will need a vote...
Thirty Attend Livestock Day as US Beef Cow Numbers Shrink to Lowest Since 1962
The annual Jim Schumacher Memorial Livestock Day was well attended with over 30 area livestock producers. The meeting started off with a sour note. Continued drought in the west and plains has shrunk...
Schedule Released for Jim Schumacher Memorial Livestock Day
The annual Jim Schumacher Memorial Livestock Day will be February 1 at the Great Northern Lodge Room. It will start at 11 am. Topic will cover the impacts to our cattle herds the last few years of...
National 4-H Week takes place October 2 through October 8
Montana 4-H is the youth development program of Montana State University Extension. 4-H is the largest, out-of-school youth development program in the state, reaching nearly 20,000 youth in all 56...
Drought impacts reduce beef cow numbers to lowest since 2014
Drought (level D2 to D4) now occupies 37% of the Western US. The impact on the US cattle numbers is staggering. US cow herd drop 2% in the last USDA report, but many analysts believe the cow and...
Nitrates found in lambsquarter
Nitrates are an issue to be aware of with our annual forage like hay barley and other small grain that we make into hay. Moisture has not been universal across the landscape and some crops and weeds...
P.C. Livestock Association Meeting on May 13
The Phillips County Livestock Association will be holding its spring meeting on May 13 at 2 pm at the First State Bank. One of the agenda items will be the formation of a Predator District. With...
Phillips County lost 25,000 Breeding Cows and Heifers in 2021
January 1 USDA NASS reports Montana down 90,000 head of cows and heifers that have calved. The January 1, 2022, report for the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) shows Montana has lost...
Grasshopper forecast, a slight improvement
Grasshopper outlook 2022 Unfortunately for most of Montana, the grasshopper outlook is only slightly better than 2021. The Rangeland Grasshopper outlook is developed through surveys of adult...
Skyrocketing fertilizer cost up 100 percent or more than in 2020
For many agriculture producers an increase in fertilize cost after a year of drought, the fourth largest in the state’s history is like rubbing “salt in a wound”. Many outlets are reporting the...
2022 Jim Schumacher Memorial Livestock Day to be held at the Great Northern Hotel
A good set of speakers lined up for the Annual Jim Schumacher Memorial Livestock day January 27, 2022 at the Great Northern Hotel. Below is a short description of the topic and speaker. 10 am: United...
Considerations for ag producers as drought persists
As the dry November closes here are some considerations for agricultural producers. Dormant dryland seeding of perennial grass and forbs should not be planted with our current conditions. While the...
After 18 years of meetings, St. Mary/Milk River project receives large appropriation
On November 18, 2003, Lt. Governor Karl Ohs convened a meeting in Havre, Montana, to raise awareness of the urgent need to rehabilitate the aging St. Mary Facilities of the Milk River Project. On...
After 18 years of meetings, St. Mary/Milk River project receives large appropriation
On November 18, 2003, Lt. Governor Karl Ohs convened a meeting in Havre, Montana, to raise awareness of the urgent need to rehabilitate the aging St. Mary Facilities of the Milk River Project. On Nove... Full story
St. Mary irrigation project strikes out again on funding
The St. Mary/Milk River irrigation project struck out on another federal funding opportunity. The America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that came from the Federal government to the state of Montana...
Drought pushes US beef cow herd inventory below 60 year low
The latest drought monitor (September 7, 2021) shows that 36% of the US is in drought level D2 or higher. Most of this is concentrated in the west with 80% D2 or higher and plains states at 42% D2. Wi...
Drought and grasshoppers take a toll on wheat and barley production
As grain farmers painfully know drought and grasshoppers across the northern and western regions of the United States has hampered small grain production. Specifically, for malt barley, Idaho barley...
2021 4-H and FFA Carcass Results
The carcass results from the 2021 4-H and FFA livestock show at the Phillips County Fair are complete. Carcass results are eligible to be submitted to the Steer of Merit program, sponsored by the Mont...
Crop Tour Scheduled despite drought
Drought conditions and grasshopper impact have taken a toll on the small grain industry in Phillips County. However, research and variety development to take on these challenges still go on. Crop...
Blister Beetles found in Phillips County
Blister beetles have been confirmed in Phillips County. The beetles have many colors, but the same shape. They can be found with stripes, black and gray (see photo). The beetles get their name by...
PC Livestock Association to hold Meeting
The Phillips County Livestock Association will be holding a spring district meeting on May 7 at 2 pm at th3 First State Bank meeting room. Speakers include: Stockgrowers – Lesley Robinson Public...
How Nelson Reservoir got it's name
A man named H.H. Nelson who in 1904 had property by Vandalia, between Glasgow and Hinsdale, along the Milk River, and with some other landowners from the Glasgow area formed the Lower Milk River...
Drought impacts on crops and livestock discussed
While the wind has been atrocious in March the moisture was scarce. You can say that from about July of 2020 to today, total moisture is significantly low. The drought conditions and the potential...
Livestock drought mitigation meeting
The Phillips County Extension office will be hosting a drought mitigation meeting March 31 at 1 pm at the Great Northern Lodge room. Dr. Megan Van Emon, Montana State University Beef Specialist, will...
Small grain variety update and variety selection tools
On March 11 at 2 pm Dr. Kent McVey, Montana State University Cropping Specialist will be discussing new varieties that are becoming available and variety selection tool pages on the internet. Dr....