Pest Management Tour - District 4

September 28 - October 2, 2026

The annual Pest Management Tour is a last chance opportunity for private applicators in PAT District 4 (Eastern Montana) to obtain recertification credits before the December 31, 2026 permit expiration date. Three credits will be offered for each session (AM or PM) at each location. Attendees may attend both sessions to accumulate six recertification credits.

The event includes speakers from MSU Extension and the Montana Department of Agriculture covering topics including crop weeds, vertebrate pest management, crop disease, insect management, weed management and using pesticides.

More information & registration link

MSU Extension Pesticide Education Fall Webinar Series

November 5 - December 10, 2026

Virtual

The MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program is offering a fall webinar series covering pesticide and pest management topics relevant to Montana pesticide applicators, agricultural producers, homeowners, and landowners. The series includes four one-hour webinars held November 5 to December 10. All webinars are free and are approved for pesticide license credits and Certified Crop Advisor credits.

Webinar Topics

Precision Weed Management in Montana
November 5, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Dr. Ricardo Pinto, MSU Extension Precision Agriculture Specialist

Precision agriculture technologies are rapidly changing how we manage pests, offering new ways to control weeds while cutting input costs. This webinar will cover the latest advances in precision technology specifically for weed management, including real-time targeted spray systems and drone applications. We will discuss how these tools directly apply to Montana farms, their effectiveness on hard-to-kill weeds, and the real-world return on investment (ROI) and margins producers can expect when moving away from traditional blanket applications. We will also share firsthand data and field results from current MSU precision agriculture research trials.

Management Options for Herbicide Resistant Kochia
November 19, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Dr. Tim Seipel, MSU Extension Cropland Weed Specialist

Kochia has become increasingly difficult to control in Montana due to the spread of herbicide-resistant populations. This webinar will provide an overview of herbicide-resistant kochia, including how resistance develops, the current status of resistance in Montana, and the challenges it creates for crop and land managers.

Aquatic Plant Management in Montana: Regulations, IPM and Key Species
December 3, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Thomas Woolf and Craig McLane, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
Amy Bowser, MSU Extension

Effective aquatic plant management requires an understanding of the species present, available management options, and applicable regulations. This webinar will provide an overview of aquatic plant management in Montana, including key invasive and nuisance species, integrated pest management (IPM) principles, and regulatory considerations.

Basics of Non-Soil Fumigation for Montana Private Applicators
December 10, 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Dr. Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension Pesticide Education Specialist

Non-soil fumigants are used to manage pests in a variety of agricultural settings including burrowing rodents and insect management in grain bins, but their safe and effective use requires specialized knowledge and training. This webinar will provide an introduction to non-soil fumigation, including common uses, application considerations, safety requirements, and regulatory responsibilities for Montana private applicators.

Registration and Additional Information

To register for the webinar series or for more information on credits offered and details on using WebEx please visit the webinar series event webpage. Registered participants will receive instructions for accessing the webinars. For further inquiries regarding this event please contact Amy Bowser, (406) 994-5178 or amy.bowser@montana.edu.

What's Bugging You?

New York State IPM Program

This monthly series explores topics to help you use integrated pest management to avoid pest problems and promote a healthy environment where you live, work, learn and play. Each month, speakers will share practical information about how you can use IPM. Advanced registration is required. Dates and topics below.

• January 2: Stratifying native perennial wildflower seeds | 2025 Year in Review
• February 6: The value of insects | Feeding Friendly Insects: cut stems
• March 6: Here come the Jorō spiders! | Lookout for termite swarms
• April 3: Mole control | Feeding Friendly Insects: delay garden cleanup
• May 1: Jumping worm management | Feeding Friendly Insects: look for seedlings
• June 5: Protecting pollinators in urban areas | Say NO! to bug zappers
• July 3: Cicadas & cicada-killer wasps | Feeding Friendly Insects: weed management (pre-recorded video only)
• August 7: Managing Spotted Lanternfly at Home
• September 4: Mosquitoes are still active | Is that a bee?
• October 2: Fall clean-up for your flower and vegetable beds | Leaf piles and ticks
• November 6: Emerald Ash Borer Biocontrol Update
• December 4: Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Biocontrol Update
• Moths
  

Registration: Free, but required. Register here.