Javascript is required to use this website.

Featured

Montana farmers able to grow a wide diversity of crops

Sue Roesler
Jan 27, 2024
Jan 27, 2024

Bill Franck, MSU EARC research scientist, is conducting research on several crops, including dry beans, that can replace sugarbeets.

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

What alternative or other rotational crops can be grown in the northeastern region of Montana – or across the state? A wide diversity of crops can be grown with the right management, according to Chengci Chen, Montana State University (MSU) Eastern Ag Research Center (EARC) agronomist and superintendent.

kAm“(:E9 E96 DF82C366E :?5FDEC:6D 8@?6 :? E9:D C68:@?[ 2 =@E @7 72C>6CD 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C 2=E6C?2E:G6D] rFCC6?E=J[ BF:E6 2 76H 72C>6CD 8C@H :CC:82E65 D@J362?[ 5CJ 362?D[ 2?5 2=D@ 4@C?[” r96? D2:5 =2DE J62C 2E DF>>6C 7:6=5 52JD] “qFE H6 92G6 @E96C 4C@AD E92E 42? 36 8C@H? E92E 92G6 2 A@E6?E:2= 2D 2=E6C?2E:G6D E@ 366ED[ DF49 2D D@J362?[ 5CJ 362?[ 2?5 @:=D665D =:<6 42?@=2 2?5 42>6=:?2]”k^Am

kAm(96? $:5?6J $F82CD 4=@D65 5@H? =2DE J62C[ tp#r 3682? DH:E49:?8 7C@> C6D62C49:?8 DF82C366ED E@ @E96C C@E2E:@?2= 4C@AD E92E 72C>6CD :? E96 |@?s2< C68:@? 4@F=5 C6A=246 E96:C 366ED H:E9] %96C6 H2D 2 =@?8\E6C> C@E2E:@?2= DEF5J @7 ?@\E:==[ DEC:A\E:==[ 2?5 4@?G6?E:@?2=\E:== 4@?5F4E65 3J p#$ E92E H2D 4@>A=6E65 =2DE DF>>6C]k^Am

kAmtp#r 92D 368F? 2? :CC:82E65 5CJ 362? 2?5 D@J362? G2C:6EJ DEF5J E@ 96=A AC@5F46CD H:E9 >2?286>6?E 49@:46D @? 8C@H:?8 E96D6 4C@AD[ 2=@?8 H:E9 G2C:6E2= 564:D:@?D @? G2C:@FD EJA6D @7 362?D]k^Am

kAm“%96 4C@AD =@@< 362FE:7F= E9:D J62C A2CE=J 3642FD6 @7 @FC E62>’D H@C< 2?5 2=D@ 3642FD6 @7 E96 E:>6=J C2:?72==[” r96? D2:5k^Am

kAmq:== uC2?4<[ tp#r C6D62C49 D4:6?E:DE[ A@:?E65 @FE E92E H:E9 DF82C366ED A92D:?8 @FE[ 96 76=E :E H2D 2? @AA@CEF?6 E:>6 E@ 5@ >@C6 C6D62C49 H:E9 5CJ 362?D]k^Am

kAmuC2?4< :D C@E2E:?8 EJA6D @7 5CJ 362?D H:E9 H962E 2?5 4@C? :? 2 EH@\J62C C@E2E:@?]k^Am

kAm“(92E H6’C6 :?E6C6DE65 :? =@@<:?8 2E :Di 9@H 2C6 E96D6 5:776C6?E 362?D A6C7@C>:?8 7@==@H:?8 H962E 2?5 4@C?n” uC2?4< D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 C6D62C496CD E@@< D@:= E6DED =2DE 72== @? E96 A=@ED E92E H@F=5 9@=5 E96 5CJ 362?[ D@J362?[ 4@C? 2?5 H962E EC:2=D] %9@D6 E6DED :?5:42E65 E92E E96C6 H2D 23@FE a_ A@F?5D @7 ?:EC@86? 2?5 `d A2CED A6C >:==:@? @7 A9@DA92E6 2G2:=23=6 :? E96 8C@F?5] (:E9 E92E[ C6D62C496CD AFE g_ A@F?5D @7 ?:EC@86? @? E96 H962E[ `d_ A@F?5D @? E96 4@C?[ 2?5 2 DE2CE6C 76CE:=:K6C @7 `_ A@F?5D @7 ?:EC@86? @? E96 362?D]k^Am

kAm“%96 76CE:=:K6C 7@C E96 H962E 2?5 E96 362?D H6?E :? 2E A=2?E:?8 :? E96 DAC:?8] %96 4@C? H6 E@A\5C6DD65 23@FE 2 >@?E9 27E6C A=2?E:?8 :?@4F=2?E @? E96D6 362?D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmx? E96 7:6=5D[ E96J 92G6 >F?8 362?D[ 25;F<: 362?D[ D@J362?D[ A:?E@ 362?D 2?5 2 D>2== C65 362? 8C@H:?8[ D@ E96J 2AA=:65 E9C66 5:776C6?E :?@4F=2?ED E@ 4@G6C E9@D6 7:G6 4C@AD]k^Am

kAm“%96D6 2C6 2== D665 4@2E :?@4F=2?ED[ 2?5 :? E9:D A2CE:4F=2C 7:6=5[ H6 5@?’E 92G6 9:DE@CJ @7 362?D :? E96C6[ D@ E9:D H:== 8:G6 FD 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ =@@< 2E :?@4F=2?E A6C7@C>2?46 :? E96 23D6?46 @7 2 7:6=5 9:DE@CJ @7 362?D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 G2C:6EJ @7 E96 D>2== C65 362? :D ':A6C[ H9:49 :D 2? :?56E6C>:?2E6 362? 2?5 2 D6>:\FAC:89E 362?]k^Am

kAm“%92E @776CD E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 5:C64E 4@>3:?6 E96 362?[ 2?5 2 >65:F>\>2EFC:EJ 362? 567:?:E6=J 92D 2 b[___\A@F?5 A6C 24C6 A=FD J:6=5 A@E6?E:2= E92E 92D 366? 56>@?DEC2E65 :? (:==:DE@?[” uC2?4< D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 G2C:6EJ @7 A:?E@ 362? :D r@H3@J 2?5 :E :D 2? :?56E6C>:?2E6 2?5 FAC:89E G2C:6EJ] %96J 92G6 @E96C A:?E@ 362?D :? 2 G2C:6EJ EC:2=[ 2D H6==]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 :D A@E6?E:2= E@ 5:C64E 92CG6DE r@H3@J 2?5 ?@E 92G6 E@ >6DD H:E9 4FEE:?8 H96? 8C@H:?8 282:?] xE’D 2?@E96C >65:F>\>2EFC:EJ 362? 2?5 92D 2 b[___\A@F?5 A=FD J:6=5 A@E6?E:2=[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm#6D62C496CD A=2?E65 D@J362?D H:E9 ?:?6 @C `_\:?49 C@H DA24:?8 3@E9 :? E96:C C6D62C49 A=@ED 2?5 2=D@ :? E96 4@>>6C4:2= 7:6=5D] %96 5CJ 362?D H6C6 A=2?E65 H:E9 `g\:?49 C@H DA24:?8]k^Am

kAm“%9:D :D A@E6?E:2==J 2? 2C62 @7 6IA=@C2E:@? 96C6] x’> 2DDF>:?8 E92E >@DE @7 E96 72C>6CD :? E96 *6==@HDE@?6 '2==6J 2C6 CF??:?8 E96:C 362?D E9C@F89 A=2?E6CD @? H:56C C@HD[ 2?5 C6D62C49 2E }@CE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ W}s$&X DF886DED >2J36 `d :?496D @C =6DD :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 36DE 7C@> 2 J:6=5 DE2?5A@:?E 7@C D@J362?D[” uC2?4< D2:5] “u@C 5CJ 362?D[ }s$& :D DF886DE:?8 E92E `d\a_ :?496D 7@C C@H DA24:?8 :D E96 H2J E@ 8@[ 2?5 D@ E96C6 >2J 36 D@>6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C FD E@ D@CE E92E @FE 96C6] u@C >F?8 362?D 2?5 25;F<: 362?D[ H6 <6AE :E 2E ?:?6 :?496D[ ;FDE 3642FD6 H6 92G6 925 :E E92E H2J 7@C E96 =2DE 76H J62CD]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Will new cash crop tighten cinch of Corn Belt?
Not the kind of ride or die I had in mind
Tractor Wars documentary covers big shifts in ag
First relay crop provides learning experience
Kuntz family farm celebrates 100 years
Heroes learn farm rescue
Four generations, one furrow
Pest and disease shifts make management more difficult
Building better cows
Rural well-water users to be studied
Filling the gap: Growers identify high-performing summer forages in the Nebraska Sandhills
Long-term data gives growing season context
Red Willow Hippology Team bound for nationals
Event offers tips on cattle genetics, grazing
Unlock growth in dairy-cross calves

kAm%96J <6AE >@DE @7 E96 A=2?E A@AF=2E:@?D 2E E96 C2E6 C64@>>6?565 3J E96 :?5FDECJ] %96J 92G6 925 AC@3=6>D H:E9 DE2?5 :DDF6D H:E9 >F?8 362?D[ D@ E96J :?4C62D65 E96 A=2?E A@AF=2E:@? @? E96>]k^Am

kAmtp#r 92D 366? 4@?5F4E:?8 C6D62C49 @? >F?8 362?D 2?5 25;F<: 362?D 7@C D6G6C2= J62CD]k^Am

kAm“~FC >F?8 362? A=@ED =@@<65 AC6EEJ 8@@5 :? a_ab[ 2?5 25;F<: 362? A=@ED ;FDE =@@< D@CE @7 D25[ H9:49 :D 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 H92E H6 925 366? D66:?8[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%9:D :D E96 7:CDE J62C @7 E9:D A2CE:4F=2C EC:2= H:E9 E96D6 362?D[ D@ E96J 2C6 6DE23=:D9:?8 A=@ED 2?5 D6EE:?8 FA A2C2>6E6CD H:E9 E96 EC:2=D]k^Am

kAm“pD H6 DE2CE E9:D C6D62C49[ H6 2C6 @A6? E@ 2 =@E @7 :?AFE :? E6C>D @7 H92E A6@A=6 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 @? E96 362? D:56 @7 E9:?8D] x D66 2? :DDF6 2=C625J ;FDE =@@<:?8 2E C@H DA24:?8] |2J36 H6 ?665 E@ D6E FA D@>6 D:56\3J\D:56 G2C:6EJ EC:2=D 2?5 =@@< 2E H:56 G6CDFD ?2CC@H C@H DA24:?8[” uC2?4< D2:5] “qFE 46CE2:?=J[ :7 2?J3@5J 92D 2?JE9:?8 E92E E96J H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 @FE @7 E9:D <:?5 @7 DEF77[ H6 92G6 D@>6 7=6I:3:=:EJ 96C6 2?5 H6 42? >@5:7J D@>6 @7 E96D6 EC:2=D 2 =:EE=6 3:E]”k^Am

kAm(:E9 >F?8 362?D 2?5 A6C92AD[ 25;F<: 362?D[ E96C6 >2J 36 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C 72C>6CD E@ A:4< FA @? ?6H 362?D[ H9:49 92G6 AC6>:F> >2C<6ED]k^Am

kAm“|F?8 362?D[ H9:49 2C6 D>2== 8C66? 362?D[ 2?5 25KF<: 362?D[ H9:49 2C6 D>2== C65 362?D[ 2C6 H2C>\D62D@? 4C@AD D:>:=2C E@ D@J362?D[ 2?5 42? 36 A=2?E65 :? |2J[” r96? D2:5]k^Am

kAm|F?8 362?D 2C6 =68F>6D E92E 2C6 2=D@ 962E\ 2?5 5C@F89E\E@=6C2?E] q@E9 362?D 2C6 H2C>\D62D@? 4C@AD]k^Am

kAmq@E9 362?D 92G6 9:89 56>2?5 :? 46CE2:? pD:2? 4@F?EC:6D – 2?5 6G6? :? E96 &]$]k^Am

kAm“|F?8 362?D 2?5 25KF<: 362?D 2C6 G6CJ A@AF=2C 2?5 2C6 :? 9:89 56>2?5 :? y2A2?[ r9:?2[ 2?5 z@C62[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmu@C 25;F<: 362?D[ E96 >2:? FD6 :D :? y2A2?] p5;F<: 362?D 2C6 C:49 :? 962=E9J 7:36CD 2?5 2?E:@I:52?ED]k^Am

kAm“%96J FD6 25;F<: 362?D 2D 3F?D @C 2D 2 D?24< :? y2A2?[ 2?5 :? r9:?2[ E96J >2<6 2 >@@? 42<6[ H9:49 :D G6CJ A@AF=2C @G6C E96C6 2?5 92D =:>:E65 AC@5F4E:@? :? E96 &]$] qFE E96 AC@5F4E:@? 24C6D 2C6 DE:== =@H 2E E9:D >@>6?E[” r96? D2:5]k^Am

kAm|F?8 362?D 42? 36 FD65 2D D@FA @C E96J 4@F=5 2=D@ E2<6 E96 A=246 @7 J6==@H A62D :? 2? 6IEC24E DE2C49[ =:<6 362? 7=@FC[ 7@C DFAA=:6CD] |F?8 362?D 42? 2=D@ 36 AC@46DD65 :?E@ =@?8 DEC:?8J ?@@5=6D]k^Am

kAm“xE’D G6CJ A@AF=2C :? z@C62[ D@ >F?8 362?D 24EF2==J 92G6 G6CJ 9:89 56>2?5] p?5 6G6? :? &]$] 5@>6DE:4 4@?DF>AE:@?[ J@F 92G6 2 ?:496 >2C<6E @G6C 96C6 2?5 E96J 92G6 2 9:896C AC:46] |F?8 362?D 2C6 G6CJ AC@>:D:?8 96C6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmx? a_`h[ E96C6 H2D =@H6C J:6=5 2E tp#r 7@C >F?8 362?D[ 2=E9@F89 E96 362?D 92G6 >@DE=J J:6=565 2C@F?5 a[___ A@F?5D A6C 24C6 :? >@DE J62CD]k^Am

kAm“*@F 42? D66 E92E E96 D665:?8 C2E6 7C@> 6:89E A=2?ED A6C DBF2C6 7@@E E@ `a A=2?ED 5:5?’E >2<6 >F49 5:776C6?46[ D@ 6:89E A=2?ED A6C DBF2C6 7@@E :D H92E H6 H:== FD6] (6 92G6 EH@ G2C:6E:6D H:E9 2 D665:?8 52E6 2C@F?5 E96 D64@?5 H66< @7 |2J[” r96? D2:5]k^Am

kAmp5;F<: 362?D >FDE 92G6 8@@5 H2E6C >2?286>6?E]k^Am

kAm“x? E96 62C=J DE286D @7 8C@H:?8 E96 25;F<: 362?D[ :7 J@F AFE 5@H? E@@ >F49 H2E6C @C :CC:82E6 E@@ 62C=J[ E96J EFC? J6==@H] tG6? H:E9 D@J362?D[ E96C6 :D 2 ?665 E@ 36 42C67F= H:E9 :CC:82E:@? 62C=J @?[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmu2C>6CD 5@ 92G6 E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 8C@H >F?8 362?D :? |@?E2?2]k^Am

kAm“~FC >F?8 362?D 2C6 =@@<:?8 362FE:7F=[ 2?5 E96C6 :D 2 =@E @7 A@E6?E:2= E@ 8C@H E96>] qFE 36 42C67F= E@ ?@E 4@>3:?6 E96> E@@ =2E6[ @C E96J 4@F=5 D92EE6C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Sue Roesler

Reporter

Author email

Related to this story

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Tractors
Combines
Harvesters
Planting
Misc Equipment
Hay Equipment
Trailers
Trucks
Livestock
Seed
Feed/Hay

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits:

Montana farmers able to grow a wide diversity of crops

Sue Roesler

Marketplace

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these exclusive benefits:

People are also reading…

Be the first to know

Sue Roesler

Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Followed notifications

Please log in to use this feature

Related to this story

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits: