Resources acquired at the Missoula County AgTALKS and available to the public!
The Missoula County AgTalks are a series of educational events hosted annually by the MSU Extension covering topics relevant to livestock and land stewardship. Whether you own three acres or three hundred, whether you farm, ranch or care for hobby animals, MSU Extension is here to support you! Missoula County AgTalk events include a variety of formats including workshops, webinars, farm tours, and lectures to help you learn in accessible and interactive ways. They occur monthly between October and April each year. Resource lists developed at each AgTalk are placed at missoulaeduplace.org for long-term referencing. The goal is a community of healthier landscapes, healthier livestock, and healthier families.
"Weeds on Horse Properties" with Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension
June 23, 2026 Online
Got WEEDS!?! We've got the local experts to show you what is causing the problem, how to kill them, and how to do it safely with horses and livestock! Join MSU Extension and Missoula County Weed District for a structured panel discussion of knapweed, Canada Thistle, Whitetop, Cheatgrass and other weed invasions on real horse properties in Western Montana. The webinar will be recorded, but you must register to receive the recording after the event. Live webinar participants will be able to ask questions for the experts. Register now and become a pasture proud member of Missoula County.
"Hay Farm Tour for Equine & Livestock Owners" with MSU Extension and Grass Valley Farms
June 21st, 2026 in Frenchtown, MT
- Weed Free Forage details LINK HERE
- Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension is developing a local Hay Exchange Marketplace where growers and producers can market their hay to the public. Subscribe to the MSU Extension newsletter to stay informed as this develops.
MSU Extension and Grass Valley Farm welcomed young and old to the first annual Hay Farm Tour in Western Montana. Participants had the opportunity to see a hay field from the eyes of the grower! During the evening's tour, we walked timothy grass, bluegrass, and alfalfa fields to learn about the inputs, environmental factors, and machinery considerations throughout the growing and harvesting. We learned that growing hay is more like an artistic endeavor than a mechanical process. Don't miss the next chance to smell, touch, taste and see the product before it reaches your farm. Suscribe to the MSU Extension Newsletter to stay informed.
"Control of Columbian Ground Squirrels" with Montana Department of Agriculture
April 29, 2026 @ Frenchtown High School Auditorium
- Stephen Vantassel is the Vertebrate Pest Specialist at Montana Department of Agriculture and can be contacted at svantassel@mt.gov.
- Montana Department of Agriculture Resources Website (where to find great publications)- https://agr.mt.gov/Vertebrate-Pests
- "CONTROLLING BURROWING RODENTS WITH BURROW FUMIGANTS"- https://agr.mt.gov/_docs/vertebratepests-docs/ControllingBurrowingRodents-BurrowFumigants.pdf
- GT2006 and Other Traps (YouTube Video with Stephen Vantassel)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic0cbJEaun8
Join MSU Extension and Montana Department of Agriculture for a very informative, comprehensive discussion about your ground squirrel control options!
"Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Local Update Webinar" with Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services as well as Montana Department of Livestock
March 25, 2026 Webinar Recording
- Phone number for Montana Department of Livestock: 406-444-2976
- Link to Western Small Flocks Collaboration
- Link to USDA Defend the Flock
Link to the Webinar on YouTube-
If you care for a poultry flock or dairy herd, train dogs for bird hunting, keep birds of prey for falconry, or are concerned about the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza in any way, this webinar is for you! Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services and the Montana Department of Livestock offered a wonderfully comprehensive update on the state of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the United States and the risks to Montana birds and livestock.
"Farm & Ranch Insurance Speed Dating Q&A" with Local Insurance Agents that Specialize in Agricultural Topics
February 26, 2026 at The Exploration Center, Missoula
Ok, it's not actually dating, but it is February, and we are looking for matches! It's fast, fun, interactive learning with a panel of local agriculture and farm insurance specialists! We tasked each of 6 insurance agents with a unique farm/ranch/equine insurance topic to highlight the important points and get you pointed in the right direction. All agents listed below are local in Western Montana!
- General Farm & Ranch Liability Insurance- presented by Brandon Braaten, Marsh McLennan Agency
- Marsh McLennan Website. See document link below.
- Equine & Livestock Mortality Insurance- presented by Lorna Sheridan Equine Insurance Agent, Northwest Insurance
- Northwest Insurance Website. Document link below.
- Machinery, Equipment, Outbuildings- presented by Brette Rubie Berry, Stockman Insurance
- Stockman Insurance Missoula Downtown. Document link below.
- Farm and Ranch Product Coverage- presented by Tim Unger and Jessica Christensen, Farm Bureau Financial Services
- The Farm Owner's Guide To Insurance. Document link below.
- Agritourism- presented by Deanne Cranmore, Farm Bureau Financial Services
- Farm Bureau Farm or Ranch Liability Insurance Website. Document link below.
- Worker's Comp- presented by David Jordan, Montana State Fund
"Design Your Rotational Grazing or Track System for Horses" with Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension and GrowWild
January 31, 2026 at The Exploration Center, Missoula
- Link to Pasture Evaluation Program Application for Site Visit for spring, summer and fall site visits.
- Link to Facebook Group "Missoula County Pasture Proud Program" to learn more about local matters with horses and grazing.
- Link to Missoula County Light on the Land Newsletter" to stay in touch.
- Missoula County Bee City USA- https://missoulaeduplace.org/what-we-do/ecosystem-management/pollinator-conservation/missoula-county-bee-city-usa.html
- Montana State University Grass ID App
- The Equestrian App for Journaling horses weight, pasture improvements, and everything horse management.
- Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension Weed ID and Management Sheets
- For copies of the presentations, come by The Exploration Center, and I'll print them out for you!
"Agricultural Stress Movie Night" with MSU Extension Agents
January 7th, 2026
- Here are some helpful links https://farmstress.us/
- Montana Producers Stress Resources Clearinghouse https://www.montana.edu/extension/wellness/stress-management/mt_farm_stress_clearing_house/
- Reframing Rural Podcast LINK HERE
"Smart Hay Choices for Winter" from the Missoula County Ag, Equine, and Livestock Extension Agent
December 3, 2025 in Condon, MT
- Link to PDF to calculate how much hay you will need for the winter feeding season (all species).
- Link to MSU Extension Livestock & Forage Production Software Download (download an Excel spreadsheet to calculate).
- Link to Montana Grasses App- CLICK HERE
- Link to free plant ID app called SEEK by iNaturalist (highly recommended!)
"Ag Land Classification" with the Montana Department of Revenue
October 30th, 2025 at Lolo Peak Brewery and Grill
