Fallon-Carter County

Fallon and Carter Counties are the far-most Southeast counties of Montana, bordering North and South Dakota to the East and Wyoming to the South. There are roughly 3,000 people in Fallon County and 1,000 people in Carter County. Agriculture is a major part of the local communities, with ranching and dryland farming being the major industries. Oil and gas also contribute to the local economy. Hunting brings visitors to the area, including other tourism hobbies like museums and dinosaurs. MSU Extension services are shared between Fallon and Carter Counties. In these communities, MSU Extension fosters community development, teaching family and consumer sciences, youth development programs, and agriculture and natural resources programming.

Ag and Horticultural Assistance

Throughout the year the Fallon/Carter Extension Office provides many resources to producers for agricultural and horticultural production. Fallon/Carter County Extension office has assisted 92 producers by conducting nitrate tests on their forage samples and helping them interpret their results. The Extension office has assisted producers by sending out 32 forage samples for a commercial analysis. Once producers receive their results back, the agent can help them interpret their results and provide guidance on best management practices to utilize their forages. The Fallon/Carter County Extension Office is also able to certify Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage for producers. With the assistance of the Extension Agent, one producer certified his wheat straw and was better able to market his product. Twenty-three people contacted the office for questions on identification and management of different insects. The Schutter Diagnostic Lab was heavily utilized to help provide resources to some of these clients. The office fielded 44 questions on plant identification and diseases, allowing clients to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. The Fallon/Carter Extension Office was able to provide many resources to constituents of these communities to help them better utilize their agricultural and horticultural production.

Caption: Field recently NWSFF certified

Credit: Amanda Williams

Shared Partners and Communities Help Continue Repelling at 4-H Camp

At the southeastern 4-H camp, one of the favorite activities by many of the participants is repelling. Last year, we discovered that the group needed to update a lot of the repelling equipment to safely continue this activity. Because 4-H camp is so important to many of the surrounding communities, everyone pitched in to help. Many of the county 4-H councils that send kids to 4-H camp donated funds to help purchase new equipment. Todd Olmstead from Technical Rescue Options was able to help the group with finding supplies that would fit the groups needs. The Baker and Ekalaka Volunteer Fire departments allowed one of our agents to participate in a low angle ropes rescue training to learn some techniques that were able to translate over to 4-H camp. We were also fortunate enough to have two 4-H volunteers from Carter County that are trained in low angle ropes rescue that volunteered at 4-H camp to help with repelling this year. A large project like this would not be possible without community groups and partners that care about the program.

Caption: New repelling equipment being put to good use at 4-H camp by youth and adult volunteer.

Credit: Amanda Williams

Food Preservation Resources

Following the local county fairs there was interest in learning more information on food preservation. The Extension Office was able to attend the Fall Homemakers Council Meeting and provide resources and information on food preservation. Participants were able to learn how to safely preserve and can food. They were also taught about altitude adjustments that they need to include when they are preserving food. Pressure gauge testing was also offered at this event to ensure each participant was making appropriate adjustments. Participants enjoyed learning about where they could find this information, and how to improve preserving food in the future.

Caption: Product of the resources MSU Extension has on food preservation and canning

Credit: Amanda Williams

Contact

10 W. Fallon
Baker, MT 59313
406-778-7110
https://www.montana.edu/extension/falloncarter/