1 00:00:01,266 --> 00:00:03,000 - [Announcer] Montana Ag Live is made possible 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,433 by the Montana Department of Agriculture. 3 00:00:07,733 --> 00:00:10,033 The MSU Extension Service. 4 00:00:10,033 --> 00:00:12,533 The MSU Ag Experiment Stations 5 00:00:12,533 --> 00:00:14,666 of the College of Agriculture. 6 00:00:14,666 --> 00:00:17,733 The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee. 7 00:00:17,733 --> 00:00:20,466 The Montana Bankers Association. 8 00:00:20,466 --> 00:00:23,100 Cashman Nursery & Landscaping. 9 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:25,766 And the Gallatin Gardeners Club. 10 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,566 (country banjo music) 11 00:00:32,833 --> 00:00:34,333 ♪ If your herbicides and fungicides 12 00:00:34,333 --> 00:00:36,100 ♪ And pesticides are old 13 00:00:36,100 --> 00:00:37,666 ♪ The veggies you are growing 14 00:00:37,666 --> 00:00:39,700 ♪ In your garden start to mold 15 00:00:39,700 --> 00:00:41,266 ♪ If the ants are attacking 16 00:00:41,266 --> 00:00:43,200 ♪ And you're having a hard time 17 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,733 ♪ Call Montana Ag Live 18 00:00:46,733 --> 00:00:48,433 ♪ Knapweed in the ditch 19 00:00:48,433 --> 00:00:50,400 ♪ and the old bull's got an itch. 20 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,300 ♪ Ticks upon my sheep and the wool is really cheap. 21 00:00:54,300 --> 00:00:55,600 ♪ The gophers in the pasture 22 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,366 ♪ are even worse than last year. 23 00:00:58,366 --> 00:01:02,400 ♪ Montana Ag Live where are you? 24 00:01:11,766 --> 00:01:12,800 - Good evening. 25 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,400 Welcome to Montana Ag Live originating tonight 26 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,700 from the studios of KUSM 27 00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:21,500 on the beautiful campus of Montana State University. 28 00:01:21,500 --> 00:01:24,666 I'm Jack Riesselman, retired professor of plant pathology. 29 00:01:24,666 --> 00:01:26,800 I'll be your host this evening. 30 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:28,566 We'll have an interesting show this evening 31 00:01:28,566 --> 00:01:30,500 because we always have a lot of questions 32 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:33,433 about vertebrate pests and we've got a specialist 33 00:01:33,433 --> 00:01:35,400 here tonight to answer them. 34 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,200 But before we start, let me introduce 35 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:38,600 the panel this evening. 36 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:42,366 To my immediate left, you all recognize Dave Baumbauer. 37 00:01:42,366 --> 00:01:45,566 Dave is our horticultural specialist tonight 38 00:01:45,566 --> 00:01:48,433 and if you have questions about bees also, 39 00:01:48,433 --> 00:01:52,066 Dave knows an awful lot about honey bees. 40 00:01:52,066 --> 00:01:54,033 Next to Dave is Laurie Kerzicnik. 41 00:01:54,033 --> 00:01:58,366 Laurie is an insect pest diagnostician here at MSU. 42 00:01:58,366 --> 00:01:59,866 She does a wonderful job. 43 00:01:59,866 --> 00:02:02,500 Questions about insects, get them in tonight. 44 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:06,033 We'll go through them and cover as many as we can. 45 00:02:06,033 --> 00:02:08,266 Clain Jones next to Laurie. 46 00:02:08,266 --> 00:02:12,366 Clain is a soil specialist, extension soil scientist. 47 00:02:12,366 --> 00:02:14,333 Clain's been here several times. 48 00:02:14,333 --> 00:02:15,900 If you have fertilizer questions, 49 00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:18,000 anything like that this evening, 50 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:19,600 he'll be here to answer them. 51 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,266 And our special guest tonight, Steve Vantassel. 52 00:02:22,266 --> 00:02:25,266 Steve is with the Montana department of Agriculture. 53 00:02:25,266 --> 00:02:28,500 His specialty and job description 54 00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:32,100 involves vertebrate pest specialties 55 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:34,233 and how to control some of these pests. 56 00:02:34,233 --> 00:02:37,566 And the people answering the phone this evening. 57 00:02:37,566 --> 00:02:40,866 From the left, Barb Schaaf, Nancy Blake 58 00:02:40,866 --> 00:02:43,100 and y'all recognize Don Mathre. 59 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:44,466 The phone hasn't started ringing yet. 60 00:02:44,466 --> 00:02:46,066 There's the number. 61 00:02:46,066 --> 00:02:47,500 If you have questions, get them in tonight. 62 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:49,033 We're gonna cover a lot of questions 63 00:02:49,033 --> 00:02:50,933 during the course of the evening. 64 00:02:50,933 --> 00:02:52,666 Before we start, Steve tell us about 65 00:02:52,666 --> 00:02:54,833 what you do for the Department of Agriculture. 66 00:02:54,833 --> 00:02:57,933 - Well I work with producers and homeowners 67 00:02:57,933 --> 00:03:00,333 and anyone who wants to call and ask questions 68 00:03:00,333 --> 00:03:02,433 about how to deal with various vertebrate pests. 69 00:03:02,433 --> 00:03:04,200 A lot of people don't know what vertebrate pest means. 70 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,733 It's an animal with a spine. 71 00:03:06,733 --> 00:03:08,700 So I don't do bugs but I will help you 72 00:03:08,700 --> 00:03:11,300 with raccoons, skunks, squirrels, ground squirrels, 73 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:14,066 prairie dogs and that sort of thing. 74 00:03:14,066 --> 00:03:15,933 - Well we've always had a lot of questions 75 00:03:15,933 --> 00:03:19,133 and before we go any farther, let's clarify something. 76 00:03:19,133 --> 00:03:22,166 Everybody goes out with their .22s this time of year 77 00:03:22,166 --> 00:03:24,266 and plinks at gophers. 78 00:03:24,266 --> 00:03:26,433 Tell us what gophers really are. 79 00:03:26,433 --> 00:03:28,100 - Well gophers are ground squirrels 80 00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:30,200 so I like to try to get people. 81 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:32,600 So this would be an example of a Richardson ground squirrel 82 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,366 and this is a Columbian ground squirrel. 83 00:03:34,366 --> 00:03:36,766 These are the two most common ground squirrels 84 00:03:36,766 --> 00:03:38,700 that we have in the state. 85 00:03:38,700 --> 00:03:40,000 So these are the ones that are really 86 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,566 bothering people so shoot away. 87 00:03:43,633 --> 00:03:45,466 This is a terminal lead velocity 88 00:03:45,466 --> 00:03:47,966 is a very good way of controlling these things. 89 00:03:47,966 --> 00:03:50,700 But the reality is that it's gonna take some work 90 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:54,766 but if you're a good shot, you can do a lot. 91 00:03:54,766 --> 00:03:56,466 - [Jack] Which one of the two is most common? 92 00:03:56,466 --> 00:03:58,166 - Oh the Richardson without a doubt. 93 00:03:58,166 --> 00:04:00,166 It's about 2/3 of the state. 94 00:04:00,166 --> 00:04:03,066 This guy is basically a Rocky Mountain ground squirrel 95 00:04:03,066 --> 00:04:04,966 so you have to be around the Rocky Mountains 96 00:04:04,966 --> 00:04:06,100 in order to have this one. 97 00:04:06,100 --> 00:04:07,033 - Sounds good. 98 00:04:07,033 --> 00:04:08,466 Alright we'll come back to you cause I know 99 00:04:08,466 --> 00:04:10,366 we're gonna have a lot of questions. 100 00:04:10,366 --> 00:04:11,800 We'll start with Laurie. 101 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,566 This question came in from Missoula last week. 102 00:04:14,566 --> 00:04:18,733 This person has a solitary orchard with Mason bees 103 00:04:20,766 --> 00:04:22,433 that rest in blocks with straws. 104 00:04:22,433 --> 00:04:24,133 Does that make any sense? 105 00:04:24,133 --> 00:04:26,866 - Yeah I think the Mason's, maybe Dave knows, 106 00:04:26,866 --> 00:04:28,900 I forget the exact diameter that Mason bees 107 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:31,833 use but that would make sense, yes. 108 00:04:31,833 --> 00:04:33,400 - Well they seem to have an influx 109 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,633 of parasitic insects using these blocks 110 00:04:35,633 --> 00:04:37,233 he's never seen before. 111 00:04:37,233 --> 00:04:39,600 They wanna know is that a function 112 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,233 of a warmer spring or of warmer temperatures over time, 113 00:04:43,233 --> 00:04:45,366 all these parasites showing up? 114 00:04:45,366 --> 00:04:47,666 - I think they've been there for awhile. 115 00:04:47,666 --> 00:04:50,100 I don't know if Dave knows a little bit more about that 116 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:52,466 but I think the parasites are common 117 00:04:52,466 --> 00:04:54,533 with native bees and honey bees 118 00:04:54,533 --> 00:04:57,166 and I don't know exactly what parasites those are 119 00:04:57,166 --> 00:04:58,833 and how many the native bees have 120 00:04:58,833 --> 00:05:00,833 but I can definitely get back with them too 121 00:05:00,833 --> 00:05:02,333 on what those are. 122 00:05:03,666 --> 00:05:06,233 - Her phone number is on the screen 123 00:05:06,233 --> 00:05:07,800 and she loves to take calls from everybody. 124 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:12,533 So call her directly and she can give you a better answer. 125 00:05:12,533 --> 00:05:15,266 Steve, this came in from Great Falls this evening. 126 00:05:15,266 --> 00:05:18,066 They have a gopher digging up a young tree, 127 00:05:18,066 --> 00:05:21,366 what do they do with the gopher to save the tree? 128 00:05:21,366 --> 00:05:23,366 I think that's an obvious answer. 129 00:05:23,366 --> 00:05:25,033 - Well yeah, it would depend 130 00:05:25,033 --> 00:05:27,133 if they were meaning gopher as in a ground squirrel 131 00:05:27,133 --> 00:05:30,266 or they mean gopher as in pocket gopher. 132 00:05:30,266 --> 00:05:32,633 So if it's a pocket gopher, trapping, 133 00:05:32,633 --> 00:05:34,333 if you're dealing with just your own yard, 134 00:05:34,333 --> 00:05:36,866 trapping is gonna be a great solution. 135 00:05:36,866 --> 00:05:40,733 You wanna try and find the fresh mound activity 136 00:05:40,733 --> 00:05:43,566 and get yourself a good pocket gopher trap and trap it. 137 00:05:43,566 --> 00:05:45,600 There's additional information on how to do 138 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,666 all that in our bulletin available online. 139 00:05:48,666 --> 00:05:51,066 Go to the Montana Department of Ag website. 140 00:05:51,066 --> 00:05:53,633 But you'd wanna dig it out, go to the main burrow, 141 00:05:53,633 --> 00:05:57,000 set your trap, flag it, use a metal wire, 142 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,000 anchor it with a surveyor's flag and just check it. 143 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,733 You should be able to catch it within a day or two. 144 00:06:02,733 --> 00:06:04,400 - Sounds good. 145 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:05,733 Clain, from Wolf Creek. 146 00:06:05,733 --> 00:06:07,133 Again this came in last week. 147 00:06:07,133 --> 00:06:09,666 I'm not sure you're the person that can answer this 148 00:06:09,666 --> 00:06:11,833 but we're gonna give it a shot. 149 00:06:11,833 --> 00:06:14,100 Is it possible that there is mineral 150 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:17,633 in this person's well water that is killing her trees? 151 00:06:17,633 --> 00:06:19,500 They've lost two young apple trees, 152 00:06:19,500 --> 00:06:22,300 one fir and two blue spruce. 153 00:06:22,300 --> 00:06:25,500 The water leaves a grayish residue on the trees 154 00:06:25,500 --> 00:06:27,666 and they water every evening. 155 00:06:27,666 --> 00:06:30,266 That may give you a clue too. 156 00:06:30,266 --> 00:06:33,200 - Certainly things in irrigation water can kill trees. 157 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,766 The main thing would be salts in general. 158 00:06:35,766 --> 00:06:37,300 If you have too many salts, 159 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:39,733 the tree has to work extra hard to pull up 160 00:06:39,733 --> 00:06:42,400 the water out of the salts essentially. 161 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,500 Gray, I'm more used to white if it's salts. 162 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:48,266 - [Jack] It's probably grayish white. 163 00:06:48,266 --> 00:06:49,900 - Yeah so it might be salty. 164 00:06:49,900 --> 00:06:52,300 I would have your water tested 165 00:06:52,300 --> 00:06:54,366 and there's a number of labs in Montana 166 00:06:54,366 --> 00:06:57,033 that can test for salt in water. 167 00:07:00,300 --> 00:07:03,300 - Irrigating every day seems to me 168 00:07:03,300 --> 00:07:05,066 maybe to be a little excessive, 169 00:07:05,066 --> 00:07:06,600 what do you guys think? 170 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,866 Especially if it is salty water. 171 00:07:09,866 --> 00:07:13,466 - Could be that they're rotting off the roots 172 00:07:13,466 --> 00:07:14,933 if it's over watered. 173 00:07:14,933 --> 00:07:16,733 A lot of it depends on the soil type 174 00:07:16,733 --> 00:07:20,133 and newly established trees, you wanna keep it moist 175 00:07:20,133 --> 00:07:22,600 but it probably doesn't require water every day. 176 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,066 - Maybe every third day would be a recommendation. 177 00:07:25,066 --> 00:07:29,133 - It just depends if it's sandy or good soil. 178 00:07:29,133 --> 00:07:32,266 Dave, this is really not your line 179 00:07:32,266 --> 00:07:33,700 but I think you can answer this. 180 00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:38,566 What is the best product to get rid of quack grass in lots? 181 00:07:38,566 --> 00:07:41,500 - So that is a challenging task 182 00:07:41,500 --> 00:07:45,200 because any herbicide that's gonna kill quack grass 183 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,933 is also gonna kill your Kentucky blue grass 184 00:07:47,933 --> 00:07:51,100 or your grass lawn so you can do some spot treatments 185 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:55,200 with glyphosate and then be prepared to reseed. 186 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,466 Probably two weeks afterwards. 187 00:07:57,466 --> 00:07:59,166 - I did it twice with Roundup. 188 00:07:59,166 --> 00:08:01,700 Hit it once, watered it, waited 189 00:08:03,466 --> 00:08:05,466 and then hit it again and then reseeded. 190 00:08:05,466 --> 00:08:06,900 - Cause it does have rhizome? 191 00:08:06,900 --> 00:08:09,033 - It does have rhizomes and you might not get them all 192 00:08:09,033 --> 00:08:10,500 plus you're gonna get other wheat seeds 193 00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:11,666 that come up after that. 194 00:08:11,666 --> 00:08:15,933 The other thing is you can just take cotton gloves 195 00:08:15,933 --> 00:08:18,733 and a plastic glove under it and you know. 196 00:08:18,733 --> 00:08:20,033 - You could rub it on and that would 197 00:08:20,033 --> 00:08:21,866 make the spot smaller but basically 198 00:08:21,866 --> 00:08:24,666 anywhere the glyphosate touches is gonna have some impact. 199 00:08:24,666 --> 00:08:26,733 - Jack, I've also heard from Toby 200 00:08:26,733 --> 00:08:28,766 at a talk recently that annual crabgrass 201 00:08:28,766 --> 00:08:31,266 is starting to sneak into Montana 202 00:08:31,266 --> 00:08:32,633 and there's some similarities. 203 00:08:32,633 --> 00:08:34,266 How can people tell the difference 204 00:08:34,266 --> 00:08:36,866 between quack grass and crabgrass? 205 00:08:36,866 --> 00:08:39,300 - Well one of the easiest ways for me 206 00:08:39,300 --> 00:08:42,700 is crabgrass is not as vigorous or as big 207 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:49,233 and does not have as wide a leaves as the quack grass. 208 00:08:49,233 --> 00:08:52,366 Crabgrass will succumb to several crabgrass herbicides. 209 00:08:52,366 --> 00:08:55,100 - [Clain] So get it diagnosed first 210 00:08:55,100 --> 00:08:57,766 what you have before you spray. 211 00:08:57,766 --> 00:08:59,300 - Yeah, exactly, good idea. 212 00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:02,633 Steve, from Corvallis, on the western part of the state. 213 00:09:02,633 --> 00:09:04,900 What can they do about Columbian ground squirrels 214 00:09:04,900 --> 00:09:07,833 in a pasture and we all know that they are an issue. 215 00:09:07,833 --> 00:09:10,066 - Well you have a variety of things you can do, 216 00:09:10,066 --> 00:09:13,000 everything from toxicants down to trapping 217 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,466 to shooting so you want to, 218 00:09:15,466 --> 00:09:17,466 if you're gonna use toxicants, 219 00:09:17,466 --> 00:09:19,966 you wanna be sure that they're actively feeding. 220 00:09:19,966 --> 00:09:22,800 There are some anticoagulant baits you can use. 221 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,500 Something like Rozol, if you have a pesticide license. 222 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:27,500 If you don't, you can try Ramik Green, 223 00:09:27,500 --> 00:09:29,566 which is a general use pesticide. 224 00:09:29,566 --> 00:09:31,166 We have a 24C in it. 225 00:09:31,166 --> 00:09:34,033 A 24C label allows you to use the product 226 00:09:34,033 --> 00:09:36,600 in ways the federal label doesn't allow you to use 227 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,733 and I would also encourage you to grab our bulletin 228 00:09:39,733 --> 00:09:42,433 on Columbia ground squirrels from our website. 229 00:09:42,433 --> 00:09:44,233 But those are our three main options. 230 00:09:44,233 --> 00:09:47,300 You want to try, the females should be coming out soon. 231 00:09:47,300 --> 00:09:49,400 I was doing some trapping of ground squirrels 232 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,800 about a week or so ago and I thought I saw 233 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,833 some territorial chasing or maybe some mating chasing 234 00:09:55,833 --> 00:09:58,400 so now is going to be a good time to hit them 235 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,166 before you have the young. 236 00:10:00,166 --> 00:10:03,266 - Steve, why don't raptors do a better job, 237 00:10:03,266 --> 00:10:06,000 I guess, in controlling ground squirrels? 238 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,400 - Yeah the issue of raptors is that 239 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,166 if you have a really efficient predator, 240 00:10:10,166 --> 00:10:12,933 he's gonna eat himself out of a job 241 00:10:12,933 --> 00:10:16,466 and so they help maybe reduce the rate 242 00:10:16,466 --> 00:10:18,900 of increase of reproduction but they're never 243 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:21,733 going to eliminate your problem to a level 244 00:10:21,733 --> 00:10:24,000 that you want it to be at. 245 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,866 So that's the challenge cause if they're that effective, 246 00:10:26,866 --> 00:10:29,333 they're gonna basically starve to death. 247 00:10:29,333 --> 00:10:31,400 - So on these anticoagulants, 248 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:33,200 how much do they have to eat or how often 249 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,500 and what's kind of the, how soon do they work? 250 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:39,700 - Well if an anticoagulant, 251 00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:43,433 these are first generations that require multiple feedings. 252 00:10:43,433 --> 00:10:45,733 Generally they're gonna take two to three days 253 00:10:45,733 --> 00:10:47,700 of feedings before they get a toxic dose 254 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:50,266 and so the fastest they would die is day four. 255 00:10:50,266 --> 00:10:53,033 But you can wait sometimes out to a week or more 256 00:10:53,033 --> 00:10:54,700 for them to get enough. 257 00:10:54,700 --> 00:10:56,666 So that's how long it's gonna take 258 00:10:56,666 --> 00:10:59,366 if you're gonna be using an anticoagulant, 259 00:10:59,366 --> 00:11:01,433 at least four days before they start dying. 260 00:11:01,433 --> 00:11:03,466 - So you use a feeding station. 261 00:11:03,466 --> 00:11:05,766 You have to have this bait protected. 262 00:11:05,766 --> 00:11:09,500 - Right, this would be one that can be used. 263 00:11:10,766 --> 00:11:12,833 The same one you use for a rat. 264 00:11:12,833 --> 00:11:15,933 Put the bait inside, anchor it down, put that bait in. 265 00:11:15,933 --> 00:11:17,600 Remember it gonna take a couple of days 266 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:19,300 for them to feel comfortable enough 267 00:11:19,300 --> 00:11:21,266 to get inside to start actively. 268 00:11:21,266 --> 00:11:22,100 Then the dominant squirrels are gonna prevent 269 00:11:22,100 --> 00:11:24,933 the non dominants from feeding. 270 00:11:24,933 --> 00:11:27,866 So then you got to wait for them to die 271 00:11:27,866 --> 00:11:29,733 and then the subordinates come in. 272 00:11:29,733 --> 00:11:31,400 - [Dave] So the bullies go first? 273 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,300 - The bullies go first, yeah. 274 00:11:33,300 --> 00:11:34,700 So you have to be patient. 275 00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:36,700 So generally you should start seeing results 276 00:11:36,700 --> 00:11:37,900 in a couple of weeks. 277 00:11:37,900 --> 00:11:39,600 - [Dave] Okay so keep this up for a month? 278 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,500 - Yeah. - It works better 279 00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:43,433 when there's not as much green vegetation out too. 280 00:11:43,433 --> 00:11:44,866 - Absolutely, you don't wanna have 281 00:11:44,866 --> 00:11:47,700 any food competition at all, if possible. 282 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:49,333 - So the earlier in the year, the better? 283 00:11:49,333 --> 00:11:51,166 - Yes or when things start to brown. 284 00:11:51,166 --> 00:11:53,500 But with Columbians, they go to hibernation 285 00:11:53,500 --> 00:11:55,633 pretty early so Columbians are tougher 286 00:11:55,633 --> 00:11:57,866 than Richardsons in that regard. 287 00:11:57,866 --> 00:11:58,966 - Sounds good. 288 00:11:58,966 --> 00:12:00,233 A comment came in from Bozeman. 289 00:12:00,233 --> 00:12:01,766 Let's see what you guys think about this. 290 00:12:01,766 --> 00:12:04,966 Ground squirrels serve as a major food source for raptors. 291 00:12:04,966 --> 00:12:06,366 You were talking about. 292 00:12:06,366 --> 00:12:09,366 If you shoot them, you should not use lead shot. 293 00:12:09,366 --> 00:12:10,766 Is that true? 294 00:12:10,766 --> 00:12:13,600 - It would be helpful, maybe more expensive for people. 295 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,966 You gotta make sure your gun can handle 296 00:12:15,966 --> 00:12:17,366 that kind of non toxic shot. 297 00:12:17,366 --> 00:12:18,666 But if you are gonna use lead, 298 00:12:18,666 --> 00:12:20,933 it's always better to use non frangible bullets 299 00:12:20,933 --> 00:12:22,633 and you'll reduce the amount of lead poisoning 300 00:12:22,633 --> 00:12:27,533 that would occur from scavengers eating the carcasses. 301 00:12:27,533 --> 00:12:29,033 - What does that mean, non frangible? 302 00:12:29,033 --> 00:12:30,133 Doesn't break up? 303 00:12:30,133 --> 00:12:31,266 - Doesn't break up as much. 304 00:12:31,266 --> 00:12:32,566 It's a more solid shot. 305 00:12:32,566 --> 00:12:34,433 - So the anticoagulant, 306 00:12:34,433 --> 00:12:37,600 is there a risk of secondary exposure? 307 00:12:39,533 --> 00:12:42,033 If a raptor eats- - Yes there is. 308 00:12:42,033 --> 00:12:44,433 So if that's a concern, 309 00:12:44,433 --> 00:12:45,966 then you'd wanna start using 310 00:12:45,966 --> 00:12:48,266 a zinc phosphide type bait. 311 00:12:48,266 --> 00:12:51,700 Zinc phosphide has a significantly lower risk 312 00:12:51,700 --> 00:12:55,400 of secondary poisoning with zinc phosphide 313 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:56,700 than the anticoagulant does. 314 00:12:56,700 --> 00:12:59,433 But you're gonna need to have, generally, 315 00:12:59,433 --> 00:13:01,900 a pesticide license to use your zinc 316 00:13:01,900 --> 00:13:03,200 and it doesn't have as much flexibility 317 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,400 for people who are home owners or small acreages 318 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:09,300 cause zinc phosphide's very toxic as an initial. 319 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:13,300 Whatever eats it initially is gonna get hit. 320 00:13:13,300 --> 00:13:15,000 - What about cats and dogs 321 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,533 that decide to have a secondary lunch? 322 00:13:17,533 --> 00:13:19,533 - Well the zinc phosphide would be the choice 323 00:13:19,533 --> 00:13:21,300 if that's a concern. 324 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:23,333 Otherwise, remember that the anticoagulants 325 00:13:23,333 --> 00:13:24,500 are weight based. 326 00:13:24,500 --> 00:13:26,433 So the bigger the animal is, 327 00:13:26,433 --> 00:13:27,500 the more it has to consume 328 00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:29,166 and I would think it's gonna take a lot 329 00:13:29,166 --> 00:13:32,800 for a cat or dog to eat for that to become a problem. 330 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:34,100 - Sounds good, thank you. 331 00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:35,666 Clain, from Scobey. 332 00:13:36,833 --> 00:13:38,800 Now I hear this a lot, it's a good question. 333 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,533 Is there any reasons to add nitrogen fertilizer 334 00:13:41,533 --> 00:13:45,966 to pulse crops which fix their own nitrogen? 335 00:13:45,966 --> 00:13:47,366 - Alright so the pulse crops, 336 00:13:47,366 --> 00:13:48,933 if you haven't heard that term, 337 00:13:48,933 --> 00:13:51,766 are things like lentils, peas, chickpeas. 338 00:13:51,766 --> 00:13:54,166 We now grow about a million acres of those 339 00:13:54,166 --> 00:13:57,366 in Montana and generally they're inoculated 340 00:13:57,366 --> 00:14:00,200 with a bacteria that resides on the roots, 341 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,900 forms nodules and takes nitrogen out of the air 342 00:14:03,900 --> 00:14:06,200 and puts it into the plant. 343 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,633 So generally you do not have to fertilize with nitrogen. 344 00:14:09,633 --> 00:14:12,766 There are a few exceptions where, for example, 345 00:14:12,766 --> 00:14:16,200 there's insects that eat the nodules of the plant 346 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,833 and then you can end up with nitrogen deficiency. 347 00:14:18,833 --> 00:14:20,700 Sometimes early in the spring, 348 00:14:20,700 --> 00:14:22,666 right as the plant's getting going, 349 00:14:22,666 --> 00:14:24,366 there's not a lot of nitrogen there. 350 00:14:24,366 --> 00:14:27,033 So a small amount applied near the time of seeding, 351 00:14:27,033 --> 00:14:30,900 five to 10 pounds, can really give that plant a jump start. 352 00:14:30,900 --> 00:14:32,466 - Okay sounds good, thank you. 353 00:14:32,466 --> 00:14:35,600 We talked ahead of time about pea weevils. 354 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:39,266 We're seeing more pea weevils, as I understand, 355 00:14:39,266 --> 00:14:43,333 in peas in this state and I think most people 356 00:14:43,333 --> 00:14:45,533 are now encouraging everybody 357 00:14:45,533 --> 00:14:49,433 to use fungicide and insecticide seed treatment 358 00:14:50,533 --> 00:14:53,566 to give added protection against the pea weevil. 359 00:14:53,566 --> 00:14:54,733 Is that true? 360 00:14:54,733 --> 00:14:56,400 - Yeah and the bigger pest right now 361 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,966 is the pea leaf weevil 362 00:14:58,966 --> 00:15:00,566 and then there's also pea weevil 363 00:15:00,566 --> 00:15:03,033 but an insecticide coat on the seed 364 00:15:03,033 --> 00:15:05,266 can help really reduce the numbers. 365 00:15:05,266 --> 00:15:06,166 - Sounds good. 366 00:15:06,166 --> 00:15:08,200 Laurie, from Helena. 367 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,900 This person has quote, thousands of ants 368 00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:14,900 in the area between the foundation and her house. 369 00:15:14,900 --> 00:15:18,866 Does she need to get rid of them and if so, how? 370 00:15:18,866 --> 00:15:21,600 - That could be, if they're carpenter ants, 371 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,233 yeah she definitely would need to get rid of those. 372 00:15:23,233 --> 00:15:25,300 If they stay outside, that's a good thing 373 00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:26,866 but if they're carpenter ants, 374 00:15:26,866 --> 00:15:29,300 they typically will start outside and move in. 375 00:15:29,300 --> 00:15:32,366 So I would really keep an eye on the indoor movement 376 00:15:32,366 --> 00:15:34,700 but there might just be a food source right there 377 00:15:34,700 --> 00:15:36,066 that they're concentrating on. 378 00:15:36,066 --> 00:15:38,333 We got a lot of field ants that end 379 00:15:38,333 --> 00:15:39,766 kind of in that area there 380 00:15:39,766 --> 00:15:41,666 but carpenter ants are another story. 381 00:15:41,666 --> 00:15:43,633 - Send some to you and you'll figure it out. 382 00:15:43,633 --> 00:15:45,900 - Yeah, it depends on what ant species it is. 383 00:15:45,900 --> 00:15:48,166 Sometimes it's a concern. 384 00:15:48,166 --> 00:15:49,266 - Okay sounds good. 385 00:15:49,266 --> 00:15:50,933 Steve, this came in from Bozeman 386 00:15:50,933 --> 00:15:53,733 and I've lived around Bozeman a long time to know 387 00:15:53,733 --> 00:15:57,000 that we do have a lot of voles in Bozeman. 388 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:00,100 This person says that traps are too labor intensive, 389 00:16:00,100 --> 00:16:02,533 rat poison did not work. 390 00:16:02,533 --> 00:16:05,400 Is there a pesticide or another method 391 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,533 that can be used to prevent vole damage. 392 00:16:08,533 --> 00:16:10,866 - Well with a lot of vertebrate work, 393 00:16:10,866 --> 00:16:12,866 it's not about using the silver bullet tool. 394 00:16:12,866 --> 00:16:15,333 It's about using multiple tools together 395 00:16:15,333 --> 00:16:17,333 at the right time to get the effects 396 00:16:17,333 --> 00:16:18,400 that you're looking for. 397 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:19,800 So I would be asking questions about 398 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,366 have you done a proper habitat modification? 399 00:16:22,366 --> 00:16:24,200 One of my favorite phrases; 400 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:25,533 if you build it, they will come. 401 00:16:25,533 --> 00:16:27,333 If you remove it, they will go. 402 00:16:27,333 --> 00:16:29,800 So have you cut the grass properly, 403 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:31,800 do you have a bird feeder on your property? 404 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:33,966 Bird feeders are just vole magnets. 405 00:16:33,966 --> 00:16:36,533 So you're actually creating a problem. 406 00:16:36,533 --> 00:16:39,566 I have a publication out there on the web 407 00:16:39,566 --> 00:16:41,200 on how to modify your bird feeder 408 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,100 so that food's not reaching the ground. 409 00:16:43,100 --> 00:16:45,133 Just google my name with bird feeder 410 00:16:45,133 --> 00:16:46,233 and it'll come up for you. 411 00:16:46,233 --> 00:16:47,366 But otherwise you'd wanna think 412 00:16:47,366 --> 00:16:48,966 about multiple lines of attack, 413 00:16:48,966 --> 00:16:50,733 not just toxicants only, 414 00:16:50,733 --> 00:16:53,566 not just habitat modification only 415 00:16:54,433 --> 00:16:56,600 but multiple lines of attack 416 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:57,900 and then you'll find. 417 00:16:57,900 --> 00:16:59,200 Also you're dealing with eruption. 418 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:00,800 We've had several eruptions here in Montana 419 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:02,833 so this too shall pass 420 00:17:02,833 --> 00:17:04,766 when the environmental conditions start to change 421 00:17:04,766 --> 00:17:07,166 but for long term control, 422 00:17:07,166 --> 00:17:08,366 you need to start thinking about 423 00:17:08,366 --> 00:17:11,066 the habitat modification along with toxicants. 424 00:17:11,066 --> 00:17:12,333 - I agree with that entirely 425 00:17:12,333 --> 00:17:16,933 and a good dog that doesn't like voles never hurt either. 426 00:17:16,933 --> 00:17:19,600 Dave, from Bozeman, when is a good time 427 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,566 to plant trees in a new yard 428 00:17:21,566 --> 00:17:25,733 and do they need to amend the soil and/or stake the trees? 429 00:17:26,833 --> 00:17:29,133 - Well now's a really good time to plant trees. 430 00:17:29,133 --> 00:17:31,166 Probably for the next month 431 00:17:31,166 --> 00:17:33,433 and you can probably get more tree for your dollar 432 00:17:33,433 --> 00:17:35,133 if you go to the garden center 433 00:17:35,133 --> 00:17:37,133 and look for bare root trees 434 00:17:37,133 --> 00:17:39,466 as opposed to those that are potted up. 435 00:17:39,466 --> 00:17:41,300 So trees typically come one of three ways. 436 00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:43,466 Bare root, just like it sounds, the roots are exposed. 437 00:17:43,466 --> 00:17:46,333 It was dug out of the field when it was dormant 438 00:17:46,333 --> 00:17:48,933 and its been stored in the cooler. 439 00:17:48,933 --> 00:17:52,033 Then there's containerized trees in a nursery pot. 440 00:17:52,033 --> 00:17:54,166 And then there's also ball and burlap trees, 441 00:17:54,166 --> 00:17:57,933 also dug to get a root ball attached to it. 442 00:17:57,933 --> 00:18:00,266 But you can probably get your best value, 443 00:18:00,266 --> 00:18:02,300 as far as you have a certain amount 444 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:04,066 of money you want to spend on trees, 445 00:18:04,066 --> 00:18:05,433 by buying bare root trees. 446 00:18:05,433 --> 00:18:08,600 Typically we say not to amend the soil 447 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,900 unless it's extremely poor. 448 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:12,900 You don't want to create that different kind 449 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:14,600 of physical boundary between this amended soil 450 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,200 and your native soil. 451 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,533 And staking the trees is a good idea 452 00:18:18,533 --> 00:18:20,166 at least for the first two years or so. 453 00:18:20,166 --> 00:18:21,633 Until that tree gets establish 454 00:18:21,633 --> 00:18:24,833 and protected from being damaged from the wind. 455 00:18:24,833 --> 00:18:27,033 - What diameter do you start off with with bare root? 456 00:18:27,033 --> 00:18:28,733 Or does it not- 457 00:18:28,733 --> 00:18:30,433 - Well once again, the larger the diameter 458 00:18:30,433 --> 00:18:33,366 typically it costs more but you get a larger tree. 459 00:18:33,366 --> 00:18:36,166 So I would think you'd wanna look 460 00:18:36,166 --> 00:18:38,800 for that inch, inch and a half at the smallest. 461 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,000 That's kind of a nice size to work with. 462 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,000 - Okay question came in from Big Timber. 463 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,166 We don't have a wheat scientist on panel tonight 464 00:18:46,166 --> 00:18:49,000 but we're gonna have some in the next couple weeks. 465 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,633 They wanna know how to get rid 466 00:18:50,633 --> 00:18:52,866 of cheat grass in pastures, tune in. 467 00:18:52,866 --> 00:18:55,233 I do know that there are some herbicides 468 00:18:55,233 --> 00:18:58,066 you can apply in the fall that do a pretty good job 469 00:18:58,066 --> 00:19:02,100 and we'll address those in a couple weeks. 470 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:05,400 Steve, this is a good one from Helena. 471 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:08,033 They want to know how to get rid of foxes. 472 00:19:08,033 --> 00:19:10,733 They have a family in a culvert near the house 473 00:19:10,733 --> 00:19:12,966 and it's getting very aggressive, 474 00:19:12,966 --> 00:19:17,133 becoming concerned about the fox itself and their dog. 475 00:19:17,966 --> 00:19:21,666 - Well without knowing how big your dog is. 476 00:19:21,666 --> 00:19:24,200 If your dog is over 20 pounds, 477 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:25,866 I doubt the fox is gonna be 478 00:19:25,866 --> 00:19:28,033 much of a threat to your dog. 479 00:19:28,033 --> 00:19:30,333 If you're looking to get rid of the fox, 480 00:19:30,333 --> 00:19:32,033 one of the things you can do is try to, 481 00:19:32,033 --> 00:19:35,766 you can harass it at the location of its den. 482 00:19:36,633 --> 00:19:40,800 So maybe taking some, if you feel comfortable doing this. 483 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,900 I can't always predict what an animal's gonna do 484 00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:48,466 but foxes are pretty small so you can take some water, 485 00:19:48,466 --> 00:19:50,766 try to put some water down the burrow 486 00:19:50,766 --> 00:19:52,566 to get them to move and if they feel spooked, 487 00:19:52,566 --> 00:19:55,000 they're gonna move to a different location 488 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:56,933 and that may be the simplest way 489 00:19:56,933 --> 00:19:58,966 for you to resolve that particular problem. 490 00:19:58,966 --> 00:20:02,966 Otherwise you're looking at trapping to remove that 491 00:20:02,966 --> 00:20:05,466 so I would probably suggest a box trap, 492 00:20:05,466 --> 00:20:07,266 commonly known as a cage trap, 493 00:20:07,266 --> 00:20:10,366 then you would bait that with something 494 00:20:10,366 --> 00:20:12,700 you think the fox would like, like chicken, 495 00:20:12,700 --> 00:20:15,166 and then just make sure you're ready to catch a skunk 496 00:20:15,166 --> 00:20:17,233 because people when they use cage traps 497 00:20:17,233 --> 00:20:20,200 always think that the skunk doesn't, 498 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,100 the skunk can't read the sign. 499 00:20:22,100 --> 00:20:24,033 So make sure you're prepared to deal with that 500 00:20:24,033 --> 00:20:27,000 and there's publications I have for that as well for you. 501 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,066 - I'm told that if you get a skunk 502 00:20:29,066 --> 00:20:30,366 in one of these cage traps, 503 00:20:30,366 --> 00:20:32,066 you can walk up to it and pick it up 504 00:20:32,066 --> 00:20:35,500 and put it inside of a gunny sack and carry it off. 505 00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:38,466 - You can depending on how urbanized your skunk is 506 00:20:38,466 --> 00:20:40,666 but I would recommend people to be covering 507 00:20:40,666 --> 00:20:44,166 their cage traps prior to that particular problem. 508 00:20:44,166 --> 00:20:46,000 So I always tell people to cover 509 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,200 your cage traps at least 50%. 510 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,833 That allows you a blind side to come to the trap 511 00:20:50,833 --> 00:20:52,533 so if you do catch a skunk 512 00:20:52,533 --> 00:20:54,533 you can then cover the rest of it 513 00:20:54,533 --> 00:20:56,833 without being worried about being sprayed. 514 00:20:56,833 --> 00:20:58,166 - I think I would probably look at 515 00:20:58,166 --> 00:21:00,433 another solution for myself. 516 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:03,466 From Manhattan, Clain, this person 517 00:21:03,466 --> 00:21:07,000 has attended MSU Field Days in the past 518 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,966 and they have a busy schedule. 519 00:21:08,966 --> 00:21:11,200 They'd like to know where they can find out 520 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,833 the schedule for the research Field Days are this year. 521 00:21:15,833 --> 00:21:17,300 - The College of Agriculture, 522 00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:19,333 Montana Ag Experiment Station site. 523 00:21:19,333 --> 00:21:22,266 I think it's agresearch.montana.edu 524 00:21:24,133 --> 00:21:26,700 has the list of the six field days for Manhattan, 525 00:21:26,700 --> 00:21:29,500 the closest to the Manhattan location 526 00:21:29,500 --> 00:21:31,366 would be the Post Farm field day 527 00:21:31,366 --> 00:21:34,866 which is Friday, July 7th and it starts at eight am 528 00:21:34,866 --> 00:21:37,933 at the Post Farm, four miles west of Bozeman. 529 00:21:37,933 --> 00:21:39,666 - Okay thank you. 530 00:21:39,666 --> 00:21:41,933 From Helena, good question. 531 00:21:42,966 --> 00:21:45,833 Please address hantavirus and deer mice. 532 00:21:45,833 --> 00:21:48,333 Do we have it in the Helena area? 533 00:21:48,333 --> 00:21:49,966 I know they have deer mice. 534 00:21:49,966 --> 00:21:51,600 And should they be concerned? 535 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,033 - Yes whenever you have deer mice 536 00:21:54,033 --> 00:21:56,300 you should be concerned about hantavirus. 537 00:21:56,300 --> 00:21:59,966 The CDC is gonna be your go to place for that. 538 00:21:59,966 --> 00:22:03,200 But when I talk to people about hantavirus 539 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,266 or any type of deer mice, you wanna be sure 540 00:22:05,266 --> 00:22:07,500 that you're never sweeping up droppings. 541 00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:11,266 You wanna make sure you're treating the droppings 542 00:22:11,266 --> 00:22:14,433 as potential vectors of hantavirus 543 00:22:14,433 --> 00:22:16,966 so you could use Lysol, you could use 10% bleach. 544 00:22:16,966 --> 00:22:19,600 You wanna mop up things, you wanna air out the room. 545 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:22,200 But the CDC has some very basic steps 546 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,233 of how you'd clean something up. 547 00:22:24,233 --> 00:22:26,366 So never just simply sweep up droppings 548 00:22:26,366 --> 00:22:28,566 that look like mice droppings 549 00:22:28,566 --> 00:22:30,233 because you don't know if they're house mouse 550 00:22:30,233 --> 00:22:31,466 or whether they're deer mouse 551 00:22:31,466 --> 00:22:33,233 and we have deer mice across the entire state. 552 00:22:33,233 --> 00:22:36,200 So that's very important to protect yourself from that. 553 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,600 - And they're pretty common in forest service cabins? 554 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:39,833 That's where I always worry about them. 555 00:22:39,833 --> 00:22:41,966 - Oh yeah, we have a very high rate 556 00:22:41,966 --> 00:22:44,466 of hantavirus exposure given our population size 557 00:22:44,466 --> 00:22:46,666 in the state so absolutely if you're, 558 00:22:46,666 --> 00:22:49,466 I think that's why we have such a high. 559 00:22:49,466 --> 00:22:52,700 People have this cabin, they go in the spring 560 00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:54,966 to sort of clean it out and I think that's where 561 00:22:54,966 --> 00:22:56,900 they're exposing themselves. 562 00:22:56,900 --> 00:22:59,166 So follow those instructions from the CDC 563 00:22:59,166 --> 00:23:00,733 and they're not very complicated. 564 00:23:00,733 --> 00:23:02,633 - Sounds good, good question. 565 00:23:02,633 --> 00:23:06,666 From Billings, Dave and I don't know this one myself. 566 00:23:06,666 --> 00:23:08,933 What is vermicompost and how 567 00:23:08,933 --> 00:23:11,833 and why do gardeners use it? 568 00:23:11,833 --> 00:23:12,900 First of all, what is it? 569 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:16,733 - So vermicompost is compost produced by worms 570 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:23,500 and you would use it, 571 00:23:23,500 --> 00:23:26,833 it's fairly expensive if you think about, 572 00:23:26,833 --> 00:23:30,566 and it's worm droppings so how much droppings is a worm, 573 00:23:30,566 --> 00:23:33,800 it's a fairly labor intensive process 574 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:37,266 so it's fairly expensive and so it's commonly used 575 00:23:37,266 --> 00:23:39,133 in seed starting mixes. 576 00:23:39,133 --> 00:23:42,066 The interest in it is so many 577 00:23:42,066 --> 00:23:44,633 of our seed starting mixes are sold as sterile 578 00:23:44,633 --> 00:23:47,233 or essentially sterile and there's some research 579 00:23:47,233 --> 00:23:50,066 to suggest that adding a microbial component 580 00:23:50,066 --> 00:23:54,133 so vermicompost is a pretty clean way to do that. 581 00:23:55,066 --> 00:23:58,500 That you're reintroducing some microbial activity 582 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:01,466 to your potting mix without the risk 583 00:24:01,466 --> 00:24:05,400 of weed seeds or pathogens or things like that. 584 00:24:06,666 --> 00:24:09,000 - Now I know, I won't have to ask again. 585 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:10,466 - When's your birthday, Jack? 586 00:24:10,466 --> 00:24:11,466 I'll get you a bag. 587 00:24:11,466 --> 00:24:13,666 - I can't remember any more. 588 00:24:13,666 --> 00:24:17,933 From Bozeman, actually Madison County questions, Steve. 589 00:24:17,933 --> 00:24:20,233 This person wants to get rid of badgers, any suggestions? 590 00:24:20,233 --> 00:24:22,266 - Get rid of their prey. 591 00:24:22,266 --> 00:24:24,233 No prey, no badger. 592 00:24:24,233 --> 00:24:26,466 So if they're feeding on ground squirrels, 593 00:24:26,466 --> 00:24:27,600 control the ground squirrels. 594 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,333 If they're feeding on pocket gophers, 595 00:24:29,333 --> 00:24:30,966 remove the pocket gophers 596 00:24:30,966 --> 00:24:32,400 and that'll get rid of your badger. 597 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,700 That's gonna be the easiest way to go. 598 00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:37,366 - Sounds good. 599 00:24:37,366 --> 00:24:38,500 Laurie, from Billings. 600 00:24:38,500 --> 00:24:40,033 This person would like a recommendation 601 00:24:40,033 --> 00:24:42,333 on an insect field guide suitable 602 00:24:42,333 --> 00:24:45,700 for someone who is a master gardener. 603 00:24:45,700 --> 00:24:47,300 - I would recommend Whitney Cranshaw, 604 00:24:47,300 --> 00:24:49,633 there are a lot of different field guides 605 00:24:49,633 --> 00:24:51,900 but Whitney Crashaw has The Garden Insects of North America 606 00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:53,100 which it's a pretty thick book 607 00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:57,033 but I think you can get it for $25, $30 on Amazon 608 00:24:57,033 --> 00:24:59,200 or wherever and he actually is coming out 609 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:00,700 with a new edition so if you could hold off 610 00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:02,233 for just a little bit, I would wait. 611 00:25:02,233 --> 00:25:04,166 But you can go back to the host 612 00:25:04,166 --> 00:25:06,300 and it'll describe the problems 613 00:25:06,300 --> 00:25:08,200 and list all the insects that are in there 614 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:09,133 and beautiful pictures. 615 00:25:09,133 --> 00:25:10,566 I know he works really hard on that. 616 00:25:10,566 --> 00:25:12,866 That's my standard. 617 00:25:12,866 --> 00:25:14,833 - I always like pictures to identify things 618 00:25:14,833 --> 00:25:18,533 and keys were always a little foreign to me. 619 00:25:18,533 --> 00:25:19,866 - Yeah that's very user friendly. 620 00:25:19,866 --> 00:25:21,766 That's the one I'd recommend. 621 00:25:21,766 --> 00:25:23,833 - Okay sounds good. 622 00:25:23,833 --> 00:25:25,433 From Laurel, Clain. 623 00:25:27,266 --> 00:25:29,266 This person says it's warmed up considerably 624 00:25:29,266 --> 00:25:32,300 and I have seen in that area, 625 00:25:32,300 --> 00:25:34,800 the spring wheat and barley's up already. 626 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,133 But they have grass that is really greening up. 627 00:25:37,133 --> 00:25:38,400 I assume it's in a yard. 628 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,733 Should they fertilize now or wait? 629 00:25:40,733 --> 00:25:41,600 - I would wait. 630 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,200 This is Montana and it could be cold 631 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:45,666 for the rest of April. 632 00:25:45,666 --> 00:25:49,033 And generally turf grass has a decent amount 633 00:25:49,033 --> 00:25:53,533 of nitrogen to get that turf through a few weeks 634 00:25:53,533 --> 00:25:57,300 to maybe a month before it needs fertilizer. 635 00:25:57,300 --> 00:25:59,700 So I would probably way until May. 636 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:01,400 I think now is a little too eager. 637 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:03,733 - I agree, I don't like to mow that much myself. 638 00:26:03,733 --> 00:26:06,133 - Right, it does create more mowing. 639 00:26:06,133 --> 00:26:08,633 - Interesting question, Steve. 640 00:26:08,633 --> 00:26:10,766 A visitor here from Boulder. 641 00:26:10,766 --> 00:26:12,366 Welcome to Montana. 642 00:26:12,366 --> 00:26:15,200 As I say visit but don't stay 643 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,666 but I don't really mean that. 644 00:26:17,666 --> 00:26:21,300 No seriously we welcome visitors here. 645 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:24,333 This person lives adjacent to a lot of prairie dogs. 646 00:26:24,333 --> 00:26:27,166 They're concerned about plague. 647 00:26:27,166 --> 00:26:29,233 Is that a legitimate concern? 648 00:26:29,233 --> 00:26:30,766 - Yeah it is. 649 00:26:30,766 --> 00:26:32,833 Plague does affect prairie dogs 650 00:26:32,833 --> 00:26:35,200 and also kills humans as well. 651 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,300 There was a recent death in Colorado in 2015 652 00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:40,333 where a 16 year old died. 653 00:26:40,333 --> 00:26:42,700 The key there is you can always treat 654 00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:44,900 the prairie dogs for fleas, 655 00:26:44,900 --> 00:26:46,466 is one thing that's actually done 656 00:26:46,466 --> 00:26:47,666 in some parts of the country 657 00:26:47,666 --> 00:26:49,933 to protect black footed ferrets for instance. 658 00:26:49,933 --> 00:26:52,033 But the key is avoidance. 659 00:26:53,500 --> 00:26:57,666 So fleas jump four inches, I think that's correct. 660 00:27:01,466 --> 00:27:04,500 So you wanna stay away, don't be roaming around. 661 00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:06,866 Also make sure your pets aren't gonna be 662 00:27:06,866 --> 00:27:09,233 roaming around in that area because they could 663 00:27:09,233 --> 00:27:10,500 bring the fleas back to you as well. 664 00:27:10,500 --> 00:27:12,233 And then monitor your health. 665 00:27:12,233 --> 00:27:13,866 So if you're starting to feel sick, 666 00:27:13,866 --> 00:27:15,133 don't just assume it's the flu, 667 00:27:15,133 --> 00:27:19,233 especially if you've seen the prairie dogs disappear. 668 00:27:19,233 --> 00:27:20,966 The prairie dogs could disappear pretty quickly 669 00:27:20,966 --> 00:27:23,466 when plague hits them, in a couple of weeks. 670 00:27:23,466 --> 00:27:24,766 So if you're starting to see that 671 00:27:24,766 --> 00:27:26,333 and you're feeling sick, you need to 672 00:27:26,333 --> 00:27:28,933 get to the doctor and tell them plague is a possibility. 673 00:27:28,933 --> 00:27:30,933 - While I have you up, we have another question here 674 00:27:30,933 --> 00:27:33,200 from Billings concerning prairie dogs. 675 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,400 This person obviously owns some ground 676 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,433 that they want to sell and they would like to know 677 00:27:38,433 --> 00:27:40,633 do they have to move prairie dogs 678 00:27:40,633 --> 00:27:43,700 and relocate them before development? 679 00:27:44,833 --> 00:27:47,400 He was told that this is required 680 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:49,800 in many parts of Colorado and Utah. 681 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:51,700 - Yeah, not in Montana, no. 682 00:27:51,700 --> 00:27:53,700 You'd have to get some permissions 683 00:27:53,700 --> 00:27:55,966 to be moving prairie dogs around. 684 00:27:55,966 --> 00:27:57,666 So don't move prairie dogs around 685 00:27:57,666 --> 00:28:00,766 but you're allowed to certainly remove them permanently 686 00:28:00,766 --> 00:28:04,966 as we would say, if you desire to do that. 687 00:28:04,966 --> 00:28:06,066 - Okay sounds good. 688 00:28:06,066 --> 00:28:07,533 Laurie, from Kalispell. 689 00:28:07,533 --> 00:28:09,233 How do you get rid of stink bugs 690 00:28:09,233 --> 00:28:11,400 in their house and porch? 691 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:12,833 No problems 20 years ago 692 00:28:12,833 --> 00:28:14,833 and now they've become a huge problem. 693 00:28:14,833 --> 00:28:16,566 - So those probably aren't stink bugs. 694 00:28:16,566 --> 00:28:18,733 Those are probably western conifer seed bugs 695 00:28:18,733 --> 00:28:20,300 and they look a lot like a stink bug 696 00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:22,166 but they're really bad home invaders. 697 00:28:22,166 --> 00:28:25,500 We had a lot of seed production on our conifers 698 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:30,400 so we had a huge western conifer seed bug population 699 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,300 this year especially up in Kalispell. 700 00:28:33,300 --> 00:28:34,666 So I would just try to wait it out 701 00:28:34,666 --> 00:28:36,533 and they don't reproduce inside the home 702 00:28:36,533 --> 00:28:37,933 even though it seems like it. 703 00:28:37,933 --> 00:28:39,500 So just vacuum them up. 704 00:28:39,500 --> 00:28:41,400 They look kind of awkward when they're in the house 705 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:44,466 and everything but they have piercing, sucking mouth parts 706 00:28:44,466 --> 00:28:46,500 but they not assassin bugs. 707 00:28:46,500 --> 00:28:48,366 A lot of people think they are 708 00:28:48,366 --> 00:28:50,733 so they really don't bite humans. 709 00:28:50,733 --> 00:28:52,333 So just try to hold out this year 710 00:28:52,333 --> 00:28:53,400 and I don't think we'll have 711 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,033 as high a population this next coming year. 712 00:28:55,033 --> 00:28:56,200 - You mentioned another bug 713 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,166 and we have a question here from Winnett. 714 00:28:58,166 --> 00:29:02,600 They have an infestation of assassin bugs every spring. 715 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:05,633 Why and what do they do about it? 716 00:29:05,633 --> 00:29:07,833 - You might need to send something in to Schutter Lab 717 00:29:07,833 --> 00:29:09,900 to make sure that's not an assassin bug. 718 00:29:09,900 --> 00:29:11,400 Assassin bugs really do bite 719 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:12,833 and a lot of people are really concerned 720 00:29:12,833 --> 00:29:16,266 about assassin bugs and they're also concerned 721 00:29:16,266 --> 00:29:20,700 with the disease that they vector called Chagas disease 722 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:22,700 and we don't have the three species 723 00:29:22,700 --> 00:29:27,333 that vector Chagas disease but it'd be important 724 00:29:27,333 --> 00:29:28,633 to try to figure out what that is 725 00:29:28,633 --> 00:29:30,500 but that might also be the western conifer seed bug 726 00:29:30,500 --> 00:29:32,266 because if you go online, it looks almost 727 00:29:32,266 --> 00:29:34,033 exactly like the assassin bug. 728 00:29:34,033 --> 00:29:36,100 - Send them to the Schutter Diagnostic Lab, 729 00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:39,733 MSU, Bozeman, 59717. - That's right. 730 00:29:39,733 --> 00:29:41,133 You know that address. 731 00:29:41,133 --> 00:29:42,800 - Dave, from Laurel. 732 00:29:44,566 --> 00:29:46,733 This person would like to know if it's too early 733 00:29:46,733 --> 00:29:50,633 to plant irises that she dug up last fall. 734 00:29:50,633 --> 00:29:51,733 - I would think so. 735 00:29:51,733 --> 00:29:53,200 I would probably wanna wait for another month or so. 736 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:56,266 You get some 20 degree nights, 737 00:29:56,266 --> 00:29:58,066 I would think that would be, 738 00:29:58,066 --> 00:30:00,600 injury would be susceptible. 739 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:02,500 It'd be susceptible to injury. 740 00:30:02,500 --> 00:30:05,766 - Steve, this question came in from Alberton. 741 00:30:05,766 --> 00:30:07,033 I think it's the first time 742 00:30:07,033 --> 00:30:08,500 we've had a question from Alberton. 743 00:30:08,500 --> 00:30:11,766 They have seven acres with a huge problem 744 00:30:11,766 --> 00:30:15,600 of pocket gophers, wants to put in an orchard. 745 00:30:16,466 --> 00:30:20,166 How do they control the pocket gophers? 746 00:30:20,166 --> 00:30:23,700 - With seven acres, you could do trapping. 747 00:30:23,700 --> 00:30:26,866 Otherwise you're looking at some toxicants. 748 00:30:26,866 --> 00:30:29,100 So hand baiting with toxicants 749 00:30:29,100 --> 00:30:30,766 might be the most efficient method 750 00:30:30,766 --> 00:30:32,900 then follow up maybe with some trapping. 751 00:30:32,900 --> 00:30:35,266 I would suggest, you have a variety. 752 00:30:35,266 --> 00:30:37,133 You have zinc phosphide, you have strychnine 753 00:30:37,133 --> 00:30:38,800 and you have anticoagulants. 754 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,800 So I would say yes to all of that. 755 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:43,500 Especially if you're dealing with alfalfa. 756 00:30:43,500 --> 00:30:45,233 You're gonna have to really work hard 757 00:30:45,233 --> 00:30:46,966 to get rid of them if you try to plow that under. 758 00:30:46,966 --> 00:30:48,666 If you wanna reduce your workload, 759 00:30:48,666 --> 00:30:51,933 get rid of the grass or whatever you have growing there 760 00:30:51,933 --> 00:30:54,400 and then no food, no pocket gopher. 761 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,833 Make sure you have everything cleaned out 762 00:30:56,833 --> 00:30:58,233 before you put in the orchard 763 00:30:58,233 --> 00:31:00,033 and I would do something to protect the roots 764 00:31:00,033 --> 00:31:02,466 because you'll probably have reinvasion in the future 765 00:31:02,466 --> 00:31:04,500 so you might want to put some sort 766 00:31:04,500 --> 00:31:07,333 of a screening base underneath your root system. 767 00:31:07,333 --> 00:31:10,000 Have it come up above the ground at least 12 inches 768 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,433 to prevent pocket gophers from attacking those roots 769 00:31:13,433 --> 00:31:15,633 cause they can really devastate your trees. 770 00:31:15,633 --> 00:31:17,833 - I head you mention a name I've heard a lot 771 00:31:17,833 --> 00:31:20,666 in the past and this question in from Livingston 772 00:31:20,666 --> 00:31:22,433 so we'll address it right now. 773 00:31:22,433 --> 00:31:24,333 Strychnine, what's the use of strychnine? 774 00:31:24,333 --> 00:31:25,733 What's the restrictions now 775 00:31:25,733 --> 00:31:27,966 and does it work to control pocket gophers 776 00:31:27,966 --> 00:31:29,033 and ground squirrels? 777 00:31:29,033 --> 00:31:31,200 - Yes it does work for pocket gophers. 778 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:35,366 It is only legal for pocket gophers in below ground use. 779 00:31:36,366 --> 00:31:37,933 So if you're using strychnine 780 00:31:37,933 --> 00:31:40,566 for ground squirrels or voles or prairie dogs, 781 00:31:40,566 --> 00:31:43,800 those are illegal uses of strychnine. 782 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:45,833 It is only allowed for below ground use 783 00:31:45,833 --> 00:31:47,833 for pocket gophers only. 784 00:31:49,033 --> 00:31:50,233 - Okay good to know. 785 00:31:50,233 --> 00:31:51,633 Clain, from Missoula. 786 00:31:51,633 --> 00:31:55,200 This person has a large vegetable garden 787 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:59,433 and they hear a lot of conflicting recommendations 788 00:31:59,433 --> 00:32:03,333 relative to fertilizing their vegetable garden. 789 00:32:03,333 --> 00:32:05,933 Do you want to give them some advice? 790 00:32:05,933 --> 00:32:07,566 - I have a couple documents out there. 791 00:32:07,566 --> 00:32:10,966 Mont Guide on Soil Test Interpretation 792 00:32:10,966 --> 00:32:13,900 for the Home Gardener and I also have 793 00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:15,566 what's called a soil scoop 794 00:32:15,566 --> 00:32:18,166 which is a scaled down version, just a front and a back, 795 00:32:18,166 --> 00:32:20,233 it gets right to the point. 796 00:32:20,233 --> 00:32:23,900 Both of those can be found on my soil fertility website 797 00:32:23,900 --> 00:32:27,633 that you can find by googling Clain, C L A I N 798 00:32:27,633 --> 00:32:31,000 and soil and it's usually the top hit there. 799 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:34,566 So soil scoop called Feeding the Vegetable Garden 800 00:32:34,566 --> 00:32:36,666 or a mock guide on the same topic. 801 00:32:36,666 --> 00:32:37,766 - Okay sounds good. 802 00:32:37,766 --> 00:32:39,766 Dave, from Lewistown. 803 00:32:39,766 --> 00:32:42,566 Obviously they have a lot of horses 804 00:32:42,566 --> 00:32:44,133 in the Lewistown area as they do 805 00:32:44,133 --> 00:32:45,900 in a lot of parts of Montana 806 00:32:45,900 --> 00:32:48,433 and they save the horse manure for their garden. 807 00:32:48,433 --> 00:32:51,566 Is it better to apply this in the fall 808 00:32:51,566 --> 00:32:55,666 and the spring and how much should they put on? 809 00:32:55,666 --> 00:32:58,066 - Wow that's a good question. 810 00:32:58,966 --> 00:33:00,433 If it's your horse manure, 811 00:33:00,433 --> 00:33:02,433 so you know what the feed stocks were 812 00:33:02,433 --> 00:33:05,066 then there's a couple concerns here. 813 00:33:05,066 --> 00:33:06,533 One, you can overdo it. 814 00:33:06,533 --> 00:33:11,366 Too much salt and this is your turf so jump in at any time. 815 00:33:11,366 --> 00:33:13,166 Then the other concern, if you don't know 816 00:33:13,166 --> 00:33:16,666 the source of the manure and what the animals were fed, 817 00:33:16,666 --> 00:33:21,133 we're always concerned about residual herbicides 818 00:33:21,133 --> 00:33:23,666 and some of them hang around for a long time. 819 00:33:23,666 --> 00:33:25,533 For years and some of them actually even 820 00:33:25,533 --> 00:33:27,333 survive the composting process. 821 00:33:27,333 --> 00:33:31,500 So you really should, if you think you're gonna put manure 822 00:33:32,700 --> 00:33:35,766 or any kind of an amendment that has a potential 823 00:33:35,766 --> 00:33:39,200 for herbicide residues, you should take a little bit 824 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:41,033 of your soil, add some of the manure, 825 00:33:41,033 --> 00:33:43,866 mix it up, put some susceptible plant seeds in there 826 00:33:43,866 --> 00:33:46,466 like tomato and green beans and grow them up 827 00:33:46,466 --> 00:33:48,233 and see what happens before you. 828 00:33:48,233 --> 00:33:49,700 Because once you put it on, 829 00:33:49,700 --> 00:33:52,566 it's really hard to get it out. 830 00:33:52,566 --> 00:33:54,800 I prefer a fall application just so that 831 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:56,433 if it hasn't fully composted, 832 00:33:56,433 --> 00:33:58,066 it has a chance to do that 833 00:33:58,066 --> 00:33:59,766 and there's some guidelines 834 00:33:59,766 --> 00:34:03,033 if you're a commercial grower, like an organic grower, 835 00:34:03,033 --> 00:34:05,400 you have to have a certain number of days 836 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,333 between manure application and harvest. 837 00:34:08,333 --> 00:34:10,166 I wanna say it's like 120 days. 838 00:34:10,166 --> 00:34:11,900 So fall applications make a lot of sense. 839 00:34:11,900 --> 00:34:16,533 How do you figure how much nitrogen's in there? 840 00:34:16,533 --> 00:34:18,800 - The best way would be send in a sample 841 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:21,633 or use the internet to get a rough range, 842 00:34:21,633 --> 00:34:24,233 an average for how much nitrogen, 843 00:34:24,233 --> 00:34:27,066 phosphorus and potassium are in horse manure. 844 00:34:27,066 --> 00:34:28,666 - [Jack] It's not very high as I recall. 845 00:34:28,666 --> 00:34:30,300 - No because they're not ruminants, 846 00:34:30,300 --> 00:34:32,700 they basically are pooping out grass. 847 00:34:32,700 --> 00:34:36,000 It's not heavily digested like in a cow 848 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:38,433 and so it probably isn't very high. 849 00:34:38,433 --> 00:34:41,033 - [Jack] Chicken seems to be the best 850 00:34:41,033 --> 00:34:42,366 if you have a bunch of chickens. 851 00:34:42,366 --> 00:34:44,266 - Right but chicken manure can be hot 852 00:34:44,266 --> 00:34:45,600 meaning it has a lot of ammonia 853 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:48,133 so it's best to compost chicken manure 854 00:34:48,133 --> 00:34:49,833 before you apply it. 855 00:34:49,833 --> 00:34:52,233 Ammonia can kill seedlings. 856 00:34:52,233 --> 00:34:53,433 - Okay sounds good. 857 00:34:53,433 --> 00:34:54,766 We got that out of the way. 858 00:34:54,766 --> 00:34:56,633 Steve, from Missoula. 859 00:34:56,633 --> 00:34:58,500 I've heard of this before. 860 00:34:58,500 --> 00:35:02,900 This person found a bat in their bedroom when they woke up. 861 00:35:02,900 --> 00:35:04,833 Number one, should they panic? 862 00:35:04,833 --> 00:35:06,500 I would, not really. 863 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:11,966 Is that a problem and what would they do about it? 864 00:35:11,966 --> 00:35:13,400 - It is a concern. 865 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:14,900 One thing we tell people to do 866 00:35:14,900 --> 00:35:17,800 is to make sure you capture that bat. 867 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:20,366 Because if you wake up in a room with a bat, 868 00:35:20,366 --> 00:35:22,966 you don't know whether the bat bit you or not. 869 00:35:22,966 --> 00:35:24,000 Well wouldn't I know? 870 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:25,800 Well not necessarily. 871 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,000 If you were awake, you would know 872 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,233 but if you're sleeping and you wake up 873 00:35:30,233 --> 00:35:32,300 and you see a bat it could be you woke up 874 00:35:32,300 --> 00:35:33,733 because the bat bit you. 875 00:35:33,733 --> 00:35:34,833 So don't assume you're gonna know that. 876 00:35:34,833 --> 00:35:36,466 So you wanna capture that bat in a way 877 00:35:36,466 --> 00:35:38,466 that doesn't damage the brain. 878 00:35:38,466 --> 00:35:40,700 So no tennis rackets folks. 879 00:35:40,700 --> 00:35:42,400 Don't hit it with a tennis racket. 880 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:45,866 So take a piece of Tupperware, take some gloves, 881 00:35:45,866 --> 00:35:48,266 Tupperware, wait for it to land, 882 00:35:48,266 --> 00:35:49,966 put it over the bat and scoop it up inside 883 00:35:49,966 --> 00:35:52,533 then contact our local health department. 884 00:35:52,533 --> 00:35:54,733 They will interview you to determine 885 00:35:54,733 --> 00:35:57,300 whether that bat needs to be tested for rabies 886 00:35:57,300 --> 00:35:59,333 and they'll take it from there. 887 00:35:59,333 --> 00:36:01,900 - Okay bats a common problem 888 00:36:01,900 --> 00:36:04,400 in houses in this state? - Yes. 889 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,733 - Yeah alright I kind of recognize that. 890 00:36:09,633 --> 00:36:10,966 - So part of my goal is to get the word out 891 00:36:10,966 --> 00:36:13,166 to people to treat it seriously. 892 00:36:13,166 --> 00:36:14,633 It's not the end of the world 893 00:36:14,633 --> 00:36:16,600 but when you're dealing with a human exposure, 894 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:18,233 it's a lottery. 895 00:36:18,233 --> 00:36:19,866 Most bats are not rabid. 896 00:36:19,866 --> 00:36:22,700 But it's a lottery you don't wanna win if it is. 897 00:36:22,700 --> 00:36:26,200 So that's why there's this concern. 898 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:27,700 So ultimately you can find out 899 00:36:27,700 --> 00:36:31,566 if the bat tested positive then they can do the shots. 900 00:36:31,566 --> 00:36:33,266 If it's negative, that saves you the money 901 00:36:33,266 --> 00:36:35,900 of having to get the shots. 902 00:36:35,900 --> 00:36:37,300 - [Jack] And the discomfort. 903 00:36:37,300 --> 00:36:39,166 - The discomfort isn't as bad as it used to be 904 00:36:39,166 --> 00:36:40,866 so all the horror stories you heard. 905 00:36:40,866 --> 00:36:43,200 The first shot is the one that hurts the most 906 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:44,733 it's called the gammaglobulin. 907 00:36:44,733 --> 00:36:46,566 That one's based on weight. 908 00:36:46,566 --> 00:36:49,133 So the more you weigh, the more you get. 909 00:36:49,133 --> 00:36:52,333 But otherwise it's nowhere near what it used to be. 910 00:36:52,333 --> 00:36:53,866 - Okay, sounds good. 911 00:36:53,866 --> 00:36:55,500 Laurie, from Helena. 912 00:36:55,500 --> 00:36:58,933 Earwigs in the spring in the garden. 913 00:36:58,933 --> 00:37:01,233 They don't want them anymore 914 00:37:02,233 --> 00:37:04,233 so how would you get rid of them. 915 00:37:04,233 --> 00:37:05,333 - That's a tough one. 916 00:37:05,333 --> 00:37:07,600 Definitely they come back every year. 917 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:09,433 They really don't like moisture. 918 00:37:09,433 --> 00:37:10,666 You have to do something 919 00:37:10,666 --> 00:37:13,166 to keep that area free of moisture 920 00:37:13,166 --> 00:37:14,666 or give them somewhere else to hide. 921 00:37:14,666 --> 00:37:16,800 So give them some corrugated cardboard 922 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:19,566 or roll up a newspaper and wet it down 923 00:37:19,566 --> 00:37:21,333 and try to give them somewhere like that. 924 00:37:21,333 --> 00:37:25,133 Cause they're just looking for a place to hide 925 00:37:25,133 --> 00:37:27,233 and that would be a good way to get rid of them. 926 00:37:27,233 --> 00:37:29,400 But we had a bad earwig year last year too 927 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,000 so they'll be back. 928 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:35,133 They also eat aphids too so they're not terrible. 929 00:37:36,466 --> 00:37:38,800 But could go either way on that one. 930 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:39,633 But nobody likes them. 931 00:37:39,633 --> 00:37:41,300 I don't like them myself. 932 00:37:41,300 --> 00:37:42,500 - They're not particularly attractive bugs. 933 00:37:42,500 --> 00:37:44,166 - No they're not. 934 00:37:44,166 --> 00:37:46,100 - Anyway to keep them out of your corn patch 935 00:37:46,100 --> 00:37:47,500 or out of your cob? 936 00:37:47,500 --> 00:37:49,433 - That's the worst report. 937 00:37:49,433 --> 00:37:52,100 They love corn. - [Clain] Anything to do? 938 00:37:52,100 --> 00:37:55,800 - Well not really, just live with it. 939 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,733 - Okay from earwigs to blue spruce. 940 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,233 This person has a windbreak of about 50 trees. 941 00:38:03,233 --> 00:38:06,533 They're about 25 years old so they're well established. 942 00:38:06,533 --> 00:38:08,733 One tree started to have needles turn brown 943 00:38:08,733 --> 00:38:10,666 from the trunk out. 944 00:38:10,666 --> 00:38:12,500 Now there's another one starting to have needles 945 00:38:12,500 --> 00:38:14,600 turn brown from the trunk out. 946 00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:17,333 Any idea why or what can they do? 947 00:38:18,766 --> 00:38:20,433 Natural needle cast? 948 00:38:22,733 --> 00:38:24,600 - I think they would've seen it before. 949 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:26,266 - Yeah you would think so. 950 00:38:26,266 --> 00:38:30,766 - So conifers do shed needles and so I think 951 00:38:30,766 --> 00:38:33,700 it varies on genus as far as how long 952 00:38:33,700 --> 00:38:36,600 a needle lives before they're shed. 953 00:38:38,033 --> 00:38:40,066 That's a good question. 954 00:38:40,066 --> 00:38:41,533 - We have a tough time with spruces. 955 00:38:41,533 --> 00:38:43,000 They come into the Schutter lab all the time 956 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:45,600 with similar symptoms of browning in some way. 957 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:47,400 When you have a windbreak like that 958 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,333 when you have 50 trees, they're probably extremely stressed. 959 00:38:50,333 --> 00:38:52,466 They need a lot of supplemental water 960 00:38:52,466 --> 00:38:54,933 and they're great for a windbreak 961 00:38:54,933 --> 00:38:56,666 but they also suffer that way 962 00:38:56,666 --> 00:38:58,733 that they don't get any extra water. 963 00:38:58,733 --> 00:39:02,233 - If they're close together, you can root girdling too 964 00:39:02,233 --> 00:39:06,266 which will cause some inner needles to start to drop off. 965 00:39:06,266 --> 00:39:10,433 So if they planted them too close, that's a possibility. 966 00:39:10,433 --> 00:39:12,100 From Choteau, Steve. 967 00:39:12,100 --> 00:39:14,300 This person wants to know 968 00:39:14,300 --> 00:39:16,700 if there's a biological control for prairie dogs 969 00:39:16,700 --> 00:39:19,466 such as a virus or anything else. 970 00:39:20,533 --> 00:39:23,800 - Well plague is the big one but don't move it. 971 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:25,866 People have asked me where they can find plague 972 00:39:25,866 --> 00:39:27,866 so they can go move it to their location. 973 00:39:27,866 --> 00:39:31,366 That's a violation of federal law because it's a, 974 00:39:31,366 --> 00:39:34,166 that's like a domestic terrorism type thing. 975 00:39:34,166 --> 00:39:37,533 But no there is nothing that's gonna be available 976 00:39:37,533 --> 00:39:41,266 to the public to use that's a biological control. 977 00:39:41,266 --> 00:39:42,333 - Okay sounds good. 978 00:39:42,333 --> 00:39:45,000 Clain, this person from Townsend 979 00:39:46,966 --> 00:39:51,600 has heard conflicting reports on how much nitrogen 980 00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:53,966 is needed to produce a bushel of wheat. 981 00:39:53,966 --> 00:39:56,766 You want to clarify roughly the amount 982 00:39:56,766 --> 00:39:58,433 of nitrogen per bushel of wheat? 983 00:39:58,433 --> 00:40:01,066 Spring wheat by the way. 984 00:40:01,066 --> 00:40:02,633 - Sure so when we talk nitrogen 985 00:40:02,633 --> 00:40:03,933 we're talking available nitrogen 986 00:40:03,933 --> 00:40:06,966 so that means the amount of nitrogen in the soil 987 00:40:06,966 --> 00:40:09,566 plus the amount that you fertilize 988 00:40:09,566 --> 00:40:12,400 should be about 2.5 pounds of nitrogen 989 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:14,000 per bushel of winter wheat 990 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:18,166 and about 3.3 pounds of N per bushel of spring wheat. 991 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:23,100 The reason I moved away from that a little bit 992 00:40:23,100 --> 00:40:25,433 is, of course, depends on the price of wheat 993 00:40:25,433 --> 00:40:28,833 which is low right now and also the cost of fertilizer. 994 00:40:28,833 --> 00:40:31,200 So I recommend using an economic model 995 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:32,500 which I have on my website, 996 00:40:32,500 --> 00:40:34,766 An Economic Nitrogen Rate calculator. 997 00:40:34,766 --> 00:40:36,833 When protein discounts are high, 998 00:40:36,833 --> 00:40:38,966 I might recommend four pounds of nitrogen per bushel. 999 00:40:38,966 --> 00:40:42,133 When protein discounts are low and wheat prices are low, 1000 00:40:42,133 --> 00:40:43,800 I might recommend two pounds. 1001 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:46,133 So your bottom line is more important 1002 00:40:46,133 --> 00:40:48,500 than your yield and that's why I recommend 1003 00:40:48,500 --> 00:40:50,700 moving a little bit away from those pounds 1004 00:40:50,700 --> 00:40:53,600 of N per bushel which maximize yield 1005 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:56,566 but don't necessarily maximize profit. 1006 00:40:56,566 --> 00:40:58,700 - Okay sounds good, thank you. 1007 00:40:58,700 --> 00:41:01,133 This is one of my all time favorite questions. 1008 00:41:01,133 --> 00:41:03,533 Ever since I've sat in that chair. 1009 00:41:03,533 --> 00:41:07,366 It came in from Libby and it's for Clain or David. 1010 00:41:07,366 --> 00:41:10,666 They want to know is mink manure as hot as chicken manure? 1011 00:41:10,666 --> 00:41:13,433 - [David] This is definitely Clain's. 1012 00:41:13,433 --> 00:41:15,100 Clain has this one down. 1013 00:41:15,100 --> 00:41:18,800 - This is definitely the animal specialist's question. 1014 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:20,600 - Well they have access to a large quantity, 1015 00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:24,500 obviously a mink farmer and they would like an answer. 1016 00:41:24,500 --> 00:41:26,266 Anybody have a guess. 1017 00:41:26,266 --> 00:41:28,900 - I would get it tested. 1018 00:41:28,900 --> 00:41:33,566 - I don't think we know cause that's not a common question. 1019 00:41:33,566 --> 00:41:37,166 Okay Clain, it's not your area specifically 1020 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:42,100 but you can provide some guidance. 1021 00:41:42,100 --> 00:41:46,233 From Missoula, the landlord used a very harsh herbicide, 1022 00:41:46,233 --> 00:41:49,866 does not say what, to control weeds in the yard. 1023 00:41:49,866 --> 00:41:51,900 How can a renter get soil tested 1024 00:41:51,900 --> 00:41:55,200 for pesticide residue before he plants a garden. 1025 00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:56,666 - That's a tough one. 1026 00:41:56,666 --> 00:41:58,500 The main lab that I know that does it 1027 00:41:58,500 --> 00:42:00,600 is the Montana Department of Agriculture Lab 1028 00:42:00,600 --> 00:42:02,966 on campus but it's not cheap. 1029 00:42:02,966 --> 00:42:05,733 Analyzing herbicides in soil 1030 00:42:05,733 --> 00:42:08,166 can be a few hundred dollars. 1031 00:42:08,166 --> 00:42:11,733 I'd be a little more inclined to try David's bioassay. 1032 00:42:11,733 --> 00:42:14,966 See if plants can grow in the soil 1033 00:42:14,966 --> 00:42:18,800 before resorting to a few hundred dollar cost. 1034 00:42:20,233 --> 00:42:21,500 - Sounds good. 1035 00:42:21,500 --> 00:42:23,600 Laurie, you brought a bunch of dead stuff in. 1036 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:25,233 You wanna tell us what it is? 1037 00:42:25,233 --> 00:42:26,866 - I brought some live stuff too. 1038 00:42:26,866 --> 00:42:28,033 I think I'm gonna go to that 1039 00:42:28,033 --> 00:42:29,733 because it's a little bit more exciting. 1040 00:42:29,733 --> 00:42:31,333 So this is one of my pets 1041 00:42:31,333 --> 00:42:33,900 and I see David is moving away from me, 1042 00:42:33,900 --> 00:42:36,100 which this one's actually pretty friendly. 1043 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:39,466 - [David] I've heard that before. 1044 00:42:39,466 --> 00:42:42,366 - So this is a giant African, gosh, 1045 00:42:44,433 --> 00:42:45,866 now I can't remember. 1046 00:42:45,866 --> 00:42:46,800 - [Jack] Why don't you hold it Dave? 1047 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:48,533 - [Dave] No way. 1048 00:42:48,533 --> 00:42:49,866 - This is a vinegaroon. 1049 00:42:49,866 --> 00:42:51,133 I forgot what it was for a second there. 1050 00:42:51,133 --> 00:42:52,533 I don't know if you can see it 1051 00:42:52,533 --> 00:42:54,100 crawling up my hand here. 1052 00:42:54,100 --> 00:42:56,466 It's usually not held up high enough. 1053 00:42:56,466 --> 00:42:57,800 There we go. 1054 00:42:57,800 --> 00:42:59,633 So this would actually be, 1055 00:42:59,633 --> 00:43:00,533 we don't have these here in Montana. 1056 00:43:00,533 --> 00:43:01,966 But it's call a vinegaroon 1057 00:43:01,966 --> 00:43:03,166 because it will shoot out acetic acid 1058 00:43:03,166 --> 00:43:06,033 which is basically vinegar, out of its tail 1059 00:43:06,033 --> 00:43:07,366 and use that as a defense. 1060 00:43:07,366 --> 00:43:10,366 It eats insects and other arachnids. 1061 00:43:11,933 --> 00:43:15,000 So this is an arachnid and it'll grow pretty large 1062 00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:17,333 but it's a very docile creature. 1063 00:43:17,333 --> 00:43:20,700 I could let it hang out on my arm all day. 1064 00:43:20,700 --> 00:43:22,200 It's not gonna do anything. 1065 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:23,933 So this is my new favorite pet 1066 00:43:23,933 --> 00:43:26,100 and again we don't have these in Montana. 1067 00:43:26,100 --> 00:43:27,600 - [Clain] Too bad. 1068 00:43:28,533 --> 00:43:29,600 - Yeah too bad for all the people 1069 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:31,600 that wanna go get a pet. 1070 00:43:33,800 --> 00:43:34,666 - [David] You know there were puppies 1071 00:43:34,666 --> 00:43:36,733 at the sports shop, I have to say it. 1072 00:43:36,733 --> 00:43:38,733 - These are much easier. 1073 00:43:41,866 --> 00:43:43,466 - Is that scales on that? 1074 00:43:43,466 --> 00:43:45,666 - Yeah I was gonna talk about this as well. 1075 00:43:45,666 --> 00:43:48,033 I was pruning my catoni asters 1076 00:43:48,033 --> 00:43:50,933 and catoni asters have smooth bark. 1077 00:43:54,166 --> 00:43:57,000 This is actually covered with a scale 1078 00:43:57,000 --> 00:43:59,166 called oyster shell scale 1079 00:43:59,166 --> 00:44:01,500 and it's pretty much every branch 1080 00:44:01,500 --> 00:44:05,000 on my catoni aster was dead and if you look up closely, 1081 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:07,100 you probably need a hand lens to see it, 1082 00:44:07,100 --> 00:44:09,133 you scrape them off and there are thousands 1083 00:44:09,133 --> 00:44:10,666 and thousands of these scales. 1084 00:44:10,666 --> 00:44:12,533 So these kind of numbers, 1085 00:44:12,533 --> 00:44:14,633 they're definitely gonna kill your branches 1086 00:44:14,633 --> 00:44:16,466 and you're gonna have major die back. 1087 00:44:16,466 --> 00:44:18,366 You can use a horticulture oil right now 1088 00:44:18,366 --> 00:44:21,633 to take care of them because the eggs 1089 00:44:21,633 --> 00:44:24,333 will actually over winter under the shell of the mother, 1090 00:44:24,333 --> 00:44:28,766 they're kind of a strange insect but they will, 1091 00:44:28,766 --> 00:44:31,333 right now is a good time to treat them. 1092 00:44:31,333 --> 00:44:33,300 If they're left untreated, 1093 00:44:33,300 --> 00:44:35,300 they could pretty much take over your whole. 1094 00:44:35,300 --> 00:44:36,466 - You wanna do it pretty quick 1095 00:44:36,466 --> 00:44:38,700 because you want it while the tree is totally dormant. 1096 00:44:38,700 --> 00:44:39,700 - Yes you do. 1097 00:44:39,700 --> 00:44:42,300 - So if it's already starting to break bud, 1098 00:44:42,300 --> 00:44:45,833 it's too late for the dormant oil, 1099 00:44:45,833 --> 00:44:49,266 is there a more ultra refined horticulture oil 1100 00:44:49,266 --> 00:44:51,466 is that also effective? 1101 00:44:51,466 --> 00:44:53,200 - You can use that but the problem 1102 00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:55,966 with the oyster shell scale is they have a crawler stage. 1103 00:44:55,966 --> 00:44:57,466 That's the only time they're active. 1104 00:44:57,466 --> 00:45:00,666 So if you miss the dormant stage of the plant, 1105 00:45:00,666 --> 00:45:03,400 then you're actually going to have to wait 1106 00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:04,866 for the crawlers to become active 1107 00:45:04,866 --> 00:45:06,433 which would be late May or so 1108 00:45:06,433 --> 00:45:08,366 and you have to take a piece of paper 1109 00:45:08,366 --> 00:45:10,733 and shake the branch a little bit 1110 00:45:10,733 --> 00:45:13,433 to test for the crawlers that are about pin sized. 1111 00:45:13,433 --> 00:45:15,666 And you could use another oil then 1112 00:45:15,666 --> 00:45:19,866 but you have to make sure you contact the scales themselves. 1113 00:45:19,866 --> 00:45:22,666 - Okay Steve, and I'm not sure we can answer this 1114 00:45:22,666 --> 00:45:24,433 but we'll give it a shot. 1115 00:45:24,433 --> 00:45:25,633 It's from Billings. 1116 00:45:25,633 --> 00:45:27,300 For the past two falls, we've found two 1117 00:45:27,300 --> 00:45:32,033 to two and a half inch holes near the house foundations, 1118 00:45:32,033 --> 00:45:34,300 near the concrete base of the house. 1119 00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:35,666 They live in a town. 1120 00:45:35,666 --> 00:45:38,566 Do you have any idea what might be making these holes 1121 00:45:38,566 --> 00:45:40,700 about two to two and a half inches in diameter 1122 00:45:40,700 --> 00:45:43,333 and if so, what can they do 1123 00:45:43,333 --> 00:45:46,133 to prevent whatever's doing it? 1124 00:45:46,133 --> 00:45:49,400 - Well I would assume if you had ground squirrels, 1125 00:45:49,400 --> 00:45:51,366 you would've seen them 1126 00:45:51,366 --> 00:45:52,700 because they're coming out during the day. 1127 00:45:52,700 --> 00:45:53,833 The fact that you're not seeing them 1128 00:45:53,833 --> 00:45:57,033 suggests to me that you might be dealing with a rat. 1129 00:45:57,033 --> 00:46:00,100 Norway rat, so that would be my initial guess. 1130 00:46:00,100 --> 00:46:02,833 In terms of what you can do with it, 1131 00:46:02,833 --> 00:46:05,233 certainly you can use traps. 1132 00:46:05,233 --> 00:46:07,200 You can also use various toxicants, 1133 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:09,900 there's a whole host of toxicants for Norway rat. 1134 00:46:09,900 --> 00:46:12,266 You know sometimes a trail camera 1135 00:46:12,266 --> 00:46:14,200 can be quite helpful when you have a situation 1136 00:46:14,200 --> 00:46:16,233 where you're not exactly sure, 1137 00:46:16,233 --> 00:46:18,100 just stick a trail camera out there 1138 00:46:18,100 --> 00:46:19,333 and you can know pretty quickly. 1139 00:46:19,333 --> 00:46:20,666 If you can't afford that you can also 1140 00:46:20,666 --> 00:46:23,800 put in talcum powder around that hole 1141 00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:26,600 and look for tracks and then take a picture of it, 1142 00:46:26,600 --> 00:46:28,966 send it to me and I'll do my best 1143 00:46:28,966 --> 00:46:31,166 to try to evaluate what that is for you. 1144 00:46:31,166 --> 00:46:33,566 But also you sometimes have holes 1145 00:46:33,566 --> 00:46:35,000 that just simply collapse in the soil 1146 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:36,833 because maybe things are settling. 1147 00:46:36,833 --> 00:46:39,533 Sometimes builders try to backfill with old things 1148 00:46:39,533 --> 00:46:40,966 and those are rotting over time. 1149 00:46:40,966 --> 00:46:44,766 Sometimes just backfill the hole just with loose soil 1150 00:46:44,766 --> 00:46:47,700 and see if that hole gets reopened 1151 00:46:47,700 --> 00:46:51,133 and that'll be another clue that it's actually active. 1152 00:46:51,133 --> 00:46:53,300 - Sounds good, good answer. 1153 00:46:53,300 --> 00:46:55,100 Laurie, from Bozeman. 1154 00:46:55,100 --> 00:46:56,700 This person wants to know 1155 00:46:56,700 --> 00:46:59,700 how she can control ants in her lawn 1156 00:47:01,600 --> 00:47:04,200 without poisoning her dog. 1157 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:05,566 - Well there's a lot of things you could do 1158 00:47:05,566 --> 00:47:06,933 but like I just said before, 1159 00:47:06,933 --> 00:47:10,733 the two most common ants that we have in our yard 1160 00:47:10,733 --> 00:47:12,766 are field ants and carpenter ants. 1161 00:47:12,766 --> 00:47:14,800 You could start off with some baits 1162 00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:16,166 that you get at the hardware store 1163 00:47:16,166 --> 00:47:17,766 just to see where they're coming from. 1164 00:47:17,766 --> 00:47:20,300 And actually the baits themselves 1165 00:47:20,300 --> 00:47:23,000 usually the ants will take to the bait 1166 00:47:23,000 --> 00:47:25,200 and then there's a poison inside the bait 1167 00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:28,666 and it takes it probably several weeks for that to work 1168 00:47:28,666 --> 00:47:31,700 because they come back to the nest and clean themselves. 1169 00:47:31,700 --> 00:47:33,166 So I would start off that way 1170 00:47:33,166 --> 00:47:36,233 because you can keep the bait stations 1171 00:47:36,233 --> 00:47:37,466 away from the animals. 1172 00:47:37,466 --> 00:47:38,766 You can just put them in areas you know 1173 00:47:38,766 --> 00:47:40,166 your dog's not gonna be 1174 00:47:40,166 --> 00:47:41,466 and as long as they can't reach them 1175 00:47:41,466 --> 00:47:42,933 they'll be fine that way. 1176 00:47:42,933 --> 00:47:44,266 - Sounds good, thank you. 1177 00:47:44,266 --> 00:47:47,033 Clain, another manure question. 1178 00:47:47,033 --> 00:47:48,966 How about pig manure, is that hot 1179 00:47:48,966 --> 00:47:51,466 or is that low nitrogen? 1180 00:47:51,466 --> 00:47:54,500 - Intermediate so it's between chicken and steer. 1181 00:47:54,500 --> 00:47:57,600 It has more ammonia than dairy manure 1182 00:47:58,733 --> 00:48:01,000 and it has less than chicken manure. 1183 00:48:01,000 --> 00:48:04,000 Again the best thing likely is to send it 1184 00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:06,033 to a laboratory that can test 1185 00:48:06,033 --> 00:48:07,433 how much ammonia is in there. 1186 00:48:07,433 --> 00:48:11,400 How much total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 1187 00:48:11,400 --> 00:48:14,533 so that you don't under or over apply. 1188 00:48:14,533 --> 00:48:18,700 - Interesting question, combination of 1189 00:48:20,300 --> 00:48:25,233 This person had the EPA, which took out lots of gardens 1190 00:48:25,233 --> 00:48:27,366 and hauled out dirt and brought back 1191 00:48:27,366 --> 00:48:30,233 in clay replacement soil. 1192 00:48:30,233 --> 00:48:32,566 They said get baby shampoo 1193 00:48:32,566 --> 00:48:35,133 and put on clay soil to soften. 1194 00:48:35,133 --> 00:48:37,300 When they did that, they grew thistles, 1195 00:48:37,300 --> 00:48:39,366 now they have lizards and tree frogs. 1196 00:48:39,366 --> 00:48:40,466 Nothing grows. 1197 00:48:40,466 --> 00:48:43,866 Put in potting soil but nothing else helps. 1198 00:48:43,866 --> 00:48:45,633 Any suggestions there? 1199 00:48:45,633 --> 00:48:47,166 It's a tough question. 1200 00:48:47,166 --> 00:48:49,366 - Yeah I would probably bring in new soil 1201 00:48:49,366 --> 00:48:52,000 if nothing else is growing there unfortunately. 1202 00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:55,666 - They ought to call you because you're just 1203 00:48:57,533 --> 00:48:59,933 replacing good topsoil with clay soil 1204 00:48:59,933 --> 00:49:02,133 isn't probably the best thing to do. 1205 00:49:02,133 --> 00:49:06,433 - Yeah it depends why nothing's growing there. 1206 00:49:06,433 --> 00:49:10,100 - Laurie, blister beetles in their garden 1207 00:49:10,100 --> 00:49:11,933 on several different plants. 1208 00:49:11,933 --> 00:49:15,300 They caused the blisters on hands of family members. 1209 00:49:15,300 --> 00:49:16,766 What to do about them? 1210 00:49:16,766 --> 00:49:17,633 - Oh blister beetles. 1211 00:49:17,633 --> 00:49:19,366 Well when those come out, those come out in groups 1212 00:49:19,366 --> 00:49:21,200 and I think you can use any sort 1213 00:49:21,200 --> 00:49:23,500 of contact insecticide to take care of those. 1214 00:49:23,500 --> 00:49:25,100 It depends on what time of year 1215 00:49:25,100 --> 00:49:29,266 and basically I think we have the gray blister beetle. 1216 00:49:33,300 --> 00:49:34,733 Yeah I haven't really heard of too many complaints 1217 00:49:34,733 --> 00:49:39,233 about them hurting people but contact insecticide 1218 00:49:39,233 --> 00:49:40,766 would work as long as you could catch them 1219 00:49:40,766 --> 00:49:43,033 in the right area. 1220 00:49:43,033 --> 00:49:47,233 - Steve, from Lincoln, what type of product 1221 00:49:47,233 --> 00:49:50,000 should they use to control wood rats 1222 00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:52,200 or pack rats, they call them. 1223 00:49:52,200 --> 00:49:54,166 - You know there's not toxicants registered 1224 00:49:54,166 --> 00:49:57,533 for the control of wood rats, also called pack rats. 1225 00:49:57,533 --> 00:49:59,466 So you're gonna have to use snap traps 1226 00:49:59,466 --> 00:50:03,400 or cage traps to control your wood rats. 1227 00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:07,333 If there is a demand for getting a toxicant for that, 1228 00:50:07,333 --> 00:50:09,433 definitely drop me an email. 1229 00:50:09,433 --> 00:50:12,733 I've put a request out before and only got one person 1230 00:50:12,733 --> 00:50:16,000 who wanted us to get a 24C for wood rats. 1231 00:50:16,000 --> 00:50:18,133 But otherwise if that's something of an interest 1232 00:50:18,133 --> 00:50:21,166 in the state, we will pursue a 24C to a toxicant 1233 00:50:21,166 --> 00:50:23,700 but otherwise there's no toxicants allowed for wood rats. 1234 00:50:23,700 --> 00:50:24,866 - What is a 24C? 1235 00:50:24,866 --> 00:50:27,700 - 24C is a special needs permit that allows us 1236 00:50:27,700 --> 00:50:30,333 a little more flexibility than the restrictions 1237 00:50:30,333 --> 00:50:34,300 that are on the federal label that allow people 1238 00:50:34,300 --> 00:50:36,033 in Montana to use a pesticide 1239 00:50:36,033 --> 00:50:38,600 beyond what the federal label restricts it to. 1240 00:50:38,600 --> 00:50:40,033 - Okay thank you. 1241 00:50:42,633 --> 00:50:46,966 Yellow jackets, they heard they eat honeybees, is that true? 1242 00:50:46,966 --> 00:50:49,366 - I think maybe the western yellow jacket 1243 00:50:49,366 --> 00:50:51,900 would eat almost anything because they're scavengers 1244 00:50:51,900 --> 00:50:54,600 but yeah it depends on the wasp. 1245 00:50:59,666 --> 00:51:01,000 - They wanna know what they can plant 1246 00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:04,900 in their garden tomorrow, here in Bozeman. 1247 00:51:04,900 --> 00:51:06,466 - Right so if you can work the soil, 1248 00:51:06,466 --> 00:51:10,400 you can put peas in, radishes, lettuce, 1249 00:51:10,400 --> 00:51:13,433 kale, spinach - [Clain] Onion 1250 00:51:13,433 --> 00:51:15,266 - Probably some onion. 1251 00:51:18,966 --> 00:51:21,200 All those kind of cold hearty leafy greens. 1252 00:51:21,200 --> 00:51:25,633 All the Asian greens are fairly cold hardy, peas. 1253 00:51:25,633 --> 00:51:27,633 Some of those aren't going to germinate 1254 00:51:27,633 --> 00:51:30,166 until the soil warms up but some of them, 1255 00:51:30,166 --> 00:51:34,500 spinach and lettuce, they'll probably germinate 1256 00:51:34,500 --> 00:51:36,466 and you might want to have some floating row cover 1257 00:51:36,466 --> 00:51:38,566 on hand so if it's gonna get, once again, 1258 00:51:38,566 --> 00:51:41,633 in the low 20s, you could cover up your seed bed 1259 00:51:41,633 --> 00:51:44,300 with a floating row cover and would maybe 1260 00:51:44,300 --> 00:51:45,466 buy you a little protection. 1261 00:51:45,466 --> 00:51:47,166 - Do you know what the all time record low 1262 00:51:47,166 --> 00:51:49,000 for Bozeman was today? 1263 00:51:50,300 --> 00:51:52,600 - I'll guess probably minus 22. 1264 00:51:52,600 --> 00:51:54,633 - Not quite, minus teens. 1265 00:51:54,633 --> 00:51:56,733 So it can still get cold here. 1266 00:51:56,733 --> 00:51:59,300 But that was years ago. 1267 00:51:59,300 --> 00:52:02,933 Before we had a bunch of traps that you had. 1268 00:52:03,966 --> 00:52:05,900 I want you to show the people a few of these 1269 00:52:05,900 --> 00:52:08,933 and it goes with a question from Saco 1270 00:52:08,933 --> 00:52:12,200 on how to control voles and some of the other things 1271 00:52:12,200 --> 00:52:15,300 that we might use for rodent control. 1272 00:52:16,566 --> 00:52:18,000 Sounds like you got all kinds of stuff down there. 1273 00:52:18,000 --> 00:52:19,833 - It's a lot of stuff in my job. 1274 00:52:19,833 --> 00:52:21,066 A lot of stuff. 1275 00:52:21,066 --> 00:52:24,100 So voles was the question? - Yeah 1276 00:52:24,100 --> 00:52:26,900 - Well this is a vole box that's created 1277 00:52:26,900 --> 00:52:29,766 sometimes people are concerned about traps 1278 00:52:29,766 --> 00:52:33,633 hitting non targets and so this is something you could do. 1279 00:52:33,633 --> 00:52:35,666 Voles often create trails in the grass 1280 00:52:35,666 --> 00:52:40,233 so you simply line it up so that they'll come through here 1281 00:52:40,233 --> 00:52:43,500 and then just put a bunch of snap traps in like that. 1282 00:52:43,500 --> 00:52:46,400 Notice I'm using expanded trigger traps. 1283 00:52:46,400 --> 00:52:48,633 If you have a choice, these are always better 1284 00:52:48,633 --> 00:52:50,233 than the metal ones. 1285 00:52:50,233 --> 00:52:51,833 So always use expanded trigger 1286 00:52:51,833 --> 00:52:53,066 and that's one way to do it. 1287 00:52:53,066 --> 00:52:54,366 If you don't wanna go through all this work, 1288 00:52:54,366 --> 00:52:56,533 you can simply get a large board, 1289 00:52:56,533 --> 00:52:58,533 put it up on some bricks 1290 00:52:58,533 --> 00:53:00,166 and just sort of angle it like that. 1291 00:53:00,166 --> 00:53:01,933 Put your traps underneath there. 1292 00:53:01,933 --> 00:53:03,633 What do you bait them with? 1293 00:53:03,633 --> 00:53:04,766 Peanut butter. 1294 00:53:04,766 --> 00:53:07,300 If you have actually nice clear trails 1295 00:53:07,300 --> 00:53:08,666 you don't even need bait at all 1296 00:53:08,666 --> 00:53:11,933 just simply place the trap so that it's perpendicular 1297 00:53:11,933 --> 00:53:16,100 so that the vole just simply steps on this and gets snapped. 1298 00:53:17,433 --> 00:53:19,433 They're not smart. 1299 00:53:19,433 --> 00:53:20,900 - Okay sounds good. 1300 00:53:20,900 --> 00:53:24,600 Voles have always been a big issue in areas 1301 00:53:24,600 --> 00:53:26,733 that have lots of snow cover during the winter time. 1302 00:53:26,733 --> 00:53:29,300 And Bozeman is one of those cities 1303 00:53:29,300 --> 00:53:32,800 that have extensive wintertime snow cover. 1304 00:53:33,766 --> 00:53:35,566 I do know we have plenty of voles. 1305 00:53:35,566 --> 00:53:37,400 - Plenty of voles in the state. 1306 00:53:37,400 --> 00:53:41,133 - I've had good luck with strawberry 1307 00:53:41,133 --> 00:53:43,400 - Really for catching voles? 1308 00:53:43,400 --> 00:53:46,366 What brand? - Bubblelicious. 1309 00:53:46,366 --> 00:53:48,000 You should've seen the looks I got 1310 00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:50,433 when I put a receipt into the accountant. 1311 00:53:50,433 --> 00:53:52,600 For 12 packs of bubblegum? 1312 00:53:55,566 --> 00:53:56,466 - I haven't heard that. 1313 00:53:56,466 --> 00:53:58,033 I think you might find peanut butter 1314 00:53:58,033 --> 00:54:01,066 a little cheaper for you but I'm up for trying bubblegum. 1315 00:54:01,066 --> 00:54:03,633 - We'll have to do a trial. 1316 00:54:03,633 --> 00:54:07,033 - We've done that with beer for slugs in gardens 1317 00:54:07,033 --> 00:54:11,200 and there was a preferred brand of beer so you never know. 1318 00:54:12,200 --> 00:54:14,700 Alright we're running a little short of time. 1319 00:54:14,700 --> 00:54:16,866 This is what I wanna get on, I'm curious. 1320 00:54:16,866 --> 00:54:18,300 This came from Stevensville. 1321 00:54:18,300 --> 00:54:20,200 Laurie, they think they have an infestation 1322 00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:24,366 of ladybugs in their house for the first time, why? 1323 00:54:24,366 --> 00:54:26,766 I don't think it'd be ladybugs would it? 1324 00:54:26,766 --> 00:54:27,966 - Yeah that's really interesting. 1325 00:54:27,966 --> 00:54:29,133 So I know other states have had 1326 00:54:29,133 --> 00:54:31,600 the multicolored Asian lady beetle 1327 00:54:31,600 --> 00:54:33,400 and we haven't really had that reported here 1328 00:54:33,400 --> 00:54:36,100 but they come in mass numbers in other states. 1329 00:54:36,100 --> 00:54:38,133 That would be a good one to either 1330 00:54:38,133 --> 00:54:39,900 send me a picture of or try to get a sample 1331 00:54:39,900 --> 00:54:41,366 because that's not typical 1332 00:54:41,366 --> 00:54:43,066 to have a lady beetle infestation 1333 00:54:43,066 --> 00:54:45,133 and it could be carpet beetles, 1334 00:54:45,133 --> 00:54:47,500 it could be something else that lives inside the homes. 1335 00:54:47,500 --> 00:54:49,366 But now this is when all the over wintering insects 1336 00:54:49,366 --> 00:54:52,066 are waking up but having that type 1337 00:54:52,066 --> 00:54:54,066 of lady beetle infestation is kind of odd 1338 00:54:54,066 --> 00:54:56,500 so I tend to think it'd be something else. 1339 00:54:56,500 --> 00:54:58,200 - A sample would be good, out of curiosity. 1340 00:54:58,200 --> 00:54:59,933 - A sample would be good, yeah. 1341 00:54:59,933 --> 00:55:01,200 - Clain, we got just a couple seconds. 1342 00:55:01,200 --> 00:55:05,100 When do you start to fertilize winter wheat in the state? 1343 00:55:05,100 --> 00:55:08,933 - I see people fertilizing winter wheat at seeding 1344 00:55:08,933 --> 00:55:10,766 so back in September/October 1345 00:55:10,766 --> 00:55:13,533 and going all the way into late April. 1346 00:55:13,533 --> 00:55:15,100 I recommend the later the better 1347 00:55:15,100 --> 00:55:17,800 because the nitrogen gets used more efficiently 1348 00:55:17,800 --> 00:55:19,500 but I recognize a lot of farmers 1349 00:55:19,500 --> 00:55:22,133 don't have a lot of time in spring 1350 00:55:22,133 --> 00:55:24,066 and so that's why they fertilize earlier. 1351 00:55:24,066 --> 00:55:24,900 - Sounds good. 1352 00:55:24,900 --> 00:55:25,800 Folks, thank you. 1353 00:55:25,800 --> 00:55:26,933 Thank the entire panel. 1354 00:55:26,933 --> 00:55:30,166 It was kind of entertaining and I learned a lot tonight. 1355 00:55:30,166 --> 00:55:32,966 Steve thanks for coming down, we appreciate it. 1356 00:55:32,966 --> 00:55:34,366 We'll be back next week. 1357 00:55:34,366 --> 00:55:37,733 Kevin McFee, pea breeder, lentil breeder 1358 00:55:37,733 --> 00:55:40,466 for Montana State University will be the guest. 1359 00:55:40,466 --> 00:55:44,800 Join in, we'll be back, 5:30 to six o'clock next week. 1360 00:55:44,800 --> 00:55:45,633 Goodnight. 1361 00:55:46,933 --> 00:55:50,200 (moderate banjo music) 1362 00:56:16,300 --> 00:56:18,100 - [Announcer] Montana Ag Live is made possible 1363 00:56:18,100 --> 00:56:22,166 by the Montana Department of Agriculture. 1364 00:56:22,166 --> 00:56:24,566 The MSU Extension Service. 1365 00:56:24,566 --> 00:56:26,900 The MSU Ag Experiment Stations 1366 00:56:26,900 --> 00:56:29,166 of the College of Agriculture. 1367 00:56:29,166 --> 00:56:31,566 The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee. 1368 00:56:31,566 --> 00:56:34,466 The Montana Bankers Association. 1369 00:56:34,466 --> 00:56:37,366 Cashman Nursery & Landscaping. 1370 00:56:37,366 --> 00:56:40,600 And the Gallatin Gardeners Club. 1371 00:56:40,600 --> 00:56:43,866 (electric guitar riff)