Rosebud County Weed District

08/10/2026

Pest Management Tour offers Last Chance Credit Opportunities for Private Pesticide Applicators across Eastern Montana
The Montana State University (MSU) Extension Pesticide Education Program (PEP) is offering the 2026 Pest Management Tour for pesticide applicators in Private Applicator Training (PAT) District 4 from September 28th to October 2nd. The tour will cover nine locations in five days with support from MSU County Extension Agents. Private applicators may attend the morning or afternoon session for three private applicator credits, or all day for six credits. Commercial applicator credits are also available and can be viewed on the PMT event website.

Figure 1. Montana counties within Private Applicator Training District 4.
Private applicators within PAT District 4 require six private applicator credits prior to the license expiration date of December 31, 2026, to renew their licenses. Applicators can review their credit information on the MSU PEP website by selecting "License and Credit Search" and entering their license number. Applicators can also contact their MSU County Extension office for information.
Presenters for the tour include:
• Cecil Tharp, PhD, MSU Extension Pesticide Education Specialist
• Tiziana Oppedisano, PhD, MSU Agronomic Extension Entomologist
• Stephen Vantassel, Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) Vertebrate Pest Specialist
• Tim Seipel, PhD, MSU Cropland W**d Extension Specialist
• Jane Mangold, PhD, MSU Extension Rangeland W**d Specialist
• Raissa Debacker Moura, PhD, MSU Extension Plant Pathologist
September 28th:
• Scobey: Daniel's County Museum, 720 2nd Ave West. Contact and RSVP: Inga Hawbaker, MSU Daniels County Extension Agricultural Agent. Pre-register by September 23rd via phone (406) 487-2861 or email ([email protected]). $No fee. Lunch provided.
• Plentywood: Sheridan County Courthouse, Jubilee Rm, 100 W Laurel Ave. Contact and RSVP: Sheridan County Extension Office. Pre-register by September 23rd via phone (406) 765-3406 or email ([email protected]). No fee. Lunch on your own.
September 29th:
• Glasgow: Elks Lodge, 309 2nd Ave South. Contact and RSVP: Shelley Mills, MSU Valley County Extension Agriculture Agent. Pre-register by September 28th via phone (406) 628-6241 or email ([email protected]). No fee. Lunch on your own.
• Malta: Great Northern Hotel, Lodge Rm, 2 S 1st Street East. Contact and RSVP: Christina Murphy, MSU Phillips County Extension Agent. Pre-register by September 18th via phone (406) 654-2543 or email ([email protected]). No fee. Lunch on your own.
September 30th:
• Glendive: Yellowstone River Inn, 1903 N Merrill Ave. Contact and RSVP: Gabby Sexton, Dawson County Extension Agent. Pre-register by September 21st via phone (406) 377-4277 or email ([email protected]). No fee. Lunch provided.
• Sidney: Richland County Extension Meeting Rm, 1499 N Central Ave. Contact and RSVP: Christy Finck, Richland County Extension Agriculture Agent. Pre-register by September 23rd via phone (406) 433-1206 or email ([email protected]). $10 fee. Lunch provided.
October 1st:
• Miles City: Custer County Event Center, Eastern MT Fairgrounds, 42 Garryowen Rd. Contact and RSVP: Mike Schuldt, Custer County Extension Agriculture Agent. Pre-register by September 23rd via phone (406) 874-3370 or email ([email protected]). $20 fee. Lunch provided.
• Broadus: Powder River County Community Center, 221 Wilbur Ave. Contact and RSVP: MSU Powder River County Extension. Pre-register by September 24th via phone (406) 436-2424 or email ([email protected]). No fee. Lunch provided.
October 2nd:
• Forsyth: Rosebud County Fairgrounds, 513 N 16th Ave. Contact and RSVP: MSU Rosebud/Treasure County Extension Office. Pre-register by September 25th. Phone (406) 346-7320) or email ([email protected]). No fee. Lunch provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
See the detailed program agenda online or contact your local MSU Extension office. For any other questions contact Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension Pesticide Education Specialist (406-994-5067; [email protected]).
Cecil Tharp
[email protected]

07/17/2026

Noxious w**d education is at the Rosebud County Fair, today.

07/15/2026

🚁 BNSF Right-of-Way W**d Treatment Notice

BNSF Railway will be conducting aerial noxious w**d control in Rosebud and Treasure Counties within the next week.

A helicopter will be used to treat noxious w**ds along the following rail corridors:

🌿 Main east-west rail line 🌿 Sarpy Creek Line
🌿 Colstrip Spur

If you see a helicopter flying low along the railroad right-of-way, it is conducting scheduled w**d management operations.

For more information, please contact the Rosebud County W**d District at 406-351-1344.

07/06/2026

Greetings from the Rosebud County W**d District
This year is a private applicator license renewal year, which means all private applicators must earn 6 education credits by December 31, 2026.
To help you meet that requirement, I will be offering several opportunities throughout the year. The first will take place during the Rosebud County Fair on Friday, July 17, in the School House section of the Exhibit Hall.
Rosebud County Fair – Education Schedule
10–11 a.m. – Battling Invaders: Understanding & Managing Noxious W**ds – 1 credit
11 a.m.–12 p.m. – Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) – 1 credit
12–1 p.m. – Mapping Exercise & Interactive Game
1–2 p.m. – Woody Invasive Riparian Takeover – 1 credit
2–3 p.m. – Palmer Amaranth: Montana’s Emerging Threat – 1 credit
3–4 p.m. – Mapping Follow-Up & Practical Application

Later this fall, I will also be offering two additional classes:
• One focused on farming and current industry challenges
• One focused on range and pasture management
These will take place late October into November — watch for updates on the Rosebud County W**d District page.
Frequently Asked Questions
• How many credits do I have? Your mailing label will show: CEs = ? earned / 6 required
• How many credits do I need? You must have 6 credits by December 31, 2026
• What is my license number? The first number above your name on the mailing label is your license number.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 406 351 1344.
Hope to see you at the Fair!

06/25/2026

🚨 Rosebud and Treasure Counties Working Together 🚨

The Treasure County W**d Board and the Treasure County Commissioners have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rosebud County W**d Board and the Rosebud County Commissioners for coordinator services provided through the Rosebud County W**d Coordinator.

The Treasure County W**d Board has also contracted with Red's Fixit (Vince Thomas) to spray county roads for noxious w**d control. Amy will be overseeing this contract and remains available to assist Treasure County producers with any questions or concerns regarding noxious w**ds.

With the recent confirmation of Ventenata in Treasure County, Amy will also be working directly with affected landowners to provide control options and management support.

📞 For assistance, contact Amy at **406-351-1344**.

Together, we can protect our rangelands and stay ahead of invasive w**ds.

06/25/2026

🚨 **NEW NOXIOUS W**D ALERT: VENTENATA CONFIRMED IN TREASURE COUNTY** 🚨

Ventenata (*Ventenata dubia*), an invasive annual grass also known as North African wiregrass, has now been confirmed in **Treasure County** and continues to spread across southeastern Montana, including Rosebud County.

⚠️ **Why it matters:**
• Reduces usable forage for livestock
• Outcompetes desirable native grasses
• Spreads quickly along roadsides, pastures, and disturbed ground
• Moves easily on hay, vehicles, equipment, livestock, and wildlife

🌱 **What to look for:**
• Fine, wiry grass with open, delicate seed heads
• Often found in thin stands along roads, hillsides, and grazed areas
• Easily overlooked until infestations become widespread

🛑 **What landowners can do:**
• Scout pastures and roadways now
• Clean equipment before moving between fields
• Report suspected infestations early
• Support healthy perennial grass stands through proper grazing and management

Early detection is critical—small patches are much easier to manage than established infestations.

📞 For identification or assistance, contact your local w**d district:
Rosebud County W**d District / Treasure County W**d Board

06/16/2026

This will be held on Friday of the Fair in the School House section, there are 4 class that were awarded credits, you can attend all day or pick the ones that interest you the most. See you at the Fair

06/15/2026

It is that time of the year when Poison hemlock is starting to bolt and bloom, here is a great video from MSU extension.

Many plants on county and state noxious w**d lists have native spec...

06/07/2026

🌼 Montana Noxious W**d Awareness Week – Day 1 🌼

W**d of the Day: Oxeye Daisy

A noxious w**d in Montana is any non-native plant that harms agriculture, wildlife habitat, or native ecosystems. Oxeye daisy may look like a harmless wildflower, but it spreads aggressively in pastures, rangelands, and roadsides—crowding out native plants and reducing forage for wildlife and livestock.

🌱 Integrated Management Tips:
✔️ Prevention: Plant native or non-invasive alternatives (like Shasta daisy or chamomile)
✔️ Mechanical: Hand-pull or mow before seed set
✔️ Cultural: Promote healthy, competitive vegetation
✔️ Chemical: Targeted herbicide applications when appropriate

Small actions can make a big difference. Knowing your w**ds and managing them early helps protect Montana’s landscapes and keep ecosystems resilient.

04/09/2026

🌿 Russian Olive: The Water Thief You Didn’t Invite 🌿
Russian olive may look like it belongs in the West… but it’s quietly draining one of our most valuable resources—water.
💧 Water Facts You Should Know:
• Russian olive trees use more water than native species like cottonwoods and willows
• Their deep roots tap directly into groundwater, lowering water tables
• Dense infestations can dry out riparian areas and choke out native plants
• They alter natural water cycles, reducing availability for wildlife and livestock
🏭 Now Here’s a Comparison That Might Surprise You:
Modern data centers—the kind that power the internet and AI—are known for heavy water use…
• A typical data center uses about 300,000 gallons of water per day �
• Large facilities can use up to 5 million gallons per day—similar to a small town �
brookings.edu +1
brookings.edu +1
👉 That’s a lot…
But here’s the kicker:
Unchecked Russian olive stands along rivers and creeks can collectively consume comparable volumes of water across a landscape, especially in arid regions—just spread out silently instead of in one visible facility.
🌱 Why It Matters:
Unlike a data center (which is monitored and regulated), Russian olive spreads unchecked, continuously pulling water from already stressed systems.
🚫 The Reality:
• Not native to North America
• Aggressively invades waterways and pastures
• Hard to control once established
🤠 What You Can Do:
• Learn to identify it early
• Remove young trees before they spread
• Replant with native species that support healthy water cycles
💧 Healthy land = healthy water.
Let’s protect both before it’s gone. 🌾
**ds