And Now for the Educational Segment of our Program

A trip to the Southern Agricultural Research Center in Huntley, Montana.

From the Southern Agricultural Research Center website...

"The Southern Agricultural Research Center is a 440 acre facility located in the heart of the Huntley-Worden Irrigation Project, which resides along the Yellowstone River approximately 20 miles east of Billings, Montana. Created as a demonstration farm by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1907, the farm evolved into a USDA Bureau of Plant Industries Field Station cooperating with Montana State College and the MAES in 1910.

This region of the state possesses diverse agriculture. Major crops include winter and spring wheat, malt and feed barley, oat, sugar beets, silage and field corn, dry beans and alfalfa. Sprinkler irrigation occurs in the region, but gravity-fed flood irrigation districts predominate in the river valleys where higher value crops are grown. Small grains, primarily winter wheat, are mostly produced in crop-fallow rotations in dryland areas that receive 15 inches or less of annual precipitation. About 1.1 million acres of cropland are harvested annually in this region of the state, grossing over $140 million in cash receipts (Montana Agricultural Statistics, 1998). Substantial hay and pasture acreage also exists in this region of Montana, contributing to a livestock industry that produces another $250 million in annual revenue. In 1997, the combined revenue from crop and livestock in these counties totaled $392 million, representing about 20% of Montana's total agricultural production. Small increases in revenue (1/2 to 2 percent) associated with the adoption of new cultivars or improved cropping practices can easily contribute millions of dollars in total revenue to the region’s agricultural and business communities."

Today we took a trip to Huntley to take a look at the new building they had just built. I wasn't able to attend the grand opening so we took a drive today to take a look.

After we checked out the new building, we drove around to look at what was growing. I took some pictures out of the car window. We were not sure what is growing in this picture...possibly some sort of squash because of the wide length between rows.

I think these are some sort of beans.

The SARC weather station!

And a visitor to the weather station...relaxing in the shade!

  Sugar beets! **note to self...I need to get some updated pictures of our sugar beets so everyone can see how they are getting along**

There is also a museum at the station but unfortunately it is closed on Sunday. However, I was able to get some exterior shots of an old building with some old farming tools around it.

Anyway, that does it for the educational portion of our blog. I just happened to have my camera with me today and thought I would share these shots with you.