2024 CRB Watershed Pesticide Tour
The MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program (MSU PEP) partnered with the Montana Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program are offering an educational tour to instruct urban and agricultural pesticide applicators located within the Columbia River Basin (CRB) on pesticide fate in the environment, routes of pesticide contamination, detects in CRB waters, high risk pesticide applicator behaviors and mitigation measures to protect water quality. All interested parties are welcome to attend.
Registration and Fees
- REGISTRATION: Required by December 6. Register online or contact Amy Bowser at (406) 994-5178, or [email protected]. Walk-ins are welcome if space allows.
- FEE: $10
- Credit card: Pay in advance
- Cash or check: At the event
Presentations and Speakers
At each location the agenda will feature the following presentations and speakers. Please see the location specific agendas below for start and end times.
Welcome and the MT Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program (20 min)
Dr. Rachel Malison, Program Leader, Flathead Lake Biological Station
Dr. Malison will welcome attendees to the watershed tour and share information about the Montana Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program (PSPP). The PSPP is funded by an EPA grant and began in Oct 2023. The PSPP is working to build a collaborative network supporting efforts to improve water quality and engage communities in the Upper Columbia River Basin of Montana. Efforts include designing and conducting a monitoring plan for pesticides in surface waters and groundwaters, the implementation of activities to reduce pesticide pollution and many education and outreach activities.
Pesticide Fate in Ground and Surface Water (50 min)
Dr. Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialists, MSU Extension
Dr. Cecil Tharp will discuss what happens to pesticides in the environment after they are applied. He will cover the most likely routes of water contamination and best practices to limit surface and ground water contamination when applying pesticides.
Water Movement through Soil and Preliminary Research Update (20 min)
Dr. Adam Sigler, Water Quality Specialist, MSU Extension, or Meghan Robinson, MSU Graduate Student and Hezekiah Afolabi, MSU Graduate Student
This presentation will summarize two years of research on the interaction of weather, soils, and management to control water and nitrogen use efficiency in irrigated fields. The research has been conducted in three watersheds across Montana with different soils and cropping systems.
DEQ Pesticide General Permit and Best Practices (30 min)
Tiffany Lyden, Education and Outreach Specialist, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
This presentation will cover background and information about the DEQ Pesticide General Permit, including when it is needed and how to obtain permit coverage. Tiffany will also cover best practices for pesticide application in and around surface waters.
Montana Pesticide Disposal Program (15 min)
Paul Johnson, Pesticide Container Recycling Technician, Montana Department of Agriculture
Paul will discuss the Montana Waste and Pesticide Disposal Program and the importance of this program for reducing environmental contamination. He will cover how to register for the program and what materials are accepted.
Pesticide Detects in the Columbia River Basin (30 min)
Brett Heitshusen, Sustainable Agriculture Section Supervisor, Montana Department of Agriculture
Brett will cover various pesticides found in waters across the Columbia River Basin. This includes number of detects, types of pesticide, and locations.
Integrated Pest Management (50 min)
Dr. Jane Mangold, Rangeland Weed Specialist, MSU Extension, or Dr. Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialists, MSU Extension
This presentation will cover key tenets of Integrated Pest Management, including ecological and economical thresholds and broad categories of ways to manage pests (chemical, mechanical, cultural, biological, and pest biology, extent of an infestation, and environmental considerations.
Location Specific Agendas
Location: Powell County Community Center, 416 Cottonwood Ave, Deer Lodge, MT
Agenda:
- 1:00 pm - Sign In
- 1:30 pm - Welcome and the MT Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program
- 1:50 pm - Pesticide Fate in Ground and Surface Water
- 2:40 pm - Water Movement through Soil and Preliminary Research Update
- 3:00 pm - DEQ Pesticide General Permit and Best Practices
- 3:30 pm - Break
- 3:45 pm - Montana Pesticide Disposal Program
- 4:00 pm - Pesticide Detects in the Columbia River Basin
- 4:30 pm - Integrated Pest Management
- 5:20 pm - Closing Remarks
- 5:30 pm - Surveys and Adjourned
Location: Flint Creek Baptist Church, US 10A, Philipsburg, MT 59858
Agenda:
- 7:30 am - Sign In
- 8:00 am - Welcome and the MT Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program
- 8:20 am - Pesticide Fate in Ground and Surface Water
- 9:10 am - Water Movement through Soil and Preliminary Research Update
- 9:30 am - DEQ Pesticide General Permit and Best Practices
- 10:00 am - Break
- 10:15 am - Montana Pesticide Disposal Program
- 10:30 am - Pesticide Detects in the Columbia River Basin
- 11:00 am - Integrated Pest Management
- 11:50 am - Closing Remarks
- 12:00 pm - Surveys and Adjourned
Location: Balsamroot Conference Room, GW Marks Exploration Center, 1075 South Ave. W, Missoula, MT 59801
Agenda:
- 1:00 pm - Sign In
- 1:30 pm - Welcome and the MT Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program
- 1:50 pm - Pesticide Fate in Ground and Surface Water
- 2:40 pm - Water Movement through Soil and Preliminary Research Update
- 3:00 pm - DEQ Pesticide General Permit and Best Practices
- 3:30 pm - Break
- 3:45 pm - Montana Pesticide Disposal Program
- 4:00 pm - Pesticide Detects in the Columbia River Basin
- 4:30 pm - Integrated Pest Management
- 5:20 pm - Closing Remarks
- 5:30 pm - Surveys and Adjourned
Location: Thompson Falls Senior Citizens Center, 1191 Mt Silcox Dr, Thompson Falls, MT 59873
Agenda:
- 7:30 am - Sign In
- 8:00 am - Welcome and the MT Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program
- 8:20 am - Pesticide Fate in Ground and Surface Water
- 9:10 am - Water Movement through Soil and Preliminary Research Update
- 9:30 am - DEQ Pesticide General Permit and Best Practices
- 10:00 am - Break
- 10:15 am - Montana Pesticide Disposal Program
- 10:30 am - Pesticide Detects in the Columbia River Basin
- 11:00 am - Integrated Pest Management
- 11:50 am - Closing Remarks
- 12:00 pm - Surveys and Adjourned
Location: Hampton Inn, 1140 2nd St W., Kalispell, MT 59901
Agenda:
- 7:30 am - Sign In
- 8:00 am - Welcome and the MT Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program
- 8:20 am - Pesticide Fate in Ground and Surface Water
- 9:10 am - Water Movement through Soil and Preliminary Research Update
- 9:30 am - DEQ Pesticide General Permit and Best Practices
- 10:00 am - Break
- 10:15 am - Montana Pesticide Disposal Program
- 10:30 am - Pesticide Detects in the Columbia River Basin
- 11:00 am - Integrated Pest Management
- 11:50 am - Closing Remarks
- 12:00 pm - Surveys and Adjourned
Pesticide License Credits Offered
All locations offer the pesticide license credits outlined below.
- TBA