For Ellen Mering, owning land was always a dream. Today, she's making that dream a reality as a first-generation farmer and market gardener at Lily Bend Farm near Kalispell, Montana.

As we celebrate the Year of the International Woman Farmer, Ellen talks with Northern Ag Network's Colton Young, to provide an encouraging perspective on the growing opportunities for women to build their own agricultural legacies. Ellen shares the determination it took to purchase her five-acre farm, how she found her niche in the local market, and the lessons learned while wearing the many hats of a producer and business owner.

She also highlights the importance of community, from connecting with fellow growers to the opportunities she's found through Montana Farmers Union and National Farmers Union's Beginning Farmer Institute.

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Dr. M. Wayne Ayers joins us to talk all things cattle producers should be thinking about when it comes to ticks, lice, new world screwworms, and weaning stress.

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Spray. Pull. Mow. But what about educate? Effective weed management also means helping people understand why noxious weeds matter to the things they already care about.

Jen Mohler with Grow Wild Montana and Megan Hoyer with the Montana Department of Agriculture discuss how education can help build stronger weed prevention and stewardship across Montana.

Check out the full interview at:

Education: The Other Noxious Weed Management Tool - Northern Ag Network

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Spray. Pull. Mow. But what about educate? Effective weed management also means reaching people where they are and giving them a reason to care.

In this episode of Pull Together. Stop the Spread., Jen Mohler Executive Director with Grow Wild Montana and Megan Hoyer Invasive Species Education Coordinator with the Montana Department of Agriculture explore a different approach to weed education-connecting invasive species to the things people already care about.

From agriculture and recreation to wildlife, native plants and healthy landscapes, they discuss how education can make weed prevention more relevant, give more people a role in the solution, and ultimately build a stronger culture of stewardship across Montana.

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It sounds like a movie plot we've seen before... fake authority, fear and urgency, and a scammer going after someone’s savings. All in the script, but the difference is this case is real and unfolded right here in Montana.

A 74-year-old woman is contacted by someone claiming to be with the FTC. She’s told her identity has been tied to serious crimes, instructed to buy gift cards and a burner phone, and pressured to move money out of her retirement account.

In this episode of Fraud Files, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown and Sidney Du Varney, one of the Investigator/Examiners on the case, breaks down how the scam unfolded, and the smart decisions that kept a $900 loss from becoming much more.

Seniors are frequent targets of fraud, but the tactics used in this case can work on anyone. Hear what raised the red flags, what finally exposed the scam, and the lessons we can all use to protect ourselves and those around us.

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Dr. Jeff Littlefield with Montana State University and Melissa Maggio with the Montana Biocontrol Project break down how biological control works, some common misconceptions and perspectives on what to consider when using this tool in your Integrated Weed Management Plan.

Listen to the full interview at: https://www.northernag.net/in-the-weeds-with-biocontrol/

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In recognition of the Year of the Woman Farmer, Montana Farmers Union Small Family Farms podcast continues highlighting women shaping Montana agriculture.

In this episode, we visit with Megan Bausch, a fourth-generation Montana farmer who works alongside her dad on the family operation. Megan shares the dynamics of that partnership, along with how the farm has grown Bausch Potato Inc.'s direct-to-consumer sales and value-added agriculture side of the business.

Looking to connect with other women in agriculture, Megan attended a Montana Farmers Union Women’s Conference and soon became a member. Just two years later, that connection has opened the door to new relationships, experiences and resources, including assistance with haying equipment that helped expand another area of the farm.

It’s a story of family, connection and finding new opportunities to grow.

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