2025 GATE Information & Schedule

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Friday at 10:00 AM 

 Have you been “itching” to learn more about honey bees? Have the desire, but need a little guidance? Well, here’s your opportunity to learn more about honey bees and how to start keeping bees. In this introduction to honey bees Shelley Mills MSU Extension Agent and Master Beekeeper will teach you all about honey bee biology, explain and demonstrate the equipment and tools you will need to keep honey bees, and teach you the top ten newbie mistakes for beekeepers. In the presentation honey bee biology you will learn about the different classes of honey bees within the hive, how workers know what their job is, communication within the hive and the different races of bees available. In the equipment and tools section you will learn about the components of the Langstroth hive and how it fits together, and you’ll learn the tools of the trade and why we use them in bee keeping. Finally, you will learn what the top pitfalls are for a new beekeeper and how to avoid them.

Intensive Grazing presented by Montana rancher Gage Iverson 

Gage Iverson will touch on the ecological and economics of intensive grazing. He will also dive into his personal practices and observations over the past five years.

Friday at 1:00 PM

2024 was a mixed bag for the Montana Ag Economy.  The brightest spot was very strong cattle prices throughout the year.  Prices for small grains were weak for much of 2024.  Drought conditions returned to Eastern and South Eastern Montana in the second half of the year.  Cattle inventory numbers remained low as herd rebuilding after the drought years of 2021 and 2022 was hampered by strong prices.  Policy uncertainty is looming large as we near the 2025 growing season. The most recent Farm Bill expired in the fall of 2023 with congress passing a one year extension.  The 2024 election cycle brings new members to congress, it isn’t yet clear how or when policies important to agriculture, such as risk management, conservation and nutrition programs will be addressed.  The incoming administration has also indicated more restrictive trade policies are likely to be implemented which could be important to ag exporters.

Friday 2:15 PM

Discuss with growers how to go through a soil test; and determine the balance of nutrients in the soil.  Calculate key ratios and determine which nutrients the soil needs most.  Not going to fix the soil but feed the plants. 

Saturday at 10:00 AM

Gage Iverson will touch on the ecological and economics of intensive grazing. He will also dive into his personal practices and observations over the past five years.

Saturday at 1:00 PM

In the ranching world, it seems like we're always trying to do more and be better, and it's frustrating when that doesn't necessarily result in a financial reward. Maybe it's a good time to consider some less-traditional options for profitability. Western Sustainability Exchange is a non-profit that works to provide resources and opportunities to help ranchers improve their land and increase their profit. One of WSE's partners is Native Carbon and their Northern Great Plains Regenerative Grazing Project, which provides resources to make the land healthier, financial support to build infrastructure, and long-term additional income to the ranch through carbon sales. 

Local rancher Adele Stenson will explain the basics of how the carbon market works and, more specifically, how Native's program of intensive grazing combined with long recovery periods can be utilized to increase productivity and benefit the land and animals while providing a source of income for decades. In addition to learning about the program structure and opportunities, Stenson will be happy to answer questions about her family's experience working with Native, as well as Western Sustainability Exchange. Stenson will also be available at the WSE booth to visit and answer questions throughout the event.

Call Ashley Fulton at 406-939-0904.