Crop and Pest Management School 2026
The Montana State University Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is excited for the return of the Crop and Pest Management School (CPMS) in January 2026.
Please join us for the CPMS that will present accurate information designed to update participants on areas of new and proven agricultural techniques and emphasize sustainable management systems. Participants will learn to recognize the damage caused by pests and to integrate management methods in decision making.
When: January 14-15, 2026
Where: MSU Bozeman, Strand Union Building Ballrooms
Registration: $225.00 (includes lunch and parking each day) REGISTER HERE!
Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and Pesticide Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available.
The 2026 CPMS sessions include Soil Fertility/Nutrition/Health, Forages/Noxious Weeds, Precision Agriculture, Agronomy, Pesticide Education, and IPM Diagnostics, Diseases, Insects, and Cropland Weeds. Concurrent sessions are provided to allow some choice and flexibility in training and presentations. The full agenda is provided below and includes topics with summaries and biographies of our experts.
2026 Crop and Pest Management School Agenda
January 14, 2026
9:00 am Session 1 (All Participants) - Introduction and Welcome
9:10 am Montana Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Update – Dr. Tim Seipel, Assistant Professor, Cropland Weed Extension Specialist, Montana IPM Program Manager
Dr. Seipel will address state-wide IPM initiatives and updates to IPM emergency response plans and specialized IPM working groups.
10:00 am Session 2a - Soil Fertility and Soil Nutrition
10:00 am Soil Acidification and Phosphorus Fertility of Pulses – Dr. Joao Souza, Assistant Professor, Soil Nutrient Management – Soil and Plant Analyses
Dr. Souza will present effects of liming on soil and crops based on his studies. He will also share his recent results on the effects of phosphorus fertilization on lentil and chickpea yield and nitrogen fixation. (50 minutes)
Dr. Souza's primary research focus is to investigate best practices of nutrient management in agricultural settings to increase sustainable practices that improve crop yields and producer’s profitability. By better understanding nutrient cycling, organic matter dynamics, soil acidification, and spatial/temporal variability drivers, he seeks to develop site-specific techniques not only to increase agricultural productivity but also to decrease food and energy production footprint in the ecosystem.
11:00 am Sulfur and Chloride Fertility Case Studies – Dr. Clain Jones, Professor and Extension Soil Fertility Specialist
Dr. Jones will share his research results on sulfur fertility needs for spring wheat, canola, and pea, including the effectiveness of specific soil sulfur tests at predicting sulfur fertilizer responses. He will also share results on the effects of chloride on winter wheat, including Bobcat. (50 minutes)
Dr. Clain Jones is Montana State University's Soil Fertility Extension Specialist. His work focuses on educating and providing technical assistance to extension agents, producers and crop advisers across Montana. He received his Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry at Montana State University in 1998, his M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Science at the University of Washington in 1988 and his B.S. in Agricultural Engineering at Cornell University in 1986. Clain's career interests include evaluating the processes that control nutrient availability and educating extension agents, crop advisers, farmers, ranchers, and homeowners on soil fertility issues. His Extension activity and research focus on cropland soil acidification, improving nitrogen management in dryland cropping systems, and nitrogen fixation potential in pulses for environmental and economic sustainability.
10:00 am Session 2b – IPM Diagnostics
10:00 am Diagnosing Challenges, Growing Solutions: A Joint Diseases Diagnostic Perspective – Dr. Uta McKelvy, Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, and Raissa Debacker Moura, Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist
From pulse crop seed testing to field-wide plant health diagnostics, two MSU diagnostic clinics share how they support Montana agricultural producers through timely diagnostic services. The Regional Pulse Crops Diagnostic Laboratory is dedicated to seed health and pathogen detection in pulse crops, while the Schutter Diagnostic Lab provides broad diagnostic and identification services for crops across Montana during the growing season. This presentation will outline the services offered by these two complementary diagnostic labs, share updates on emerging and persistent disease threats, and discuss how to mitigate disease risk through implementation of integrated pest management practices for the 2026 growing season. (50 minutes)
Dr. Uta McKelvy is an Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology at Montana State University, Bozeman. She received her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Montana State University in 2020. Dr. McKelvy directs the Schutter Diagnostic Lab, Montana's plant health diagnostic clinic, and conducts outreach education on crop disease identification and management. Her research centers on exploring practical, grower-oriented strategies for disease management in wheat and pulse crops, with the goal of promoting sustainable and profitable agricultural production in Montana and across the U.S.
Dr. Raissa Debacker Moura is an Assistant Professor – Extension Plant Pathology in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology at Montana State University, Bozeman. She earned her Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo/Brazil in 2022. Dr. Moura directs the Regional Pulse Crops Diagnostic Lab and leads a research and extension program focused on economically important diseases affecting wheat and pulse crops. Her research goals are to improve disease management and diagnosis by understanding the pathogens involved and laying the groundwork for more targeted and effective integrated management strategies.
11:00 am DNA Testing of Pests: Confirming Suspicions, Guiding Decisions – Dr. Zack Bateson, Research Director, National Agricultural Genotyping Center
Accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of a successful IPM program. This presentation introduces cutting-edge DNA-based diagnostic tools that enhance IPM strategies by revealing what traditional diagnostic methods may miss or cannot detect, e.g. soilborne pathogens and herbicide-resistant weeds. These tests generate actionable data that directly inform management decisions, helping producers and advisors respond more precisely and proactively to pest challenges. Attendees will gain insights into ongoing projects at the National Agricultural Genotyping Center, presented from the perspective of a laboratory scientist. The talk will demonstrate how DNA diagnostics are being applied in real-world agricultural settings and emphasize the role of testing services as essential partners in building effective IPM programs. (50 minutes)
Zack Bateson is the Research Director at the National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC), a not-for-profit diagnostic laboratory in Fargo, North Dakota. He earned a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and, after a brief detour studying lizards and wild birds, got hooked on agriculture. At NAGC, Zack leads projects that develop DNA tests to detect crop and honey bee pathogens, support seed certification, and track herbicide-resistant weeds. His objective is to make DNA tools more accessible to farmers, agronomists, and field researchers for data-driven decisions in pest management.
12:00 pm Lunch (All Participants)
1:00 pm Session 3a – Forages and Noxious Weeds
1:00 pm Forage Management and Applied Case Studies – Dr. Hayes Goosey, Assistant Professor, Forage, Agronomy, Entomology, and Dr. Jane Mangold, Professor, Invasive and Noxious Weed Management
Drs. Goosey and Mangold will present results of recent research on sulfur fertilization and nitrate toxicity in annual forages [Goosey] and invasive annual grass management using herbicides and soil amendments [Mangold]. (50 minutes)
Dr. Hayes Goosey is the MSU Extension Forage Specialist. He is also a Professor of Forages, Agronomy and Entomology. He works with the MSU Extension Forage Program on research involving harvested forages such as alfalfa hay and silage, improved pastures, and annual crops for hay or pasture. He is also currently studying grasshopper impacts on pulse crops.
Dr. Jane Mangold, Professor, Invasive and Noxious Weed Management, leads MSU research on integrating tools (e.g. prevention; chemical, mechanical, and biological control; prescribed fire, revegetation) to manage invasive plants on range and wild lands in Montana. Dr. Mangold's research aims to find ecologically-based, economically viable means to control invasive plants while maintaining or restoring desirable vegetation that meets management objectives.
2:00 pm Management of Noxious Weeds in Perennial Forage Systems – Dr. Jane Mangold, Professor, Invasive and Noxious Weed Management
Dr. Mangold will focus on management of noxious weeds in perennial forage systems. Participants will be provided with a decision support framework that they will use to work on real-world scenarios, working in small groups to develop a management plan for each scenario, for example controlling hoary alyssum in a stand of alfalfa. (50 minutes)
1:00 pm Session 3b – IPM Insects
1:00 pm How Abiotic Conditions Can Influence Pest Pressure – Dr. Jessica Kansman, Assistant Professor, Insect Ecology, Trophic Interactions, Abiotic Stress, Chemical Ecology
Abiotic factors such as precipitation and temperature can influence crop vulnerability to insect pests. However, whether crops are more vulnerable to pests under high temperatures or low water conditions depends on the feeding style of the pest in question, and how abiotic stress impacts insect biological control. We will also discuss the patterns of pest outbreaks in Montana in response to abiotic conditions. (50 minutes)
Dr. Kansman is an Assistant Professor at Montana State University specializing in Insect Ecology, Trophic Interactions, Abiotic Stress, and Chemical Ecology. Her research addresses concerns for agricultural systems using ecological mindsets and insect behavior techniques. We consider how changes in plants scale up to influence herbivory and predation/parasitism (bottom-up effects), and how top-down stressors like natural enemies can be utilized to reduce insect herbivory. Understanding these interactions allows us to make predictions about patterns observed with insect populations and explore new avenues of pest management.
2:00 pm Integrating Insect Monitoring and Phenology in IPM Programs – Dr. Tiziana Oppedisano, Assistant Professor, Entomology
This session will highlight insect monitoring methods and the use of phenological models to better understand pest development and population dynamics. Emphasis will be placed on how monitoring data and degree-day models can guide management decisions, reduce unnecessary inputs, and improve long-term pest control strategies within integrated pest management programs. (50 minutes)
Dr. Tiziana Oppedisano is an Assistant Professor of Entomology in the Plat Sciences and Plant Pathology department of the MSU College of Agriculture. Her program is based on field-oriented research with primary interests including insect ecology, plant-insect interactions, biological control, biology of vector-borne diseases, integrated pest management, and application of new technologies as decision-making tools in terms of pest management.
2:50 pm Afternoon Break (All Participants)
3:10 pm Session 4a – Precision Agriculture
3:10 pm Precision Agriculture Research at MSU – Dr. Ricardo Pinto, MSU Precision Ag Research and Extension Specialist and Dr. Ruby Tiwari, Postdoctoral Researcher, Weed Management
Dr. Pinto will discuss novel technologies for targeted weed management and cover the main types of advanced spraying systems currently available on the market, outlining their key differences, pros and cons, and important considerations before making an investment. Dr Tiwari will present ongoing research on the use of spray drones for pre-harvest weed control in pulse crops, exploring their potential to improve efficiency and precision in field applications. (50 minutes)
Dr. Ricardo Pinto, MSU Precision Ag Research and Extension Specialist, focuses on advancing precision pest management for insect pests and weeds by integrating remote sensing technologies (UAV and high-resolution satellite imagery), computational modeling, and machine learning. He is also interested in understanding the spatial and temporal variability of soil properties and crop responses to enhance the efficiency and profitability of farming and ranching operations in Montana.
Dr. Ruby Tiwari is a Postdoctoral Researcher in MSU specializing in precision agriculture weed management.
4:10 pm Producer and Industry Expert Panel on Experiences with Target Spray Applications Using Weed-It and Spray Drones in Agriculture – Panelists include John Brennan (Outer Limits Drone Service), Adam Hutton (AgriTech America), and Dan Bates (Producer)
This panel will be moderated by Dr. Ricardo Pinto and will share real-world perspectives on spray drone adoption, covering opportunities, challenges, regulatory considerations, and lessons learned from both service providers and growers actively using the technology. (50 minutes)
3:10 pm Session 4b – IPM Weeds
3:10 pm Evolution of Herbicide Resistant Weeds in Montana – Dr. Tim Seipel, Assistant Professor, Cropland Weed Extension Specialist and Devanshi Desai, Graduate Research Assistant
This presentation will focus on the evolution of herbicide resistant weeds in Montana and review new cases found across the state since 2023, especially for cheatgrass and kochia. We will discuss how this affects weed management in Montana and integrated weed management in the future. (50 minutes)
Dr. Tim Seipel, Assistant Professor, Cropland Weed Extension Specialist, is an applied plant and agricultural ecologist interested in how plant interactions, how they are distributed, and ecosystem function. As the Cropland Weed Extension specialist, Dr. Seipel collaborates with agricultural stakeholders to develop and deliver research-based information on weed ecology and management.
Devanshi Desai is a MSU Graduate Research Assistant studying herbicide resistance in Montana.
4:10 pm Integrating Weed Management Research Findings – Het Desai, Southern Ag Research Center
This session will present recent research findings on integrated weed management using harvest weed seed control. Het Desai will also discuss how to get the most out of the herbicide applications including what time of day to apply, carrier volume, and environmental conditions. (50 minutes)
Het Desai is a graduate researcher at the MSU Southern Ag Research Center.
5:00 pm Poster Session Happy Hour – Student Research Highlights
January 15, 2026
8:00 am Day 2 Coffee Welcome (All Participants)
8:20 am Session 5a - Agronomy
8:20 am Pulse Crop Erosion Risk Management – Dr. Perry Miller, Professor, Sustainable Cropping Systems
Dr. Miller, an expert in pulse crop agronomy, will present pulse crop erosion risk management and strategies to reduce soil disturbance and improve crop yields. (50 minutes)
Dr. Perry Miller is a Professor of Sustainable Cropping Systems in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University – conducting diversified dryland cropping systems research there since 1998. His dryland research focuses on soil carbon, nitrogen, and water budgets in diversified wheat-based systems with special interest in pulse crops. Specific research interests include crop diversification in no-till and organic cropping systems, pulse crop agronomy, winter dicot crops, perennial crops, and best management practices for soil building and protection from erosion.
9:20 am Dual-use Crop Considerations and Irrigation and Precipitation Timing – Dr. Eeusha Nafi, Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Extension Agronomy Specialist
Dr. Nafi will address Kernza® intermediate wheatgrass: an emerging perennial dual-use crop. He will also present research related to irrigation and precipitation timings on winter wheat yield and quality in Montana. (50 minutes)
Dr. Nafi is an Assistant Professor of Agronomy and Extension Agronomy Specialist at Montana State University Southern Ag Research Station. His research aims at developing profitable, resilient, and sustainable cropping systems capable of producing food, feed, and fuel, enhancing economic returns, maintaining soil and environmental quality, and mitigating off farm impacts in the context of evolving regulations and climate change. He aspires to lead cutting-edge research and extension programs that address stakeholder-identified priorities and bring together statewide stakeholders, extension educators and specialists, students, and researchers across MSU and partner institutions. Dr. Nafi's research focuses on cropping system management and modeling, with an emphasis on integrating field experimentation of soil, plant, and atmospheric processes into a comprehensive research roadmap.
8:20 am Session 5b – IPM Disease
8:20 am Understanding the Increasing Severity and Prevalence of Triticum Mosaic Virus in Colorado Wheat – Robyn Roberts, Extension Plant Pathologist, Assistant Professor in Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University
In the last few years, Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) disease incidence and severity has significantly increased in Colorado. TriMV is now the primary pathogen of concern of wheat and has overtaken other mite-transmitted viruses. Here, I will discuss our efforts to better detect TriMV from field samples, understand the biology underpinning the shift in Colorado’s virus population, and provide recommendations to growers based on our findings. (50 minutes)
Robyn Roberts is an Assistant Professor in the Agricultural Biology department at Colorado State University. Her group's research focuses on diseases of wheat and other field crops with motivations to understand the molecular interactions between plants and microbes. Particularly, her research group studies viral and bacterial diseases, molecular plant-pathogen interactions, and plant immunity. Her group works on emerging diseases and examining changes in pathogen populations in the face of climate change.
9:20 am Management of Tuber Borne Diseases through Seed Potato Certification – Dr. Aritra Roy Choudhury, Assistant Research Professor, Director of the Montana Seed Potato Certification Program and MSU Extension Associate Specialist
Seed potato certification programs play a vital role in ensuring the production of clean, disease-free tubers that serve as the foundation for commercial potato growers. The program is responsible for monitoring and controlling tuber-borne diseases, particularly Potato virus Y (PVY), which can cause tuber necrosis, reduce yield, and compromise seed quality. Certification of tubers that make up early generation seed lots involves multiple steps. During the summer, inspectors walk seed fields to assess disease incidence, accompanied by rigorous testing of potato leaves using Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Following harvest, representative tuber samples from each seed field are collected, gassed, and shipped to Hawaii for a post-harvest grow-out. This entails growing tuber samples for approximately two months then carefully inspecting plants for disease symptoms and collecting leaf tissue to test for PVY using ELISA. (50 minutes)
Dr. Aritra Roy Choudhury has acquired Ph.D. from Chungbuk National University, South Korea. He has worked on plant-microbe interaction and bacteria mediated enhancement of plant stress tolerance. He worked at Colorado State University as a postdoctoral researcher on potato diseases. Dr. Aritra is currently the Director of Montana Seed Potato Certification Program and leads a dynamic team of researchers to fulfill the needs of seed potato growers to maintain healthy seeds for commercial production.
10:15 am Morning Break (All Participants)
10:30 am Session 6 (All Participants)
10:30 am Regulatory Changes to the Endangered Species Act and Certification and Training of Private Pesticide Applicators – Dr. Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension Pesticide Education Specialist
This presentation will provide pesticide applicators and agricultural leaders with crucial insights into recent regulatory changes affecting their practices, particularly those related to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and certification and certification of pesticide applicators. As federal and state agencies continue to evolve pesticide regulations, it’s essential for applicators to stay informed on new requirements to ensure compliance, protect vulnerable species, and maintain pesticide use. (50 minutes)
Dr. Cecil Tharp is the Montana State University Extension Pesticide Education Program (PEP) Director. This program promotes the proper use of pesticides to protect public health and the environment. This includes coordinating the Montana Private Applicator Training Program, as well as providing educational resources regarding pesticide use, pest management, reading the label, pesticide law, health, safety, and the environment. PEP supports all applicators, businesses and homeowners by combining educational resources and knowledge from scientists, governmental agencies and the public. Dr. Tharp also works with 56 MSU Extension Agents that act as local private applicator training coordinators within their counties and reservations.
11:30 am The Hidden Workforce: How Soil Microbes Support Soil Health and Crop Productivity – Dr. Jed Eberly, Associate Professor in Agronomy and Soil Microbiology
This presentation explores the essential yet often unseen role of soil microbes in agricultural systems. It highlights how diverse microbial communities drive key processes such as nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and disease suppression. By forming beneficial relationships with plant roots, these microbes enhance nutrient uptake, improve soil structure, and increase crop resilience to stress. This talk will also explore how plant-microbe interactions affect crop interactions with insect pests and competition with weeds. This presentation also emphasizes practical approaches for managing and fostering healthy microbial populations through sustainable farming practices, ultimately linking microbial activity to improved soil health and long-term crop productivity. (50 minutes)
Jed Eberly is an associate professor in Agronomy & Soil Microbiology at Montana State University. Jed completed his Ph.D. 2010 in Biological & Ecological Engineering at Oregon State University. He received a B.S. in biology in 2004 from Montana State University-Billings, Billings, MT.
His research program is focused on basic and applied research related to the role of soil microorganisms in improving soil quality and crop performance. His responsibilities include developing a program that improves understanding of microbial impacts on agronomic performance of dryland crops in central Montana and evaluating the potential for seed and soil-applied microorganisms to alleviate plant stresses, increase plant growth and yield for crops. In addition, he is responsible for managing the cereal crop variety testing program and contributing to forage crop research efforts.
12:30 am Lunch (All Participants) and Closing Remarks
Regional IPM Speaker TBD
