The Agriculture Development Council will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, July 21st at 12:00 p.m.

To join using a computer:

https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/94904787745?pwd=QWk0YlVCTFZ6V0w5TzJTVlBYS3pTdz09; Meeting ID: 949 0478 7745; Password: 712561

To join by phone:

+1 646 558 8656 or +1 406 444 9999; Meeting ID: 949 0478 7745; Password: 712561

Click to learn more about the Agriculture Development Council.

On July 16, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., the Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing in Room 225 of the Scott Hart Building, at Helena, Montana, as well as virtually through the meeting platform Zoom to consider the proposed amendment and adoption of the rules referenced in MAR Notice No. 4-20-268. In the matter of the amendment of ARM 4.9.402 and ARM 4.21.402 and the adoption of New Rule I and New Rule II pertaining to Violations in Commodity Reporting.

Both proposal notices and their public hearing information can also be viewed at the Secretary of State’s website at: https://sosmt.gov/arm/register/.

Join Zoom Meeting:

Online:  https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/91007552635, Meeting ID: 910 0755 2635

Dial by Telephone: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 406 444 9999, (Meeting ID: 910 0755 2635) or find your local number: https://mt-gov.zoom.us/u/ad7unpPJWA

For additional information or assistance with or the virtual meeting details, please contact Virginia Corbett by email at agr@mt.gov or by phone at (406) 444-3156.

The Montana Hemp Advisory Committee will meet via Zoom/Teleconference on Tuesday, July  7, 2020 at 10:30am. Contact Virginia Corbett for call information: Virginia.Corbett@mt.gov or (406)444-3156. 

For more information about the Hemp Committee, click here.

Governor Steve Bullock and the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) today announced that over $1 million in grant funding has been awarded from the Montana Agriculture Adaptability Program (MTAAP). The grants are designed to provide relief to small and medium-sized food and agriculture businesses in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

“Agriculture drives our economy in Montana, and the COVID-19 crisis has shed new light on the importance of our local food systems,” said Governor Steve Bullock. “The adaptability grants directly support producers and value-added food and ag businesses affected by the pandemic. From Missoula, to Two Dot, to Scobey, Montanans across the state are finding innovative ways to strengthen and expand our access to local foods at a time when we need it most.”

Click to view all award recipients.

The Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council will meet virtually via GoToMeeting on July 1, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. To receive information to join the meeting, please reach Carol Bearden, Noxious Weed Program Specialist, at (406) 444-7880 or cbearden@mt.gov.

Click to learn more about the Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council.

Helena, Mont. – Small and medium-sized meat processors in Montana have an opportunity to receive funding to support and expand processing infrastructure and capacity through the Montana Meat Processing Infrastructure Grant. Governor Steve Bullock announced the availability of these grants last week as part of additional funding to aid businesses recovering from economic impacts of COVID-19.

“With increased demand on both the national supply chain and our local food systems, it’s time to invest in in-state meat processing,” said Ben Thomas, Director of Montana Department of Agriculture. “These grants give our producers an opportunity to shift their operations, so they can access new markets, and we can keep quality Montana raised meat here in Montana.”

Click to learn more and apply.

HELENA, MT – Two finalists have been selected for the prestigious Montana Leopold Conservation Award^®.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers, ranchers, foresters and other landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land.

This is second year the $10,000 award has been presented in Montana.

The Leopold Conservation Award is presented to private landowners in 21 states with a variety of conservation, agricultural and forestry organizations. In Montana, Sand County Foundation presents the award with Governor Steve Bullock’s Office, Montana Department of Agriculture, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Rangeland Resources Committee.

The finalists are:

• Craig and Conni French of Malta in Phillips County: Innovative grazing practices are used at French Ranch to improve soil health and water quality. Temporary, wildlife-friendly fencing for beef cattle reduces barriers for migratory pronghorn, mule deer and elk. Livestock water tanks and windbreaks have been moved away from the ranch’s three miles of shoreline along Beaver Creek. The Frenches work with The Nature Conservancy to establish habitat for threatened grassland birds and sage grouse.
• Pete and Meagan Lannan of Livingston in Park County: Regenerative agriculture practices used at Barney Creek Livestock are improving the soil and building the resiliency of rangeland. Intensive rotational grazing of their beef cattle is designed around being ecologically and economically profitable. Efforts such as fencing off riparian areas are improving water quality while providing quality habitat for wildlife including sandhill cranes, bees and mule deer.

Click to read the full article.

MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock today announced funding through the federal CARES Act will be used to boost in-state processing and storage capacity for local meat processors, to provide additional financial assistance for small businesses, and to reimburse local governments for COVID-19 related expenses.

The Montana Meat Processing Infrastructure Grant is available to aid small and medium-sized meat processors responding to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions by supporting local meat processing infrastructure and capacity in Montana.

“These grants will boost processing and storage capacity. They’ll help Montana businesses put more Montana meat onto more shelves. Plus, an increase in in-state processing means more direct sales, and better, value-added markets for producers,” Governor Bullock said. “These investments will bolster Montana’s food security, making us stronger in response to the pandemic, as well as long into the future.”

Due to interruptions in national supply chains, meat processing capacity throughout the US has been significantly impacted. Supporting in-state meat processing infrastructure and capacity will provide alternative market channels for Montana’s cattle, hog and poultry producers. Examples of eligible expenses include equipment and infrastructure that increases processing and/or storage capacity, costs associated with becoming state or federally inspected, and other business adaptation and diversification activities. Total funding available through the program is $2,000,000, with a maximum award of $150,000. Applications are being accepted now at COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV. The deadline to apply is July 2, 2020 at 5:00pm.

The Montana Department of Agriculture will host the first of the Oilseed Advisory Committee meetings on Thursday, June 18 on the online meeting platform, Zoom, starting at 11:00 am. 

For more information about the committee or for a link to the meeting, please contact Dani Jones via email at danielle.jones@mt.gov or via phone at 406-444-2402.

The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee Summer Meeting will take place on a virtual meeting format, on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. The meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and last until 12:00 p.m. 

To receive call-in information please contact the MWBC office with and provide your email address. As always, the public is invited to participate virtually in the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee board meeting.

For more information, please visit https://wbc.agr.mt.gov/, call (406) 761-7732, or email wbc@mt.gov.

The Montana Pulse Crop Committee will meet via Zoom teleconference at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9^th. For more information, please contact Weston Merrill, at (406) 444-3407.

Zoom Meeting Information

To join by computer: https://zoom.us/j/91650348866 [zoom.us]

To join by phone: (877) 853-5247; Meeting ID: 916 5034 8866

Click to learn more about the Montana Pulse Crop Committee.