The Montana Department of Agriculture recognizes that supporting Montana food and agriculture businesses by shopping local is more important now than ever before. To connect holiday shoppers with Grown in Montana products, our marketing staff has compiled a list of 16 Montana companies offering a variety of gift items.

Click here to view the Grown in Montana Holiday Gift Guide.

On November 20, 2020, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue designated Big Horn and Carter counties in Montana as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor (see http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/), these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional. These additional counties were named as contiguous disaster counties: Carbon, Fallon, Rosebud, Yellowstone, Custer, Powder River, and Treasure.  
 
Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with further information. 

The Montana Invasive Species Council (MISC) in partnership with the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA), United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Montana State University has formed a science advisory panel to examine the existing body of knowledge about the eastern heath snail (Xerolenta obvia) in order to better understand the risks and impacts associated with the species, and to identify the best containment and management strategy.

Panelists have provided responses to a series of questions about the basic biology of the snail, along with survey, monitoring, and control methods for managing it and pathways for movement and introduction. Through a series of virtual workshops, the panelists will meet with MISC and agency staff December 7-10, 2020, to discuss the question responses and develop recommendations and best practices to prevent further introductions and manage snail populations already established. For more information about the panel or workshop contact Stephanie Criswell, MISC Coordinator, at 406-444-0547, scriswell@mt.gov.

The Montana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service in cooperation with the Montana Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the publication of the 2020 Montana Agricultural Statistics bulletin. The current bulletin can be found on the USDA NASS Montana website.

Click here to view the 2020 Montana Agricultural Statistics Bulletin. 

The  MDA Winter webinar trainings schedule is now available to help Montana pesticide applicators fulfill their continuing education requirements for their Montana pesticide license under the current COVID-19 situation. These trainings are being presented via Zoom and are free of charge. Each training will provide 1 CE per training* for the listed classifications (categories).   

• December 2, 2020: Pollinators
• December 9, 2020: Noxious Weeds
• December 10, 2020: Montana State Rodent Academy 
• December 16, 2020: Mode of Action

Click here to learn more and register in advance.

Montana oilseed growers will soon receive a ballot in the mail proposing a 1% checkoff for canola, flaxseed, mustard, safflower, soybeans, and sunflower crops. If passed, the Montana Oilseed Advisory Committee will advise the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) on how to invest the funds for research, market development, and education.

“The continued growth of oilseed production in Montana is a testament to the industry’s immense potential,” said MDA Director Ben Thomas. “We have seen how investments made through other checkoff programs, like pulse and wheat and barley, have successfully given Montana growers a competitive edge. I’m glad to see our oilseed producers are eager to advance their industry through research, market development, and education as well.”

Ballots were sent to growers this week and are due back to MDA by December 31, 2020. Any current producer of canola, flaxseed, mustard, soybeans, safflower, or sunflower, that did not receive a ballot can contact MDA to request one by phone at (406) 444-2402 or by email at agr@mt.gov.

Governor Steve Bullock today announced new public health measures to limit capacity in bars, restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and casinos, to limit public gatherings to 25 individuals where social distancing is not possible, and to require face coverings in all counties regardless of case count beginning on Friday, November 20 to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Montana. Governor Bullock also announced he would direct unspent Coronavirus Relief Funds to aid businesses impacted by the restrictions and provide $200 a week in additional unemployment benefits to Montanans for four weeks. 

Click here to read the full directive.

The Montana State Hail Board will meet virtually at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 to review the 2020 hail year.

Please contact Dani Jones to receive information to join the virtual meeting by phone at (406) 444-2402 or by email at danielle.jones@mt.gov.

Click here to learn more about the Montana Hail Insurance Program.

The Noxious Weed Management Advisory Council will meet virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, January 13th from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Please contact Carol Bearden, Noxious Weed Program Specialist, at (406) 444-7880 or cbearden@mt.gov to receive information to join the meeting. 

Click here to view current members and learn more about the Noxious Weed Management Advisory Committee.

The Montana Department of Revenue has begun the process to make licenses available for recreational marijuana cultivation and sale by October 1, 2021, following the recent voter approval of Initiative 190. 

Under the new law, the department will license and regulate the cultivation, transportation and sale of marijuana and marijuana-infused products, will inspect premises where marijuana is cultivated or sold, and will collect the 20 percent tax on the retail sales of the products. 

Only currently licensed providers in the Montana Medical Marijuana Program may apply for the new non-medical licenses for the first 12 months they are available. 

Anyone interested in receiving updates on the department’s activities related to I-190 can sign up with the department at MTRevenue.gov/Marijuana. 

When: December 2, 2020 @ 12:00 and 6:00

Topic: Pollinators

Presented by: Montana Department of Agriculture  

Please register in advance using the links provided below:

12:00 pm https://mt-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OuiGOyK_TySJsU6pWMVsRA

6:00 pm https://mt-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cayw3u4vS6aaL3fglq2A3w